Self-Made Hardness

2 Timothy 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

There are two types of hardness we face in life. We will either endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, or we will endure self-made hardness that we brought upon ourselves because of our lack of relying on God for direction, or because of our rebellion towards God and what He wants us to do. No doubt, most Christians, if not all, have faced both types of hardness; however, I would rather face hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ than to face self-made hardness because of my poor decision making.

God commands the believer to endure hardness. It is interesting that He does not care which way the hardness has come, we are to endure it as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Whether the hardness comes because we serve the Lord, or it comes because of life circumstances, or it comes because of our own doing, we are to endure hardness for the Lord’s sake. Let me briefly share four areas where we cause our own hardness in life.

First, many endure hardness because of bad or poor decisions. We can't blame others for the hardness we face because of our poor decisions. Every poor or bad decision always brings hard times our way. This is why it is critical for the believer to let the Holy Spirit guide them so that they don't bring hardness on themselves because of their poor or bad decision making.

Second, many endure hardness because of sin. Sin always makes life hard. You cannot live in sin and not expect to face hardness. Sin promises the world, but it always gives hardness as its byproduct. There is not one sin we can commit that will not result in life becoming harder. You can avoid hardness caused by sin by doing right all the time.

Third, many endure hardness because of an uncontrolled tongue. The tongue has caused many hard times because we did not control what we said to family or friends. You can quickly say what you are thinking, but you cannot take back the hurt it caused in others, resulting in hardness in life.

Fourth, many endure hardness because of pride. Our pride often gets in the way of doing right, resulting in the believer living in hard times. Our pride often causes us not to listen to those who are warning us, only to continue walking forward in our own way to prove we are the exception to the rule, but what we found was hard times.

My friend, you will face hard times. It is better that you face hardness because of doing right than because of your own making. In either case, we are to endure hardness. If we face hardness because of our own doing, we are to endure it. If we face hardness because of serving God, we are to endure it. God never said to quit because of the hard times, but He commands us to endure hardness despite the hard times.

Moreover, you are to endure hardness as a good soldier. God is teaching that you are not to let hardness stop you from fighting in the spiritual warfare that we face. Soldiers don't run from the battle because it is hard, but they often move forward despite its hardness. Likewise, the believer is not to run from the spiritual battle because it's hard, but they are to move forward despite its hardness. Be a good soldier and keep fighting for right despite the cause of the hardness you face.