First, life. Life is hard. Life can be exceptionally difficult at times. And, the interesting thing about life is that every life is different. Everyone goes through different trials and tribulations. Everyone has their own highs and lows. Two people can share the same experience, but connect so differently on a personal level. The thing that ties us all together, though, is that we're all going through something. We're all struggling somewhere. We are all doing well with something. We all have a future no matter how bright or dim it may seem at the moment. Also, we all have the ability to make changes. I think a lot of people tend to get caught up in the idea that "this is how life is and there's nothing I can do about it." There are always changes that can be made to improve your way of life. Never feel like you're stuck. Never give up thinking you don't have a way out of certain situation. Life is hard. Life can be exceptionally difficult at times. But, life is not impossible. There will always be a way to make things better.
I have found that over the course of my life the easiest way to make things better is by letting God take over. For a lot of us, me especially, that can be a lot easier said than done. I like to be in control. I have always been extremely uncomfortable and overwhelmed when I feel out of control in certain parts of my life. Recently, someone mentioned to me that letting go and letting God take control should actually be comforting, not scary. No one has ever pointed that out to me before and I don't know why I never thought of it that way. How could you possibly feel overwhelmed or scared if God is in control? That should be one of the most comforting feelings in the world. It is still not easy to completely "let go and let God," as they say, but being willing to put your worries on the Lord takes some weight off of a tired soul.
A lot of us that like to have control also are not super patient when it comes to thinking about God's timing and plans. The great thing about God is that His timing is always perfect. Whether it is the beginning or end of relationships, jobs, major life events, even the smallest of things, God has a reason for the timing. At the time, you may not think it is super ideal, but at some point, you will realize why things happened when they did. When I was younger, I would always question why certain things happened in my life. Toward the end of high school and into adulthood, I started to see how the things that happened in my childhood/teen years affected my life years later. I am so glad I can see more of the picture now and understand why things happened the way they did. We may not always get those answers, but it is comforting to believe that God truly does have a plan for life and His timing is key. Do not rush decisions that need to be made slowly and carefully. Never slow down when God is telling you to keep running ahead. In the end, it will all work out how it is supposed to.
This leads me to my final point which is faith. Always have faith. Have faith in God's timing and plan. Have faith in the brightest and darkest times. Have faith when you're scared. Have faith when you're overwhelmed. Have faith even when things are going well. Never feel like you're alone or abandoned. God will always be there.
A few months ago, I wrote a blog titled "Stay in the Boat" where I discussed how I needed to let God take control over my life rather than just letting myself drown when I'm overwhelmed. Despite coming to terms with my faults and realizing how I can improve my life, I don't always follow through and tend to try to take back over when things start to go smoothly. This summer has given me a lot of time to reflect and take a step back to evaluate different things going on in my life. A few doors have opened over the last few months leaving me to think carefully about some decisions. Sometimes it's overwhelming to think about what may or may not happen. However, as I sit and think about what events had to happen for these doors to open, I can't help but smile at God's perfect timing. I'm working on my patience and waiting for God to let me know the right time and what decisions to make. Believe me, it is not easy. Sometimes I just want to push things and speed up the process, but I know I can't. By trusting in the Lord and spending some quality time in prayer, I know the greatest things will happen.
Moral of the story, trust in God through the good and the bad. It is not always easy, but it will always be worth it.
Smile always,
e.
