[This unedited journal excerpt is from later the same day used in yesterday's message. Even though it was written weeks ago it reminds me of Alistair Begg's message referenced in Tuesday's message. It was his message that motivated me to dig out this journal passage.]
There's a message forming in my mind about making the hard choices. It's about how you're excited in the beginning but 
once you're out there in the deep waters, limbs tired and aching from treading water for hours, hungry, thirsty, lost, etc then you long for the safety of land. There are moments when you regret having made the hard choice. And there are people who were afraid to make the hard choice trying to counsel you from the shore. That's not God, you're not doing it right. Look at me, God's way is easy. If you were hearing from God it wouldn't be this hard. These are things they tell you while they have the safety of the sand and the shore beneath their feet. And to one who doesn't know better they surely do seem better off. You're the one seemingly languishing in the deep waters while they are safe on the shore.
And though they try to convince you God's way is easy the Bible begs to differ. I don't think David would agree since he was hunted by Saul for 13 long difficult years before he became King as God had promised. I doubt Joseph would agree after 13 years of captivity. I don't think Moses would agree after 40 years in the desert. And I already mentioned Mary's struggle as the mother of the Messiah. So the bottom line is will you make the hard choices and stick with them. And you can't just tread out there in the deep, keep swimming to the other side to unchartered territories. And float when you can't swim. Rest in Him.
The Road Not Taken (1916)
by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Amen Robert Frost.
