You’d Rather Make it Hard
By Rev. Jarrett Britton Washington, Columnist
Isaiah 40:26 says, “Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.”
The past few days have been an exploration into understanding how one can make certain their time is well spent. Here in the southeastern region of the states, and more specifically the low country of South Carolina, we have been experiencing the effects (and after effects) of the rare winter “bomb” cyclone storm. Our neighborhood has been covered in sheets of thick ice and chunky snow. Travel has been restricted; and for the most part, outside of our playing in the snow, my family has been indoors. Yet the other day, I was able to get out of the house and pick up a cup of my favorite coffee from my local coffee house.
While waiting for the barista to complete my cup of goodness, I utilized the facilities to relieve myself. A gentleman had just exited the private facility before my entering. As I locked the door, I immediately noticed that the previous user had meticulously laid strips of toilet paper on the toilet seat. Many a person understands this as a way to protect one’s body parts from touching the porous and sometimes germ-ridden toilet seat. Honestly, I’m not mad at the brother.
Upon further inspection of the facility, I noticed a large holder of sorts mounted on the wall above the toilet tissue. On the outside of the contraption were the words, “toilet seat covers” in big red letters. Although I had no personal need, my curiosity pleaded with me to inspect the contraption to figure out if there were any covers left inside. To my surprise, the contraption was completely full. Immediately, my mind began to work in overdrive. I said to myself, “Jarrett, why did the previous gentleman take all of that time to pull strips of toilet paper and place them on this seat when there were disposal seat covers?” I said, “I came in after him which means it was full for him too, right?” I pleaded with my own mind by asking myself, “Why didn’t he just simply look up above the toilet paper?” I even had to ask myself, “Jarrett, why would someone do this and leave it for the next person to discover?” Then the response hit me, “It could be so simple but you’d rather make it hard.”
Child of God, we are living in a time where people make things difficult when God has already set them up to be easy. Many of our struggles are brought about because we over-think what God wants to do. God’s ability to perform miracles is not based on your human capacity to see it happen; but rather, it is God’s work to do God’s work in you. Yes, there will be challenges, struggles, and trials but the gift of God is that when we look up to Him, he works it out with the answer. That new job, book, or opportunity may seem impossible to you; but in God; everything is possible. So today, I challenge you to stop making what is easy for God, hard for you. Simply let God do it and God will make the way out of it for you.
The Rev. Jarrett Washington is the pastor of Hopewell AME Church in Hemingway, South Carolina. He is a graduate of Turner Theological Seminary at the ITC in Atlanta, Georgia, with both the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education degrees. Currently, he serves as the co-editor of The Voice of Mission Magazine and layout artist for the Missionary Magazine. He is married to Deronda C. Washington and is the father of one daughter, Braylen Jael.
