Struggles are a normal part of life. They favour everyone and their timing can be rarely predicted. But right now, I know many family and friends are struggling with issues they never saw coming. I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but struggles seem to rear their head just before Christmas.
Statistically, it’s common for marriages to break up in November and December. Various reasons are suggested for the timing, but the most common one is because couples don’t want to spend the holiday season – being Christmas and New Year’s, with someone they no longer love. There are also mounting pressures from the year that cause a relationship to fracture.
For me personally, I’m not struggling (and my marriage is swell), but I do have a few niggling concerns about changes I’ve been making in my life. It’s been scary chasing after something I’m not sure will play out. A part of me is excited by the possibilities, but a bigger part is a little scared of what happens if it falls through?
I squash the negativity with faith and visualizing. I’ve found this to be quite helpful. (Thanks Bron)
This post really isn’t about me though. I felt lead to write to encourage someone (it could be you) going through difficult times right now.
It could be a relationship breakdown.
Stress about finances.
Stress about job security.
Stress about lack of work coming in.
Worries about health.
Worries about kids, infertility, expanding family or grandchildren.
It could be anything.
Whatever the struggle is, don’t internalize it and hope ‘the universe’ sorts it out.
The universe couldn’t care less about your problems.
But God does. He cares very much about the burdens you carry and the struggles you’re dealing with right now.
If you feel like you’re at the end of your rope and you don’t know how long you can fake ‘holding it together’, don’t despair. Reaching the end of your rope places in you a position where you have no choice but to rely on another power to help you. And that higher power should be God.
God wants to work in your life, but you have to trust and essentially let go of what you’re holding onto, so He can take control. Doesn’t it make sense that in order for you to receive, you’ve also got to let go?
What does that even look in ‘real’ life?
It means you pray for a miracle. And when I mean pray, I mean practice a stance of surrender. Speak out your concerns and be bold in your requests for what you need to happen.
You also trust the right resolution will occur.
It means you never stop hoping and believing for the best outcome.
It means you speak over negative thoughts with uplifting contemplations.
I know many successful people found their breakthrough, when they were at the end of their rope.
And the same can happen for you.
A thought provoking quote, which I’ve found encouraging says, ‘Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but actually you’ve been planted.’
Living at the end of your rope is not a fun place to be. It’s painful (hello rope burn) and uncomfortable, but it can also be a catalyst for amazing things to come your way. You find strength you never realized you had, and you build a resilience you hadn’t acquired before you came face to face with your circumstance.
Trusting in the one who created you and has the power to equip you to face all challenges, is certainly reassuring. It also reminds you to never fear the feeling of being out of control.
The end of the rope is not your end. Your purpose will always be greater than your position. It certainly may not feel like a great place to be, but it does place you in position to contemplate unusual possibilities which can lead to great things. So persevere, trust and believe in the best outcome to your circumstances.
