Do Not Add to the Trouble

One verse I misunderstood for a long time was Job 14:1:

"Man who is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble."

For years, I thought Job was describing certain people. I assumed some lives were filled with more sorrow because of their background, their choices or simply because they were unfortunate.

Now I see something different.

Job was describing life itself.

Whether a person lives 35 years, 80 years or 120 years, our days are still few. Before we have learnt enough, before we have made our contribution, before we have figured ourselves out, life is already moving towards its end.

And those few days come with trouble.

Not because God has singled us out but because that is the nature of life in a broken world. Every season presents another puzzle to solve, another decision to make, another challenge to navigate. That is simply part of being human.

Oddly enough, this understanding brought me peace.

I stopped being so harsh on myself.

I realised there isn't a special group of people living problem-free lives while the rest of us struggle. Everyone is carrying something. Everyone is trying to put pieces together.

What we can influence is whether we add unnecessary trouble to the trouble that already exists.

Our choices matter.

The conversations we entertain.

The people we surround ourselves with.

The habits we cultivate.

The risks we take.

The places we go.

Life is already short. Why shorten it further?

Life already contains enough sorrow. Why add more through avoidable decisions?

I remember planning a trip once. A family member said something that has stayed with me:

"Don't add to the problems we already have."

At first, it sounded restrictive. Later, I understood the wisdom behind it.

We talked through the concerns. We put safeguards in place. My family knew exactly where I was going, who I would be with and how to reach me. Once every reasonable precaution had been taken, they were happy for me to travel.

That wasn't fear.

It was wisdom.

It wasn't about avoiding life. It was about protecting it.

So let me leave you with a question.

What burden are you carrying today that belongs to life and what burden have you unknowingly added yourself?

Perhaps that is one of the greatest responsibilities we have. We cannot remove every hardship that comes with being human but we can refuse to create unnecessary ones.

Choose wisely.

Guard your relationships.

Protect your peace.

Care for your body.

Walk with discernment.

Our days are already few.

Let's not make them shorter or heavier than they need to be.