stirring you toward hope as you navigate the unexpected
What if one of my loved ones contracts COVID?
What if I lose my job?
What if life never returns to normal?
Life seems to present us with an extra dose of “what-ifs” whenever it takes a turn for the unexpected.
Have you felt the weight of “what-ifs” lately? With God, we can replace the what-ifs with even ifs.
Have the burdens of late been difficult to shake? Is the heaviness of the world weighing on you?
May this story offer you encouragement as you are reminded of the difference a day can make.
Am I being punished? Is God trying to teach me a lesson? Is my faith being tested?
For a long time, I believed my pain was meant to serve a higher purpose; that God had a reason for it.
Has your mind wandered to this place? As if by instinct, when unexpected circumstances cause pain and suffering to arise, our human nature leads us to grasp for purpose.
Instead of purpose, I’ve learned to seek wholeness.
Grace. I’ve needed a lot of it lately. Grace for myself and grace to extend toward others.
Living in a culture that values achievement and believes more is better, I’ve noticed this show up amid quarantine—being encouraged to “make the most of this time” or use it as an opportunity to check off all the tasks on the to-do list.
While not necessarily bad, finding myself caught in the mentality to make the most of my quarantine, I realized I was lacking some much-needed grace—and that you might be too.
On the verge of quitting something good, the practice of reflection saved me. The strength to press on grows within us as we reflect on where we have been and what we have made it through.
Reflection allows us to count the fruit of the weeks, months, and years past. If you are struggling to keep going, don’t forget to remember just how far you have come.
The mind is a powerful tool. It can help us, or hurt us; propel us forward, or hold us back. Our mind can be used to our advantage or disadvantage – it’s a choice we have the ability to make.
We don’t always have the ability to control our circumstances, but we do have the ability to control our mind, and in turn, the power it holds over us. When the going gets tough, I’ve learned to use mental strength to pull me through.