Life is simple, which should never be confused with easy.

As we approach the end of the year, most of us wax philosophical—at least a littleJ.  I have enjoyed time with my family in Texas, and at the same time struggled with the things we are all dealing with:  extreme physical conditions, work issues, raising kids, financial stress, moves, new jobs, relational issues, uncertain futures…

And none of this makes a difference.  Not really.

Life isn’t about all these things.  Life is simple—know Jesus (intimately, personally) and be faithful to him in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

Each of us experiences our own version of life problems.  Sometimes they are huge, life changing, even life threatening.  Sometimes they just feel that way.  But our real task in life is simple:  Know Jesus, and whatever we encounter, live faithfully to Him.

Simple, but not always easy.

We spend so much time and energy “coping” with problems that won’t exist 50 years from now (often even 1 year from now) that we sometimes forget what endures–and what gives us the strength and perspective to deal with the trials and stresses we encounter in our lives.

But we can live with and through any circumstances.  The question is whether we’ll do it alone, or walking with the one who became flesh explicitly to share our life with us.

So many of us are confused about what it means to “know Jesus and be faithful”.    We “go to church” on Sunday (not necessarily worshiping) and go on with our week.  We talk to him, then we go on with our day.  But what would happen if we thought about him every moment?  If we were aware of his presence with each thought, each word we say, everything we do?  When we face each situation with “Lord, how can I be faithful to you in this situation?”.  When we consciously, even verbally offer each action and word to Him as an offering–an act of worship?  It is simple, but for many reasons we don’t find it easy.

So, I wish for you joy in 2013.  And I wish for a year without stress and trials.  But none of us is likely to have that.  The good news is, the joy can be there anyway.  All we have to do is Know Jesus and Be Faithful to him.

Simple.  Which should never be confused with easy.