Some people may wonder where I get the ideas for these Langstaff Letters, especially since I have written nearly 400 of them. Well, they come from many different sources. Sometimes, they come from cultural moments, like the recent Langstaff Letters on transgenderism or climate change. Others are inspired by articles I read, such as next week’s Langstaff Letter which will be on Marriage and Virginity, that came out of reading the Breakpoint blog. This Langstaff Letter came from something my daughter Joy, the administrator for Kairos Ministries, wrote on her Caring Bridge. In her post, she shared a statement that is often stated in her home, “Just because it is hard, doesn’t mean it is wrong.” I started to think about these words, hence this Langstaff Letter. I will share some of Joy’s Caring Bridge post at the end of the letter.

JUST BECAUSE IT IS HARD DOESN’T MEAN IT IS WRONG

Let’s be honest. Life can be hard at times. Sometimes, it is really hard, demanding and challenging. Think of some examples in the Bible.

NOAH AND THE ARK

We first read of Noah in Genesis 5, but the story gets going in the following chapter when wickedness resulted in judgment upon men. Genesis 6:7-8 states, “So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

It was then that Noah was given one assignment: to build an ark (v 14). This was not just a small boat but a vast ark, approximately 450 feet long, one and a half times the length of a football field, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. With a capacity exceeding 500 of today’s railroad cars, the ark was shaped like a barge, making it very difficult to capsize (Spirit Filled Bible p 15).

Constructing an ark of those dimensions was no small task. After my wife Dorothy and I got married, along with the help of a friend who was a carpenter and our family, we built a 20 x 10 garage. We lived in this garage while our more permanent home was being built. Building the garage took a lot of effort and hard work, and we had access to modern-day tools. I can only imagine what it took to build the ark. On top of the challenge of constructing the ark, think of all Noah and his family must have faced from the people of that day. They were either ignored or, worse, continually mocked, criticized, and made fun of, as during that time, Noah sought to warn people of the coming deluge.

So, for many reasons, obeying the Lord and building the ark was hard, both from a physical and emotional point of view. It must have been hard for Noah, but ‘just because it was hard, didn’t mean it was wrong.’ Take another story.

JOSEPH THE DREAMER

Joseph was the favored son of Israel (Jacob). Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age. We see this when he made Joseph a coat (tunic) of many colors.

Joseph had dreams of greatness when he was only seventeen years old. He had two dreams, one about sheaves of wheat and the other about the sun, moon, and stars bowing down to him (Genesis 37). The meaning of his dreams did not go over very well with his family, as they caused his brothers to be envious of him. Joseph had a destiny for greatness but traveled a hard road to get to that destiny. Without going into all the details, his brothers almost killed him. He was then sold to the Ishmaelites for 20 shekels and was a slave in Egypt. Initially, he found favor in the house of Potiphar. But, after resisting the advances of Potiphar’s wife, he was thrown in jail, where he languished until eventually, through the delayed actions of Pharoh’s butler, was brought before Pharoah to interpret Pharoah’s dreams. As a result, he was then given a position of greatness in Pharoah’s court.

The original word given to Joseph as a teenager was eventually fulfilled as he entered into ‘greatness.’ However, the time between when he received that original revelation and when he was given a place of power and privilege in Pharoah’s court must have been extremely hard. The challenges he faced, such as the betrayal of his brothers and the conditions in the jail, would have tested his ability to hold on to the word he had been given regarding his destiny. There may have been times when he struggled to believe God had promised him greatness.

So, those years must have been hard for Joseph, but ‘just because it was hard, didn’t mean it was wrong.’

There are many examples in the Bible of people who experienced hard times, such as prophets and men and women of God who choose to keep going amid hard times, pressing on to fulfill God’s calling on their lives. There are also examples of people who sought to avoid difficult times. Think for a moment about people who sought to escape a hard life, such as the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23, Matthew 19:18-22).

THE RICH YOUNG RULER

A certain young ruler came running to Jesus, asking Him, ‘What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ Jesus told him, ‘You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.'”

And the young man, perhaps proudly, said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” Jesus then said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away very sorrowful, for he had great possessions as he was very rich (Matthew 19:18-22).

Mark’s gospel adds another aspect to this story. Jesus looked upon the rich young man and loved him, and he spoke about taking up his cross and following Jesus. This was a crucial moment in this young man’s life. He was faced with a decision to follow Jesus but found that it was too hard for him. He loved his riches and was not willing to give them up. Yes, life can be hard. It requires a willingness to follow Jesus no matter what it costs, but ‘just because it was hard, didn’t mean it was wrong.’ 

CARING BRIDGE POST

These last few years have been hard, difficult, and challenging for our family, with Dorothy being unwell and on hospice, I (Alan) falling and breaking my hip, Beth, our eldest daughter, passing away last year, and Joy, our youngest daughter, dealing with cancer.

Yes, life has been hard, but as Joy states in the following Caring Bridge post, “Just because it is hard, doesn’t mean it is wrong.” She writes:

I was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 amid COVID and shutdowns here in MN. As a result, Mitchel and Katie (my eldest son and his wife) decided to move into my home temporarily to practically assist with things here, along with helping provide transportation to countless medical appointments as we determined a course of treatment.

We quickly realized that God had other plans as what we thought was temporary became permanent. After rearranging where the rest of the family would sleep, we made the upstairs of our home into a mini apartment of sorts, and Mitchel and Katie officially moved in. There were days when it was ‘hard’ for each of us. Change can be hard . . . . . it was challenging some days to merge two families under one roof, all while navigating my cancer diagnosis and treatment.

However, ‘Just because it is hard, doesn’t mean it is wrong.’ These words are often stated in my home as a reminder that ‘hard’ is often right. Having Mitchel, Katie, and David here in my home for the last two and a half years has been so right. And so much ‘good’ has come as a result. God has strengthened our relationships and provided us with so many new traditions and memories together, such as waffle Wednesdays, teaching David how to make coffee (he loves the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans), going for walks around the pond to look for turtles, good night hugs, family fun on Saturdays, homemade pizza, laughter, dad jokes, range days, Christmas tree hunts . . . the list goes on. All so good!

Life continues to change though, and last weekend, Mitchel, Katie, and little David moved into a townhome in Chaska. Over the previous couple months, I have been trying to prepare myself for this change, savoring each moment . . . especially the countless times I hear the sound of David’s footsteps as he comes to find his Grandma, wanting to tell me about something fun he just did, asking me to read a story, wanting to give me a hug, or suggesting that we go for a walk. I thought I was doing a decent job of acknowledging my emotions . . . until last Friday morning. Let me just say that I had a really good cry as I woke up face-to-face with the reality that it was moving day. Change can be so hard. But even though I will miss them all so much, I know it is the right time for Mitchel, Katie, and David to move again to their own home.

As we discussed the upcoming move as a family over the summer, I realized that God again had other plans for my home. It quickly became apparent that Timothy and Naomi (my second eldest son and his wife) should move into the upstairs when Katie and Mitchel moved out.

There may be days when it will be ‘hard,’ as we again merge two families under one roof, but I know that this change is also right, and I am so excited about all the ‘good’ that God will bring out of this new change in our lives as He continues to strengthen the relationships within our family, providing opportunities for more wonderful memories together.

Yes, change is hard, but just because it is hard, doesn’t mean it is wrong.’ 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Life is hard at times, and most, if not all, people have had challenging experiences and trials to deal with, whether long or short. As Christians, we must remember what the Word promises. Remember these verses.

 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God.

Isaiah 43:2-3

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

And remember, ‘Just because it is hard, doesn’t mean it is wrong.’