Life can be difficult. There
are those times in your life where many challenges come in your path and can
overwhelm you. As I was reflecting over the last several months of my life, I
realized that I had allowed a series of challenges that came into my life
unexpectedly to derail and discourage me. I admit I did not handle the challenges
that came my way properly, instead I reacted in anger, frustration and defeat.
Challenge
can be defined as something that is difficult to overcome, and if you do not
push past the challenge you can remain stuck and defeated.
Not everyone faces the same challenges, and people
respond differently to challenges. You cannot compare how you may have
responded or reacted to a challenge in your life with how someone else responds
to similar situations.
What are some situations that could be challenging?
·
Difficult relationships with loved ones
·
Loss of a significant relationship
·
Work-related conflicts, job loss, or difficult
co-workers/boss
·
Any type of loss
·
Health issues
·
Hormonal imbalances
·
Toxic people
·
Unfairness in life
·
Any type of change
·
Divorce
Life
is unpredictable and unfair at times, but how can you learn to overcome those
challenges without remaining in a state of defeat:
1. Face
the reality. Don’t avoid what is causing you problems. Talk it out, write it
out and then let it go and surrender your situations to God.
2. Embrace
your life as it is, not how you fantasize how you want it to be. I can easily
slip into the non-reality that I have a loving, strong and supportive family
and become quite disappointed when they are not those things. This is not to
say you don’t believe and want better but you are not living in the hopes of
people or situations but in Christ alone.
3. Focus
on what is right, what is good and what is praiseworthy in your life and
decrease thinking and magnifying the challenges in your life.
4. Speak
and declare over your life that you are an overcomer instead of saying or
thinking,” I’m so defeated or discouraged about…”
5. Distance
yourself from the drama. Step back from any chaos in your life to gain a better
perspective about your challenge. Act from a place of strength and gain clarity.
6. Learn
from your challenges. Your character can be strengthened through the trials in
your life.
Everyone will have challenges in their lives, I know I
have had more than my fair share; but the key to overcoming challenges is to rise
above them. Don’t allow the challenges in your life to steal your peace and
joy, there is a time to mourn but there is a time to rejoice as well.
Reflect: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and
sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because the testing of your
faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you be mature
and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
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