4 THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN ADVERSITY STRIKES
“Everyone is handed adversity in life. No one’s journey is easy. It’s how they handle it that makes people unique. ”
~ Kevin Conroy ~
Have you ever taken the time to think about how animals, trees and the ecosystem survive in an unfriendly and hostile world? Ever thought about how the Aloe Vera plant recovers from a sudden cut, yet heals perfectly and continues to survive? What about the river course; the oceans? Everyday the torrents washes into it, huge amount of dirt, yet it finds a way to relieve its self from the burden of the dirt by simply flowing.
The secret of the river is that it flows, it’s never static. So irrespective of what life throws its way, it just keeps flowing, that is why it is ever fresh, can’t be caged or stopped. For the grass, when you cut them off, they simply sprout again and continue to grow. They are resilient.
The animals do feel the pain of recovering from a physical wound. Sometimes, I even imagine that they feel the pain of losing a member of their community to the slaughter of man, to be prepared as meat for humanity. But in all these, animals move on, they continue to exist and procreate. Their existence demonstrates the adage, ‘life goes on’.
I will be the first person to admit that the life and seasons of a man cannot be compared to the animals or the ecosystem that man has been created to dominate. Yet, like Solomon, who observed the way of the ant and instructed the sluggard to do the same, we can learn a lot from our environment by observation.
So the next time, those defeating thoughts show up – thoughts of failure, thoughts of ‘you are not good enough’, thoughts of frustration, regret, guilt and all those energy-snapping thoughts, be bold enough and say to yourself, ‘I am more than these. These do not define me. And like a tree at the scent of water, I will blossom again!’
If there is hope for a tree, how much more you? You who were created in the image and likeness of God. You who God is ever mindful of? You for whose sake, God never sleeps nor slumbers! My dear friend, there is hope for us in God.
The economy of the world may fail, but still life will go on, because there is hope and hope never fails.
In Joseph’s time, money failed, but there was hope for the people of Egypt and for Joseph’s household because, God prepared Joseph for a time like that and ensured that he used his gift of administration to save humanity in that season. You may be wondering and worried about how you will come out of this level and move to your next…. Worrying won’t help, rather like the river, the plants and the ecosystem which has survived over the years, learn to;
1. Flow. Don’t flow against the tide, flow with the tide. Let God be your tide. Give him the permission to lead you. He will teach you how to profit. Isaiah 48:17
2. Sprout Again. If all you seem to know about your situation suddenly stops working for you, don’t be afraid to start all over. Research, meet people who have been through your path and are willing to help you, be adaptive, be flexible.
3. Grow intentionally. Whether we like it or not, from the moment a child is born he continues to grow until he comes of age. But for that child to grow well, the parents must be deliberate about what and how they feed the child. Likewise, to grow intentionally, you must feed your spirit, soul and body with the right content. Feed your mind wisely.
4. Be resilient. None of the things life throws at us should be able to stop us if we do not want to be stopped. Like a river, when you keep flowing, you develop strong survival skills and over the time, you become resilient.
Please don’t throw in the towel, help is on the way. Hold on to hope, you will surely blossom again….
“For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant”. Job 14:7-9 New King James Version (NKJV)
My name is Precious, I was bipolar and I live a full life.
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| Do you notice how the river keeps flowing despite the rocks in its path? |
Prayer:Heavenly Father, I thank you because hope maketh not ashamed, I receive with thanksgiving, your love, grace and favour for this season, in Jesus name, Amen.
References:
Job 14:7-9 New King James Version
Proverbs 6:6-8 KJV
Genesis 47
Image: Google
CC Emodamori A. Precious
October 18th, 2016
8: 44 am