Luck is Actually Pronounced Hard Work

Some people seem to have all the luck.  That lucky guy, his wife is always so encouraging to him.  How did they luck out and get the yard that grows lush, green grass?  She’s so lucky to have the kind of job she has.  We say things like this all the time.  The interesting thing is, no one seems to be able to define what ‘luck’ is!  Some say luck is karma or positivity while others say it’s just pure happenstance.  Biblically speaking, there are many concepts throughout Scripture that demonstrate how one can position themselves for blessings or curses.  While that is incredibly valuable information to have and an interesting topic to explore I am focusing more closely on the mindset that keeps people from accepting the reality that luck is anything but some magic force.  Luck is actually pronounced hard work, and the longer you ignore this truth, the longer you may be on the outside looking in wondering why, to quote Rod Stewart, ‘some guys have all the luck…’

Thomas Edison is credited with saying ‘The reason most people do not recognize an opportunity when they meet it is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work.’  When we throw the word lucky around, we are exonerating ourselves from the accountability required in order to succeed in a certain area.  Is it possible your neighbor’s yard naturally has better soil and fewer weeds than yours?  It is POSSIBLE.  However, it is more PROBABLE that the reason it looks so nice is because of the time and money invested in spraying weed killers, sowing good grass seed each year, aerating the lawn, and countless hours and dollars spent on watering and fertilizing.  It would be insulting to that person for you to attribute the fruit of their hard work to some cosmic force called luck. Not only is it insulting to them, it can be a death trap for you.  (Click Here to Read My Post ‘It’s Worth The Weeds)

Is It Really The Luck of the Draw?

Relationships are much the same as the lawns we’re working on this fall.  Friendships, partnerships and marriages must constantly be cultivated and invested in if true connection is going to bloom.  If I want to reap the fruit of having a beautifully kind and encouraging wife, I don’t need to look around for another option somewhere else, I need to invest love, grace, kindness and peace into the one I made a promise to.  Then as she blooms in an environment of love and acceptance she can more readily offer those things to me and others.  If you water the yard you have you may find a lot more green grass growing!  Every now and again you may stumble upon a friend that requires very little investment in order to stay connected.  However that says more about who they are than about the strength of your relationship.

If we want to be like those ‘lucky guys’ who have good relationships or get to work at a job they love, we need to love and serve well where we are, learning how to thrive in less than ideal circumstances.  The reason is opportunities seldom come to the sour, bitter, angry or critical.  The opposite is generally true.  People are attracted to hard working, uplifting, grateful individuals.  And since opportunity comes through people, you may want to pay attention to how people perceive you instead of blaming your lack of opportunity on bad luck.  (Click Here to Read My Post ‘The Illusion of New and Exciting’)

Put In The Hard Work

When is the last time you picked up the phone to call and encourage someone else with no ulterior motive?  When did you last thank your boss for the job that you currently have and for all of his hard work to build a company or team you could work for and be a part?  When did you last write your wife a love letter without some reference to what you should receive in response?  You may not be the most outgoing person or you may struggle with expressing your thoughts and feelings.  If so, instead of resigning yourself to mediocrity or blaming others of being more fortunate than you, put in the hard work of thinking through the investments you want to make.  Take the time to organize some thoughts on paper.  Read a book and sharpen your relational skills. Ask a pastor, coach or close friend to help you reach beyond your personality limitations.  All of it takes effort.  All of it can be hard work.  And all of it has the potential to make a significant impact on your life and on the lives of those around you. (Click Here to Read My Post ‘Wildflowers and Broken Dreams’)

Don’t envy or criticize those that seem to have it all together.  I promise you, they don’t.  Be careful to not explain away people’s hard work by simply calling them lucky.  Don’t be too down on yourself for not being where you want to be in life.  Most of us aren’t.  Your success or failure has nothing to do with luck, or a lack thereof.  Let’s recognize that we have areas to work on where we can apply ourselves and take tremendous strides forward if we will accept responsibly for our attitude and our actions. Your attitude and outlook have a tremendous impact on how soon you start and how far you can go.  You may be surprised by how ‘lucky’ you become after you decide to get to work in the areas of life where you have felt deficient. Choose to become one of the lucky ones by working hard and trusting God to lead you as you do.

From the Bible

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4 ESV

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. – Matthew 5:6 ESV 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 ESV