Hard and Holy Things

A few months ago, I stumbled across a quote by Ann Voskamp, and it stuck right in my heart.  She says, "Please hear me, Girl.  The world has enough women who know how to do their hair.  It needs women who know how to do hard and holy things."  Even now, I am still taken aback by how much that cuts to my core.  It makes me think, wanting to shout all the amens in agreement, and it convicts me.

I have these thoughts swirling around in my mind, trying to make sense of them: 

What am I teaching those young girls that look up to me?  What am I placing my value in?  What will I teach my future daughter?  Where do I spend most of my time?  Do I look at the outward appearance rather than heart?  Am I willing to do hard and holy things?  What does that even mean?

It's easy to be seduced by this world and all the things it values.  As women, when we feel pretty, it gives us sense of power.  It makes us seem like we have a sort of influence.  It becomes easy for that kind of thing to motivate us instead of being motivated and striving after all the things that Lord has asked us to chase after.  We're chasing after ombres, smoky eyes, and the cutest outfit of the season when we should be chasing after God Himself.  The time we spend in the salon under a hairdryer or getting our nails done we could be spending in the Word.  We could be praying intentionally.  We could be helping meet needs.  And, good grief, have you ever done a smoky eye?  I've attempted to, and my lame attempt still takes like ten minutes per eye.  I'm valuing my appearance of the condition of my heart, and I feel the effects ripple throughout my soul as I being to crave intimacy with my King.

Please don't hear me say there's anything wrong being and feeling pretty.  Don't hear me say that these things aren't fun.  But do hear me say this: prioritize.  Make hard choices to pursue the holy things.  Instead of using the excuse that we don't have enough to read the Bible, let's cut out some of the complication of our beauty routines or our wasted time at the salon.  Let's cut out our vanity and run after things that matter eternally.  I have been going through this pruning process in these most recent weeks.  I want to workout and take time to look like I didn't just roll out of bed and spend time in the Word.  Admittedly, the last thing I prioritize is the time in the Word, getting to know my Father.  I have chased after vanity.  And I don't want that to be what I'm teaching the young women I influence or my future daughter. 

I want to be known for being found in the Word or in prayer when people couldn't find me.  I want my kids to walk down the hall in the morning and find their momma in the presence of the One who saved her soul.  I don't want to feel the ripple effects of lacking intimacy; I want to feel the effects of having a relationship with God.  I want to find energy in His presence to do all the other things throughout the day. I want to be willing to do hard and holy things.

I want to make the hard choices to walk away from all the things that aren't leading me towards my King.  I want to make the hard choices to be obedient even when it's uncomfortable and means that I don't what the next steps are.  I want to make the hard choices to seem crazy to the outside world.  I want to make the hard choices to not wallow in the things that I don't understand, but instead press in to my Refuge.  I want to make hard choices to love those who are hard to love.

Hard and holy things don't mean that our world completely changes.  Not always.  It means that we are choosing to bear the fruits of the Spirit in all that we say and do.  It means giving up extra sleep in the morning.  It means that we are spending less time in front of mirrors and more time on closet floors.   It means that we are meeting people in the midst of their hurt and pain, even when it seems like an incovenience to us or we may not like that person very much.  Hard and holy things means laying our selfish desires aside and pursuing the desires of the Lord...even if it's not what we had planned.

Let's choose holy over acceptance, vanity, and comfort.  Let's teach our daughters how to do hard and holy things instead of how to fix their hair just right.  Let's pursue the desires of Jesus rather than our own selfishness.  Let's pursue our Father and walk in His footsteps.  Let's sacrifice our comfort for obedience and sanctification. 

What are the hard and holy things in your world right now?