92: The Curse of the Easy Button video solocast

In this first video solocast of season six, I'm excited to share some insights I've gained through the hard challenges of my journey. 

*Please note that this episode is a video solocast. Please visit my YouTube channel @MelonyBrown to watch it. 

In 2005, the office supply company, Staples, launched a marketing campaign which introduced the 'easy button.' The easy button would solve frustrating situations. 

The downfall of the 'easy button' is it trained our culture to be frustrated by anything that was hard, or time-consuming, or took too long to obtain. Going through the drive-thru is easier than preparing a home-cooked meal. Ordering cleaning supplies, wrapping paper, and dog food on Amazon is indeed less-time consuming than making a trip to Target. 

Unfortunately, the 'easy button' marketing campaign has permeated our mindsets. Not just about our errands but about the hard challenges we face in life. 

John 16:33 reads, "In this life you will have trouble. Take heart, for I have overcome the world." 

James 1:2-4 reads, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." 

Matthew 19:26 reads, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 

Jeremiah 32:17 reads, "Nothing is too hard for you." 

When we are going through hard challenges, we see several of God's responses in each letter of the word hard. 

H - God helps. 
Check out these additional verses: 2 Samuel 22:36, 2 Chronicles 32:8, Psalm 46:1, and Psalm 121:1-2. 

We often don't see God helping us. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." 

A - God is active.
Check out these additional verses:
Isaiah 64:4, Deuteronomy 23:14, and 2 Chronicles 36:22. 

R - We receive many blessings from God. Those blessings are activated by hard challenges, which is often how God strengthens, develops, and grows character traits in us. This one is different from the other three letters. You receive blessings when you accept Jesus' salvation. 

Challenges activate those blessings, which can lead to your growth. Think fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23.

D - God directs. 
Check out these additional verses:
Proverbs 20:24, Isaiah 48:17, and 1 Kings 17:9. 

What is the purpose of hard challenges? Your growth is the purpose of hard. Your growth is what makes hard necessary. Your growth is the outcome of hard. Your growth is valuable because you are invaluable to God. 

In the last third of this episode, I share several hard challenges I've faced and how those challenges activated my growth. 

*I do not share this to boast about myself. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:31, "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 reads, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 

Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebrovascular disease that affects 1 in 2 million people. It is characterized by strokes, mini strokes, and migraines. 

Philippians 4:7 reads, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Ephesians 6:17 reads, "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

My books, Challenges Won't Stop Me and Keep Moving Forward, are available at www.melonybrown.com.books.

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