Moving Forward

Phillipians 4:8

Ever been stuck in traffic at the end of your workday, completely famished, and there is no sign of returning home? Or quickly at least. Just imagine, you start tapping your left leg as it rests heavily on the space provided, your hands develop a mind of their own, as they begin to grip the steering wheel, almost choking it to death. You can almost see your destination, but you just can’t get there. At least but for a moment. What sets in? Frustration, aggravation, maybe a few choice words, dot…dot….dot.. You get the picture. For many of us that’s what COVID is like. Being able to tangibly grasp back to our normal, we can see it, yet it’s so far away! At least for a moment.

            Now I’m not here to compare lives or draw parallels between who has it worse or who has the most kids and is struggling the most, because that would minimize your personal discomfort. What we can all relate to, is that certainly at some point, our lives were interrupted, inconvenienced and certainly did not ask us our plans. Now Lord knows, I’m no saint when it comes things spiraling out of control, my hair has taught me that lesson my whole life. The more I try to manage it, the more unruly it gets and the more frustrated I become. While I’m no expert, I can attest to accepting hard circumstances. The fact of the matter is, we will all come to a crossroad in our lives, where things did not go according to plan. I’d like to shed some light on how to cope with these situations and finding rest in uncomfortable situations. It is possible and it will offer you a world greater in opportunity, than wrestling over things you can’t control, like when will the kids return to school or when will I resume a steady routine? 

            I have a great, big word….ACCEPTANCE. Furthermore, defined as; a willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation. I’m sure like many of you, the walls in our homes got just a little closer, we are struggling to find room to be comfortable to tolerate being uncomfortable. my home may not look like yours. Maybe I have more breathing room. Discomfort is always a relative term, completely subjective to an individual. WE have adjusted, readjusted, strategized ways to make things more tolerable. The more we focus on the arrival point, the more frustrated you will become of this I am sure. If you just shift your focus on something other than the destination, you may find a little more peace, a little more contentment, and a whole more of flexibility. Without the pressure of circumstances, our character is undoubted stunted. But what happens when a little pressure is added, and you begin to develop muscles like gratitude and acceptance. Things have a natural rhythm, and flow. Just let it go and lean into it a bit. It will make the journey much more enjoyable I promise. 

            Being said, I am not dismissing your goals but merely trying to assist you while you’re on your way. Remember that drive in the car? It’s a patience tester for sure. However, rest assure that you are developing a knack for suffering under uncomfortable situations. An attitude like this will help you come on stronger on the other side, developing a greater tolerance for uncomfortable situations. That way when something stronger than COViD interrupts your life, you will tackle the task with ease and say, “If I was able to handle that, than surely I can handle this”. You will develop a sense of confidence under stressful times, which will allow you to develop a new frame of reference. Remember you can only grow when you are willing to accept the things you can not change. It’s okay to acknowledge it, express it and move on. Please don’t pitch a tent there, you will get no where fast. Instead keep your eyes fixed on whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, mediate on these things (Philippians 4:8) Just a heads up, the writer of this verse, none other than Paul himself, who found contentment while sitting inside of a jail cell! We are certainly not imprisoned. Freedom is on your mind! The keys are in your hand. I accept that apart from Christ, I am nothing, but through him, I can do anything. In him I find my identity, apart from him I am a survivor of losing loved ones to suicide, breast cancer and a host of other things. In him, I am fully complete, not lacking anything. Apart from him, I am a barren woman without a child. See it all depends on whose standard of measurement your looking towards for approval. If I look outside of Christ, I see nothing but dry bones and waste. When I Look through his lens, my life is clearer, my purpose defined. I am a child of God. I am loved, I am strong, I am courageous, and I am ACCEPTED! Hope this lifts your spirits today. Find something you can meditate on that is pure and lovely.