When Life Just Seems Too Hard

Together they will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and his people are the called and chosen and faithful ones. Revelation 17:14

The apostle John must have heard a few complaints. Indeed, the believers under his leadership faced very real issues. The government was against them—taking their businesses, separating their families, even killing some of them. It must have been a temptation for them just to pull back and pull up short. But John goes beyond a pep talk and reminds them—and us—of the surpassing value of knowing Christ.

Indeed, there are times in life when doing God’s will seems like it’s too hard, maybe even impossible. But we can be encouraged in knowing that there is eternal hope that is worth sacrificing everything for.

Here is an example of a man who understood that truth:

George Atley, a young Englishman with the heart of a hero, was engaged in the Central African Mission. He was attacked by a party of natives. He had with him a Winchester repeating rifle with ten loaded chambers. The party was completely at his mercy. Calmly and quickly, he summed up the situation. He concluded that if he killed them, it would do the mission more harm than if he allowed them to take his life. So, as a lamb to the slaughter he was led; and when his body was found in the stream, his rifle was also found with its ten chambers still loaded.^a

What happens on earth is never the end of the story. The people thought they had silenced the influence of George Atley. But his example has encouraged millions throughout history.

When life seems too difficult to bear, when it seems that God is calling you to sacrifice beyond what you think you can, just remember the eternal hope you have in Jesus Christ.

Lord, never let me forget the eternal hope I have in you.