My recent interchange with my seven-year-old son:

I said, “Why didn’t you read the lesson mom told you to read?”

He replied, without a hint of reluctance, “I don’t like hard stuff.”

Well, at least he’s honest, right? I love the innocence and transparency of young kids. They will often just tell you precisely what’s on their mind with no filter and no need to posture. It’s endearing. However, if I fast forward a decade and we have this same conversation when he’s 17 years old, we have a problem. In our walk as believers, God shapes our character most often through the hard stuff of life. In the book of James, we learn the testing of our faith produces steadfastness and helps us become complete (James 1:2-4). And in Romans 5, we’re reminded how suffering produces character and hope (Rom 5:3-5). I encouraged my son that day and told him I knew how he felt. Then, I told him, “Get it done, even though it’s hard.”

Hallmarks of a Biblical Marriage: No man enters a marriage relationship planning to fail. However, the key to making a marriage work is getting a handle on God’s plan for the very first institution He created. We need a clear picture of what a biblical marriage looks like so we can embrace His best for our wives and for us.

Proverbs 16: Making the most of our words: One of the biggest lies we hear in life is that words can never harm us. Truth is, words can wound us deeply. Even worse, our words can do infinitely more damage to our family and friends than sticks or stones ever could. While men do so many things well, speaking life into those we love can be a particular challenge; yet our influence as husbands, fathers, and friends depends on keeping a leash on our lips. As we continue our study of Proverbs 16, we’ll learn some important lessons about making sure our words don’t get in the way of what God wants us to be and do for His glory.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill

“The love of God did not protect His own Son. He will not necessarily protect us – not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process.” – Elisabeth Elliot

“I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.” – Charles Spurgeon

Do something hard. What do you have facing you this week that’s hard? Is it a conversation with your wife, your kids or a friend? Is it a physical battle you must endure? Is it perhaps a work project that expects too much of you in too short a time? What’s the hard thing you need to do this week? Are you avoiding it? Dive in, and on the other side, enjoy the stronger character, endurance and hope you’re promised.

Kent Evans
Author of The Manhood Journey, co-founder of Manhood Journey and Father On Purpose.

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.