And You Know It Don't Come Easy

“Forgiveness is first and foremost a decision. Let it go. For your own sake.” – Dr. Tony Evans

“It Don’t Come Easy” is a song written by Beatles bandmates Ringo Starr and George Harrison, and recorded by Starr in 1970. Originally titled, “You Gotta Pay Your Dues,” it was widely viewed as Starr’s attempt to prove himself outside the long shadow of the Beatles, who had disbanded the previous year.

Starr later admitted that he wrote the song to "combat the original image of me as the downtrodden drummer.” He then added, "You don't know how hard it is to fight that."

Released as a single in April 1971, “It Don’t Come Easy” peaked at #4 in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and Cash Box listed it at #1 for one week. It was also included on Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh” later that year and on Starr’s greatest hits album, “Blast from Your Past” in 1975.

Peace, remember peace is how we make it,
Here within your reach
If you’re big enough to take it.
I don’t ask for much, I only want your trust,
And you know it don’t come easy.
And this love of mine keeps growing all the time,
And you know it don’t come easy.

Forget about the past and all your sorrows,
The future won’t last,
It will soon be over tomorrow.

So, there it is, as described so eloquently by the Beatles drummer. Peace, trust, and love don’t come easy… and he’s right. Neither does forgiveness, because it requires a person to give up a grudge, forge a truce, and put the past behind them. But forgiveness is commanded by Jesus and He must be obeyed.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President