Following a talk I gave on what older women are to teach younger, according to Titus 2:3-5, someone raised this objection in the question period:
“I have a hard time with that verse about staying home.”
It’s an expression we often hear—”I have a hard time with that.” Usually the tone is one of argument, and the words are a euphemism for “I don’t like that,” or “Surely that doesn’t apply to my case.” If the speaker were convinced that the verse did not apply to his case, he would not be having a hard time with it. He could dismiss it at once. But if the person really means he or she is having difficulty, what is the exact nature of the difficulty? I can think of four possibilities:
1. Does this apply to me?
2. I want to do it but I can’t.
3. I ought to do it but I don’t want to.
4. I wish God hadn’t said it.
What shall we do with the difficulties? To the first I would say that if we come to God with an empty cup, asking Him to reveal His will and help us to do the right thing, no matter what it costs, He will certainly show us. For the second we have the promise, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” God never gave a command for which He will not supply the power to obey. For the third we know that we have been created with the will to choose. We may choose to do what we ought to do, and God will help us. If the last describes our “hard time” let’s be straightforward with God, confess the truth, and submit to His Word as an obedient servant. Obedience always leads finally to joy.
**As we continue our quarterly theme of Joy in Obedience, we share this excerpt from The Elisabeth Elliot Newsletter, July/August 1990.