Hard Times Don't Last

Saturday 5/31/2025 4:20pm

Hello world, I come to you today at this fantastic time of 4:20. For all my medicinal health enthusiasts out there, it's a beautiful day and time, isn't it? I've just finished making a video, and the main message I want to share today is 'hard times don't last.' They just don't. How do I know they don't last? Because the Lord God told us so, and because I also told you so. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

I'm not sure about you, but I've certainly felt that the man upstairs has forgotten about me or wants to see me suffer at times. But that couldn't be any further from the truth. In fact, the Lord God is patient with us, hoping no one should perish. 

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 

Like wildflowers, "you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would" - E.V. It's very easy for us humans to pray to God in times of trouble, such as in the back of a cop car, we reach out through 'prayer'... "please God get me out of this one and I'll never do it again." Or be quick to blame God when times get hard, and we feel overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. However, through my research and study, I have found that gratitude and thankfulness, even in dark times, bring us closer to peace or closer to God. As Jesus Christ told us, don't be like the hypocrites who ring a bell in the streets to let people know when they are praying, or look droopy in times of spiritual fasting.  But he said, "Go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." - Matthew 6:6. It's time we start putting our trust and our faith in the Lord through the good times and the bad times. In fact, the Lord God said, "When you go through various trials, consider it pure joy. The testing of your faith produces perseverance, and let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete." James 1:1-4 Or "now we can boast in our affliction, knowing affliction produces endurance and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us" Romans 5:4-6.

I have found myself with everything in life. Cars, money, houses, and success. To be broke, unemployed, carless, and homeless. Multiple times on multiple occasions. One thing I have learned is that it is during that period when you are being watched to see how you will handle the situation and who you will blame: God or yourself. The minute I stopped complaining and crying and got busy doing something about it, the better I felt. And, quite frankly, I have been convicted of laziness lately, because it is my understanding that someone needs to hear this. And someone is not going to listen to this unless I take the time and effort to make it presentable or type it out to read. Being productive is the only thing saving my spirit right now. As the great wealthy sharks say, "On a good day, I made money, and on a bad day, I made money." Well, on a good day, I was productive, and on a bad day, I was productive. That seems to be the pitch ringing in my head to help me in this life we call suffering right now.

And lastly, never forget "God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Corinthians 1:28-31.

God chooses who or what is wise in this world. So remember "do not marvel at the works of a sinner, but trust in the Lord and wait for his light; For it is easy in the eyes of the Lord suddenly, in an instant, to make the poor rich." Ben Sirach 11:21.

I could continue with scripture, but my job is not to overwhelm my fellow brothers and sisters with the greatness of God or the truth of scripture promised to us; rather, it is to tie what is said to my own personal life experiences. There is a fantastic story in Hinduism and Buddhism that I will share at a later date, but I want to end this blog today with this: hard times don't last; they are simply a test of your character and how worthy you are to get up and keep fighting the good fight. And for all my fellow brothers and sisters with no hope today, know that I love you, God loves you, and my fellow ACTS retreat team members love you.  

Have a fantastic day, thank you.

Peace, Love & Happiness

Ross