What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
“I don’t know how I am going to make it through this!”
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had this phrase pass through my mind, or for that matter screamed into the silence in my car.
Have you faced something in your life that is so difficult, you seriously wondered if you could handle it?
I know I have. In fact, I feel that way right now.
I have had leaders of all ages and stages ask me a question similar to this one:
What builds the most capacity for the challenges of leadership and life on mission?
The answer is simple, but difficult to accept.
The only way spiritual and emotional capacity has been built in my life is by stepping towards the difficult life circumstances rather than running away.
Sure, I have grown from spiritual disciplines. I have been stretched by classes and groups. Certainly I am growing as I lead into risky areas and I can tell that God is growing my capacity to live a life radically surrendered to the Kingdom of God.
But none of those things stretched my trust in God and my ability to live in courage like…
Caring for my dad during his declining health when I was a child.
Experiencing his death before my eyes when I had yet to finish high school.
Losing friends to the darkness created by depression and anxiety.
Facing chronic pain for nearly a decade when it seemed like there was no hope.
And now, having an already long-distance dating relationship become longer with no definitive end date.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?
It all depends on if you step into it or run from it.
For me it comes down to this:
- Acknowledge it is hard, uncertain or painful.
- Know that Jesus is with you and our God is bigger.
- Surround yourself with your community.
- Get a counselor or professional help if needed.
- Pray a lot (like maybe… most of the time)
- Expect God to use this in your life to help you grow.
- Then… repeat.
Life is a series of transitions, challenges and difficult circumstances.
What happens to you is far less important than how you respond to what happens to you.
In the midst of the struggle, God gives us grace in the form of joy, community, peace, passion and love.
And in the end God’s love wins!
Hang in there… you’re getting stronger every day.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
“I don’t know how I am going to make it through this!”
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had this phrase pass through my mind, or for that matter screamed into the silence in my car.
Have you faced something in your life that is so difficult, you seriously wondered if you could handle it?
I know I have. In fact, I feel that way right now.
I have had leaders of all ages and stages ask me a question similar to this one:
What builds the most capacity for the challenges of leadership and life on mission?
The answer is simple, but difficult to accept.
The only way spiritual and emotional capacity has been built in my life is by stepping towards the difficult life circumstances rather than running away.
Sure, I have grown from spiritual disciplines. I have been stretched by classes and groups. Certainly I am growing as I lead into risky areas and I can tell that God is growing my capacity to live a life radically surrendered to the Kingdom of God.
But none of those things stretched my trust in God and my ability to live in courage like…
Caring for my dad during his declining health when I was a child.
Experiencing his death before my eyes when I had yet to finish high school.
Losing friends to the darkness created by depression and anxiety.
Facing chronic pain for nearly a decade when it seemed like there was no hope.
And now, having an already long-distance dating relationship become longer with no definitive end date.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?
It all depends on if you step into it or run from it.
For me it comes down to this:
- Acknowledge it is hard, uncertain or painful.
- Know that Jesus is with you and our God is bigger.
- Surround yourself with your community.
- Get a counselor or professional help if needed.
- Pray a lot (like maybe… most of the time)
- Expect God to use this in your life to help you grow.
- Then… repeat.
Life is a series of transitions, challenges and difficult circumstances.
What happens to you is far less important than how you respond to what happens to you.
In the midst of the struggle, God gives us grace in the form of joy, community, peace, passion and love.
And in the end God’s love wins!
Hang in there… you’re getting stronger every day.
Thank you for this beautiful post, Steph. It spoke directly to me…
Mom’s cancer battle
My chronic disease
Darkness
It’s been a very real fight. A very painful fight.
I needed to read this today. <3
Good to hear from you Patty. I will be praying for you! God is with you in the midst of all of this, even when it doesn’t feel like it!