There I was — lost and cold. It was 5:30 in the morning and snow was covering the ground. I had just been released from the hospital and had no idea where I was. After adjusting to my newly acquired crutches and allowing the snow to numb my exposed foot, I was ready to find my way home.
I knew there had to be a train station nearby, I just didn’t know where. You see, I had been dropped off at this Swedish hospital nine hours earlier and and was still gaining my bearings. After checking my travel app, I found out the station was half a mile away with my train leaving in 12 minutes. This train only runs once an hour so I was determined to get there.
I thought to myself, “This won’t be easy, but it’s also not impossible.”
Immediately I took off towards the station, not wanting to lose any time. I have a vivid memory about halfway there where I lost all shame and and began running, hobbling on one foot, the other drenched in melted snow. My emotions were running high as the reality of the last day was mixing with pain of my fractured ankle.
Finally I saw the station. This glimpse of hope inspired me to move faster with focus. And then it happened, just like a movie. As I was over the bridge that the trains run under, I watched as my train pulled up and then just like that — disappear down the tracks.
I fell to my knees and cried. I was broken, defeated and all alone.
After getting up I called my mom, not caring what time it was. She consoled me as I exhausted the situation to her. Then I sat down in the train station, gathered myself and repeated a phrase that I had told myself for years when faced with hard situations.
”It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be quick. It will only come with pain and sacrifice. But it’s going to be worth it.”
Life is hard. But a successful life is harder. Nothing of value ever comes cheap. And a goal of mine is to never settle for second best. In pursuit of fulfilling this goal I’ve learned something.
There is a hidden price to a healthy life.
This price is something that people rarely talk about and what no one instagrams. No one is glorifying hard conversations, taking selfies when their eyes are full of tears, and showing the hours work that it takes to be excellent in something.
That’s why I can appreciate the transparency of Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 when he talks about the price he’s paid to spread the Gospel. He’s been beaten multiple times, shipwrecked multiple times, has spent sleepless night’s being hungry, thirsty, and cold yet he doesn’t quit.
I can only imagine when he was faced with these life threatening difficulties that he would encourage himself with a phrase that looked similar to this.
”It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be quick. It will only come with pain and sacrifice. But it’s going to be worth it.”
And you know this to be true. Maybe you haven’t fought hard for everything but you have fought hard for something. I can’t find anyone who accomplished something great and regrets the hard work that it took them to get there.
What is it that you want to achieve?
- Physical health
- Higher education
- Thriving relationships
- A strong connection with God
- Opportunities in ministry
- Emotional health
I don’t know exactly what you’re looking for but I know it’s going to demand hard decisions, long hours, and painful experiences. Allow me to set realistic expectations and encouragement for your journey ahead.
”It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be quick. It will only come with pain and sacrifice. But it’s going to be worth it.”
God’s preparation for your destiny looks less like pampering and more like pain.
The things you hate give birth to the things you love. Time doesn’t change things, decisions do — make hard ones.
It’s time for you to hug the pain that you’ve been running from. It’s only through embracing these hard moments that you will live the life you were made to live and become the person that you were meant to be.
And remember.
”It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be quick. It will only come with pain and sacrifice. But it’s going to be worth it.”
