The Hard Thing

you lift heavy things at the gym or do challenging math problems, what happens? You get stronger! God knows that doing difficult things helps us grow stronger in our faith and character.

During Jesus' time on earth, He taught some really challenging lessons. His most famous teaching was called the Sermon on the Mount, and it was full of ideas that seemed completely backwards to everyone listening. The religious leaders thought they knew all the rules, but Jesus was introducing them to something totally different—the Kingdom of God. This wasn't just about following a bunch of rules; it was about creating a whole new way of living where people treat each other with love, kindness, and respect.

Think about this: if everyone in your school lived by God's principles, what would that look like? Would there be bullying? Would kids exclude others from their friend groups? Would people cheat on tests or spread rumors? Jesus wanted people to understand that when we follow God's ways, we can actually experience a taste of heaven right here on earth.

We've talked many times about the greatest commandments: love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. But let's dig deeper into what this really means. When God asks you to love Him with everything you have, He's asking for your whole life—your thoughts, your choices, your time, your energy. How do you think that looks different from just saying you believe in God? And when it comes to loving your neighbor as yourself, that means treating others with the same care and respect you want for yourself.

One of the hardest ways to show love is through forgiveness. Picture this scenario: your best friend promises to keep a secret you told them, but then they tell everyone at school. You feel embarrassed, hurt, and betrayed. Your first instinct might be to never trust them again, or maybe even to embarrass them back. But Jesus says, "Do the hard thing—forgive them." This doesn't mean what they did was okay, and it doesn't mean you have to immediately trust them with another secret. Forgiveness means you choose not to hold onto anger and you give them a chance to earn back your trust. Jesus teaches that when we forgive others, God forgives us for the mistakes we make too.

Now let's talk about loving your neighbors. In Jesus' time, people thought "neighbor" just meant the people who lived in their village. But Jesus expanded that definition completely. Your neighbor is anyone who crosses your path—classmates, teammates, the cashier at the store, the new kid at school who doesn't speak much English, even the annoying kid on the bus who talks too loudly. God calls us to love all of them.

Here's where it gets really challenging: What if your "neighbor" is someone who makes fun of you? What if they're the kid who always cuts in line or the one who never shares? What if they have different beliefs than your family, or they dress differently, or they struggle in school? Jesus says, "Love them anyway." This doesn't mean you have to be best friends with everyone, but it means you treat them with respect and kindness. You look for ways to help instead of hurt. You choose to see them as valuable people, just like God sees you.

Think about it this way: when you get frustrated with your parents or siblings, do they stop loving you? When you make mistakes or have a bad attitude, does God stop caring about you? No! They love you with a forgiving love that doesn't give up. That's the same kind of love Jesus asks us to show others—even when it's really, really hard.

Here's a challenge for this week: Think of someone who has hurt your feelings or annoyed you recently. Instead of avoiding them or being mean back, try one small act of kindness toward them. Maybe it's helping them pick up dropped papers, including them in a conversation, or simply choosing not to roll your eyes when they do something that bothers you. Remember, forgiveness and love are choices we make, not feelings we wait for.

As you practice forgiving and loving others—especially when it's difficult—you're not just following rules. You're actually helping to bring God's Kingdom to earth, one relationship at a time. Let's pray.

Dear Father, we know that forgiving others and loving people who hurt us is really hard sometimes. Help us remember that You love us even when we mess up, and give us the strength to show that same kind of love to others. When we want to hold grudges or be mean back to someone, remind us to choose Your way instead. Help us be Kingdom-builders in our schools, our families, and our communities. Amen.