The Struggle Is Real

While the Struggle is Real, I am thankful for a song to sing, even if it is as silly as, “If I Only Had a Heart.”

When a man’s an empty kettle 

He should be on his mettle 

And yet I’m torn apart 

Just because I’m presumin’ 

That I could be kind a human

If I only had a heart

Just to register emotion, jealousy, devotion

And really feel the part

I could stay young and chipper

And I’d lock it with a zipper

If I only had a heart

—Wizard of Oz

I recently found a copy of my high school newspaper, The Free Wood, from March 1978. There was an article about a play I performed in, “The Wizard of Oz.” Guess which character I played. Yes, I had to squeeze myself into a metal costume for every performance. And, from the newspaper photo, it is clear that I was a lot thinner in 1978 than I am today. 

“God will change your despair into delight.”

The article included a picture of me, Tom Maxwell, who played the Cowardly Lion, and Ellen Cross, who played Dorothy. Wow, we were young. Of course, in the caption, they incorrectly switched Tom and my roles. I could never play a cowardly lion, or could I?

Cowardly Lion

This got me thinking about some of the challenges I have faced in life. Did I face them with courage or as a cowardly lion would? I’m sorry to say that sometimes these challenges kept me up at night, because of the despair that filled my heart. No, I’m not a tin man. I have a real human heart. 

Fear over the loss of a job, medical problems, like neuropathy, a father in the hospital dying, a mother with complications from brain surgery, a child with a broken heart, times when the bills were bigger than my income, all of these things caused me great stress. I’d like to say that I faced them courageously, trusting God, but I fretted and worried. “God, where are you?” “Do you not see what is going on?” “I can’t do this without help.”

Worry Is Useless

I am hopeful that you can learn from my experience; my worry was useless. I know this now looking back. Regardless of my concern, the dreaded event occurred. We can’t stop time. The struggle is real, but I now know, that God was with me, and saw me through, though he required me to do my part. Strange if you think about it. There is a God in heaven and he cares about us. With billions of people on this planet, he cares about you. I can say from experience that this is true. 

In Exodus 14:15, God spoke directly to Moses, saying, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” Don’t look back. Don’t fret and worry. Move forward. That is the lesson you should learn from the Tin Man. “Go forward.” In all of the challenges that I have faced in life, I just moved forward, one baby step at a time. And, as I did so, obstacles receded, and God provided answers. When you do nothing, then nothing can be done. But when you take a step forward, God will steer you to the next step, and eventually to victory.

The Struggle

God will change your despair into delight. When you are facing a challenge, trust him. For me, high school was a long time ago, and the Wizard of Oz is only a distant memory. Yes, the struggle is real, but you can rely on him for courage to go forward.

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear

Also, see Victorious.