The Hardness of Holiness

Want to know the words I find hardest to say? “Lord, give me the strength.”

The world tells us to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone if we’re training for a marathon or applying for a job — but if we’re talking about God, everything is supposed to be easy. If it comes “naturally” or without struggle it’s supposed to be right.

Only God is perfect, the world tells us. What’s the use of trying so hard?

I’m really good at finding excuses for myself, especially when it comes to holiness. Holiness, often (not always, but often), is about choosing the hard, but right, thing. The invitation to holiness is whispered in the hardest moments of my day when I am the most hopelessly human. After the kids’ bedtime, when I really just want to watch Dateline and eat too much ice cream instead of saying the Rosary. When I’ve committed to helping someone, but it suddenly becomes incredibly inconvenient. When I see a social media post that’s just begging for a snarky reply. When the conversation becomes gossip and I’m dying to make myself feel superior to someone.

The reason it’s so difficult for me to mutter these five simple words is because I know that if I say them and I mean them, they form a prayer that God will always answer in the affirmative. He will give me the strength I ask for, and then I will have no excuse.

It’s not unlike my kids claiming they’re too tired to clean up the playroom. If they would just ask me for help, it would all be so doable. But where would that leave them?

With a job to do, that’s where.

“Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.” — Leviticus 19:2

©LPi