Challenges Can Get Easier

What is something easy for you but used to be a challenge?

I was giving the question above as a writing prompt from a professional writer to ponder and respond too. Below is my response after reflecting on which one of the many challenges over the years have become a little easier.

I found the question above challenging at first. I am sure there are many easier things for me today than they were in my past, but it was a little difficult to recall one. Then I thought about where I am presently in my life and some of the milestones I have accomplished in challenging situations. It is easier today for me to find joy amid challenging and uncomfortable times.

There was a time in my life that I would only look at my situations one-dimensionally and dramatically. I could only see the wrong that others caused me. I would repeatedly rehearse what occurred, not occurred, said, and not said. I could not see beyond the injustice and sometimes the horror of the offense against me to see any light at the end of the tunnel. I would let my emotions entangle themselves in the offender’s violation so that I would walk around functionally depressed. Depending on who I told my story to, I could shoplift emotional sympathy on some days. As I began to grow and mature in my relationship with the Lord, I began to let Him heal me from the inside out. I began to allow His word to permeate my heart, soul, and mind. Instead of asking the question, “why me?” I began to ask Him, “what am I supposed to learn?” I began to look at my uncomfortable situations as Him trusting me with the pain because He knew I would do right by it. Like Job, He knew I would be hurt, sad, confused, and in a great deal of pain, but I would never curse Him. He always knew I would come out better on the other side because, after all, He created me.

After some time, I was tired of licking my wounds and stunting my growth. I decided one day that I was going to choose JOY no matter what was going on. I decided that I would look for the light at the end of each tunnel, no matter how far in the distance it was. Some days I would have to squint my eyes real tight to see, but it was there. I realized that joy is a decision, not a given. I had to be intentional about the kind of day I wanted to have despite what was happening in my life. I had to decide to believe that God is good in every situation, even the worst ones. By no means does this mean that I pretend that things do not hurt me or do not feel good; it just means I have to reach beyond the present moment to seek and search for what God is up to in the situation. I can smile and have joy alongside the tears and heartache because I know who’s in control. Although this has gotten easier for me over the years, I still get tempted to fall back into old habits and familiar and comfortable ways. I must intentionally choose every day, every moment, and sometimes every second to walk in JOY!