STRUGGLES….
This word keeps coming up in conversations lately.
I want you to think of something you are struggling with right now. What is the real struggle? Is it the content (eg: being able to do something, go somewhere, have something) or is it actually something else? A rabbit for instance will always struggle to swim, because of how it is created. Ducks on the other hand don’t have a problem swimming, unless they have broken body parts. People can swim when they learn the strategies and techniques. So the real struggle is not swimming in itself.
I would like you to pinpoint what exactly is it about your struggles that makes it a struggle? Think about that and you will likely get some amazing insight and direction. It is often not quite what we think we are struggling with.
What we often call a struggle, is actually a message, a direction and an insight regarding ourself and our lives that we need to pay attention to, pray about, listen and make a different decision on.
I want to encourage you in the struggles you have in life, to look for what the struggle is telling you. If you have a pot that burns every meal you are cooking in it, then I would ask why are you struggling with it in the first place? The struggle is NOT telling you to give up, to stop cooking or to stop eating. It is telling you to go get a new pot – this one isn’t working anymore.
– Is the struggle really because you don’t have enough time? Then the struggle is telling you to change your schedule to fit it in, get someone else to do it or let it go and wait until another point when you have time. Maybe you have vacation time coming up, or business is going to be slow shortly and that would work better for you.
– If money is the struggle, you could wait. You could find discounts. You can borrow an item. Check out consignment shops, internet, place an ad somewhere for a good used item. Maybe travel with someone else and share expenses, or get your ticket in advance.
– If the struggle is you don’t know where to start, then the struggle is telling you that you need help. You can google it. You could talk to a neighbor, friend or family for advice or pay them to help you do it. Get coop students to help for their community hours.
Once you make a decision that you are at peace with, the struggle reduces or is eliminated altogether.
Have you asked God to give you insights and strategies? Jacob had lots of struggles with his Father-In-Law who wasn’t very honest or ethical. God positioned Jacob by giving him directions and strategies, to come out the better for it all. Maybe it requires some knowledge, a different style of communication or some wisdom. I highly recommend Gary Smalley’s book called “The Five Love Languages” – it is phenomenal! Maybe you need to put boundaries down with or about that person. Stop doing what doesn’t work and find what does work.
Struggles regarding something we desire (providing it’s moral, honest and ethical) is NOT that we won’t ever have it, or that it’s impossible. For nothing is impossible with God, especially if we get His Word on the matter. The struggle seems to be with timing. We think we should have it by now. We want it now. We think if we don’t have it now, we will never have it now. Perhaps it’s the bank or the bill collector who is creating the struggle because they want payment “now”. Timing can seem like a very valid point. The problem comes when we are trying to make it happen now, and life just isn’t cooperating for whatever reason. So….
What if we first ask God if there’s something we need to be aware of regarding the timing? Is there something we haven’t done that we need to do? Do we need to be aggressive in pursuing this? Are there phone calls that can be made? What arrangements can be made if it’s regarding finances? What is the worst thing that can happen if you have to wait for this?
How many times when I have waited, has it worked out way better?
I had been wanting to go out West and see my aunts for the last four or five years. And it’s been a struggle because it just wasn’t working out money-wise or time-wise. Then I ended up having surgery this year with five weeks off. An opportune time to go, since visiting is one thing I can do without compromising the surgery. So off I went. Family paid for the trip out and friends paid for the trip back. I had a great time…no rush and no financial compromise. Often it is NOT the case that we shouldn’t have something or that God doesn’t want us to have something. It IS usually that His timing is not ours. I don’t want to trade one struggle for another. It wasn’t that I couldn’t ever go out West….it was the timing of it that created the struggle within me. I am learning to let go of that!
Do you struggle emotionally? What is the struggle telling you? Is it telling you to get help? Is it telling you that you need to find healing or forgiveness for some things in your life? Are your expectations creating the struggle? Where are you getting your beliefs and expectations regarding the struggle? Are your beliefs true? Are your expectations realistic? Based on what? Are they Godly? Do the people involved know or are in agreement with your beliefs and expectations of them? Is the struggle telling you something is not fitting or working? Your struggle may be telling you that a new perspective is needed, or you need support in some way. Your struggle may be telling you that you are on overload, and it’s a warning to make some changes fast.
Struggle can indicate we are on the way to where we desire to be. It show us what needs to change for us to get there. It shows us adjustments to have something in the end that we want. It is like the timer ringing on the stove so we don’t have burnt cake. It’s like the lighthouse trying to stop the ships from shipwreck. Listen and look at your struggles to help you change, eliminate, adjust or accept things in life in a way that you can live in peace, faith and joy!