We've all been there. We've had our fair share of battles that life has decided to throw at us. I too have faced some giants in my day. Now I know what some of you are thinking: "Oh, I come from a well-rounded family with no issues. I'm a golden child. What life battles could I have?" Even if it's just a B on your 4.0 record or a boy breaking your heart, it's an issue that can impact you more than you realize.
No matter how big or small, your battles and trials are never easy to go through. They test your patience and make you wonder if there is even a God out there. But, sometimes, there is a light at the end on the dark tunnel. If you look at the situation, there may be a lesson to be learned that will help you change as a person and have a different (better) outlook on life.
First, let's talk about the cons:
1. Battles create wounds and scars.
Obviously I'm not meaning that someone's words are going to literally cut you open and make you bleed, but it can certainly feel that way sometimes. The actions that are taken against you or words that are thrown your way can often cause wounds to our heart that never heal properly. Even decades later, that same scar can be irritated by similar events taking place in your life.
2. You lose the hope that you will ever win.
Never been a pessimistic person? Think again. Everything is hopeless and every day is a loss. You let thoughts creep into your mind like, "I will never amount to anything," and, "No one will ever love me." In these moments, binge watching Netflix in the dark with your favorite blanket seems like the way to go with your pity party.
3. You and God are no longer friends.
This is what it all boils down to. You sit there and pray that God takes away the hurt and nothing happens. He is silent and you feel like you are talking to a brick wall. When you finally get fed up with the silence, you decide it's time to end the relationship. Why continue to ask for help when no one responds? When no one is listening?
Ready for the good news? Here are the pros of going through a hard time:
1. They WILL make you stronger.
I'm going to reference you to the Kelly Clarkson hit because it explains this so perfectly.
2. You learn to cherish the little moments.
For some reason, even if our hardest situation doesn't make us lose anyone, we find light in the small moments. It's like when you see your favorite flower in the garden and you actually take a moment to admire it rather than not giving it the time of day like you probably normally would.
3. Your once-nonexistent relationship with God becomes stronger than ever before.
What you may not have realized was that in all of those silent moments, God was listening. He was watching to see how you would handle the trail He put in your path. He chose you as one of his soldiers, so He knows the battles that you can handle. Through all of those sleepless nights you've learned how to pray to Him in a deeper way which has greatly increased your interaction with each other. Communication is key. Ever thought that this could be one of the lessons you were being taught?
Always remember, your hardest times are not the end of you. You will make it through it. You will come out on top. There is always a silver lining, you just have to get through the clouds to find it.
