Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you just can't win? You feel like nothing is going your way. Your relationship has been a little rocky, you can't get into that school you want, you can't get that job you've been wanting for so long, or maybe there's a person in your life that challenges just about everything you stand for.

Well, I have some pretty encouraging words for you today! Yesterday, I was sitting in church, and I felt like our preacher was speaking right to me! I was so zoned into what he was saying that his hour-long sermon felt like it lasted 10 minutes. I didn't even notice the baby crying a few rows up!

The preacher was talking to us about moments in our lives that force us to face the challenges presented to us. He also talked about the people in our lives that will try to discourage us or try to fool us into doing what they want by using God's word in the most ingenuine way possible. In these moments, he said all we need to do is see the situation for how it is and the person for who they are and simply "say a prayer and post a guard"! (Nehemiah 4:9)

Man, isn't that powerful? "Say a prayer; post a guard." Say that to yourself about three times and see how much better you feel!

For some reason, there is such a relaxing and peaceful feeling that comes over me when I say it. In those moments of challenge, God is simply testing our faith. That's it! He's seeing if we are going to trust him to handle the issues.

Are you going to keep applying to that school you've always wanted to get into? Or, are you going to stop applying cause you didn't get in that first time?

Are you going to stay and talk out your issues when you and your partner are fighting or haven't been seeing eye-to-eye? Or, are you going to give up, walk away and find something new?

Are you going to let that certain person in your life continue to get to you and make you feel small? Or, are you going to finally stand up for yourself and ask the good Lord to handle the rest?

All of these things seem so hard to deal with, and honestly, it would be so much easier to just give up, avoid a situation or try something new. But, I've realized that when we're faced with challenges from life or people, God isn't putting them in our lives to be mean; he is allowing us the opportunity to learn how to handle the different situations.

But, ultimately, he is testing our faith! Our faith in him, faith in his timing and faith in his plan for our lives.

No, I'm not a preacher or a motivational speaker.

I'm simply a 20-something year old that felt inspired during a church service. I wanted to write this not to vent or force my opinion on anyone, but to offer some encouraging words to let you know that things will get better.

No, the school or job situation may not change, and the people in your life may not change. But how you allow yourself to handle those situations will determine the outcome of how you feel in those moments.

Don't get overwhelmed and try to fix something that can't be fixed. Be able to see the big picture of a situation and know where you fit and understand that a lot of things are out of your control.

If you work hard, be humble, keep a good heart and put all of your faith in him, I can tell you that the way you have been feeling in hard times will probably change for the better!

With that being said, I am going to challenge myself to go throughout my weeks with that mindset. I will know that if I get faced with a challenge from a situation or person to just take a deep breath, say a prayer and post a guard and put all of my faith in the big man upstairs!

Have a great week!

With much Love,

A Tumbling Tumbleweed

Instagram: KatieGreen2014