There’s a man trying to
cross the street. As he steps off the curb, a car comes screaming around the
corner and heads straight for him. The man walks faster, trying to hurry across
the street, but the car changes lanes and is still coming at him.
So the guy turns around
to go back, but the car changes lanes again and is still coming at him.
By now, the car is so
close and the man so scared that he just freezes and stops in the middle of the
road. The car gets real close, then swerves at the last possible moment and screeches
to a halt right next him. The driver rolls down the window.
The driver is a
squirrel. The squirrel says to the man says, “See, it’s not as easy as it looks,
is it?”
There have been times
when I’ve discovered that experiencing something is more difficult than it
looks. For example, when I was younger, I was full of ideas on how parents
ought to be raising their children. However, after having three of my own, I’ve
discovered that “it’s not as easy as it looks.”
Maybe there was a time
when you thought someone ought to be handling a divorce or a death in the
family better than they do. But after experiencing it for yourself, you found
out that “it’s not as easy as it looks.”
Sometimes there’s no
way to know what it feels like to go through something without actually
experiencing it yourself. That’s why the incarnation is so important. There’s
no way we can say to God, “Living here on this earth — it’s not as easy
as it looks!” God knows. He’s taken on flesh and blood and walked this
earth. He’s experienced temptation, frustration, persecution, disappointment
and a host of human emotions. He knows how tough it is. He understands. And
that’s why He is in a position to be of help to us.
“For we do not
have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all
points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of
need.” (Heb. 4:15-16)
It’s true. Living life
on this earth is “not as easy as it looks.” But may you find comfort
today in knowing that God understands that more that you can begin to imagine.
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
