TOUGH TIMES LAST, TOUGH PEOPLE ARE SIFTED IN THE PROCESS
We seldom speak about tough times, yet as we journey in life, it is a process that is inevitable.
If you have or are currently experiencing tough times in your life, you know what I’m talking about; if not, then wait for it.
We all go through mild depression once in a while (or would you prefer to call it bad days or sudden change of attitude).
These are days when we don’t want to speak to people, answer phone calls, hear an encouraging message, a bible verse, an “I will pray for you” statement (for those of us who belong to the faith). We don’t want to dress up, show up, or speak up; we just want to be left alone to wallow in our unanswered prayers, disappointment, frustrations, comparison, wishes, unmet desires, confusion and more.
My friend Alice (not her real name) went through one of these moments. It was unbearable! She constantly felt that she could not take it anymore and wanted to give up. She had a few episodes of discouragement, depression and suicidal thoughts. Days turned into weeks, weeks to months, months to years and her pain kept persisting. She held on to life, smiled, and consistently went to work like all was well. She had to put up a face like we do and kept pressing on to the unknown.
No matter how hard the situation was, she kept praying to God to get this burden off her shoulder. Nothing changed. Things even got worse, but she had so much peace within her that one day she would look back, smile and be glad she never raised the white flag of defeat. One day, she woke up to advancement after years of agony that settled every area of her life. Alice is now a happy and fulfilled woman. She says she learnt perseverance, tolerance, empathy, patience and kindness during that tough season. She is happy to have gone through that painful process and never gave up.
Well, the story of Alice is not new or unique to us, as the earth rotates, so do seasons in life.
Tough times are meant to make us better, stronger and wiser. I challenge you to look into your life today and if you think everything is falling apart, try and focus on where you have come from – the mountains you’ve climbed along the way that you almost gave up but didn’t, the valleys you went through and never fell, or you fell but stood up again, the ocean you had to swim through, that challenge that you thought would sweep you off your feet but you overcame, that illness, incident or accident that was meant to take you off the face of the earth but did not. You made it before and you can do it again! Stay focused, think positive put more energy on the areas of your life that are blooming as you work on the areas that are wanting. Believe and trust in God.
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