When Hard Times Come

When things don’t go well for me, I sometimes recall words from “Hard Times Come Again No More.”

Stephen C. Foster wrote that folksong in 1854, and it was popular in its day in the U.S. and Europe.

Here is that song’s first verse:

“Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears / While we all sup sorrow with the poor / There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears / Oh, Hard Times, come again no more.”

Chorus: “Tis the song, the sigh of the weary / Hard Times, Hard Times, come again no more / Many days you have lingered around my cabin door / Oh, Hard Times, come again no more.”

The “Collins English Dictionary” defines “hardship” as “conditions of life difficult to endure” and as “something that causes suffering or privation.” “Privation” is defined as “lack of basic necessities or comforts of life.”

Foster’s song and the definition of “hardship” seem to mainly describe physical or circumstantial difficulties, but spiritual, mental and emotional hardships are also hard to endure and are not easily separated from circumstances and physical trials.

Someone said, “Your body and soul live so close together that they catch each other’s diseases.”

I have heard people talk about feeling so down-and-out that they “had to reach up to touch bottom.” One person described a season of depression when he “felt lower than a snake’s belly.” “Hard times” come to us in various forms, and they come to us all. Someone said, “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

Hardships are part of life.

“There is no success without hardship,” Sophocles said.

Frank A. Clark said, “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”

“Adversity reminds men of religion,” Livy noted.

Evangelist Charles Spurgeon said, “Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the top of a mountain. So are many things learned in adversity which the prosperous man dreams not of.”

“It is not until we have passed through the furnace that we are made to know how much dross is in our composition,” said Colton.

What about this verse? “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction…” (Isaiah 30: 20-21).

Does God “give” adversity?

Sir Francis Bacon commented on his perception of God’s way of dealing with people during Old Testament and New Testament times. Bacon said, “Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity of the New, which carrieth the greater benediction and the clearer revelation of God’s favor. Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.”

Writer Jeanne Guyon said, “Adversity and affliction are not easy for anyone of us; nevertheless, the good thing is that the Lord is with us and directing us not to get anxious, but get effective…If we faint in adversity, our strength will be small. We must abandon every voice in order to listen to His Word...To penetrate deeper in the experience of Jesus Christ, it is required that you begin to abandon your whole existence, giving it up to God.”

The Apostle Paul said, “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh (produces) patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

Joyce Meyer said, “No one enjoys going through difficult times, but when we’re in the middle of a crisis, it’s comforting to encounter someone who has had a similar experience and has survived…Even if no good comes from our crisis other than our ability to help others, we still might one day say going through it was worth it all.”

Here are the words to “Lord, When I Hurt Inside,” a song by my wife, Carol Crain:

“Lord, when I hurt inside, I often question why all this pain had to be part of my days.

“Then you take me by the hand and help me understand, because you love me, and I can trust your higher ways.

“Though I may never know the reasons or the whys, to You, Lord, I can go; on You I can rely.

“My memories You will heal. You have and always will give me strength, peace and joy and victory.”

Trust God during good times; trust God during hard times.