When I forget the Gospel

  Life is a hard and messy business. Oftentimes I let myself get locked down in the mundane duties of life just by the virtue of them being easier to cope with then the bigger picture. Then, other times I drown in the messy business of life. And when life is too hard I get angry and shake my clenched fists at God and ask why He lets these things happen to me. The truth of the matter is that these things happen to me because I let myself forget the gospel. I fall into the trap of sub-consciously thinking that life revolves around me. No, I would never admit to living like that, but when I am honest, I do.
  The gospel is what keeps my life going. Life is still flawed, but it the light of the gospel every scar my soul bears is a beautiful testimony to the grace of God. Everything I have done in this life merits the pain I suffer on this earth, and eternity in hell when this life is over. I should be separated from my just and holy Creator, but I am not.
  In the infiniteness of His love for me, Christ came to this earth, lived, died, and rose for my salvation. In His living, He fulfilled the law I never could. In His dying, He bore in my stead the punishment I justly deserve. And in His resurrection, He conquered death so it is no longer a terror, but the step into eternity with Him.
  So when life is hard, all I have to do is remember the gospel and the God for who's glory I am to live. Because in the light of God's grace, life is a gloriously beautiful thing. And when I am living for the glory of God, the pain is worth it.