The Hard Challenge

I have been thinking a lot about the word "hard" lately. I hear that word a lot whenever I tell people what my degree is in. You see, I have a bachelor's degree in Chemistry. I had to take math and physics and science and everyone inevitably says something along the lines of, "I hated chemistry. It was so hard!" I think it's so funny that we hate things that are hard, even after the fact. People say that about things before they even occur. "I can't do that, it's too hard," or "That sounds hard!" The funny thing is, I don't usually think of things the same way other people do. Everyone else seems to use the word "hard" synonymous with "impossible." Because what are we really saying? Something hard is something impenetrable, like a rock or a wall. Something that withstands our efforts to break it down. It's hard. But I've decided to replace the word "hard" with "challenge," and I'll tell you why. Because a challenge can be overcome. A challenge is something we can face. A challenge makes us smile and run forward because we want to prove that we can do it. And when you think of life as a challenge, rather than hard, it becomes much more manageable. Everyone seems to think that I'm some sort of genius because I majored in chemistry. Believe me, there are smarter people out there, lots of them. Truth be told, I struggled in my upper level classes. I failed my last math class. Not once, not even twice, but three whole times! But I finally passed it. Why? Because I didn't see it as hard. I saw it as a challenge that, if given sufficient time and practice, I could overcome, and I did. So, here's my challenge to you: replace the word "hard" with "challenge" and see what happens. See what it is you can accomplish all on your own if you believe in yourself, and in that God who gave you breath and life and the drive to win. Remember who you are. You are a child of a Heavenly King, and He will not let you fail, if you take His hand.