Have you ever been in a spot in your life, in a season, where you feel in total darkness and you have to really focus to see the light?  Well, that has been my life these past few months.  And to be completely honest with you, these past couple years have been a whirlwind of ups and downs (filled with what seems, at times, to be more downs than ups).  It’s during those times that it can be so easy to lose focus on the bigger picture and to look at all the things going wrong in life.  But, those are also the times when we can press in and find out who we really are and what we’re made of.

I truly believe that life is what you make of it, and it’s all about perspective.  If you choose to look at the negative things in life, then that is mostly what you will see, and you will likely miss out on experiencing all the good things that are happening in your life and in the world around you.  However, the opposite is also true—if you choose to see the positive things in life and to be grateful for all the good things happening, then the negativity starts to fade away.  Now, I’m not saying that the negative things aren’t happening or that they won’t affect you at all and that you should pretend like everything’s okay when it’s not; I’m saying that having a grateful heart and choosing to see the good will cause you to look less at the bad things happening, which then will free up your mind to truly see the good.  I’ve heard that what we focus on in life is what grows, and I firmly believe that.  There’s actually a verse in the Bible that speaks of this.  It says “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).  And, growing up my mom would always recite Philippians 4:8 to me, which says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Now, when you’re in the darkest of times, it can be hard to “think about such things”.  So, I’m sure you’re wondering, “How in the world does she get out of the darkness?”

First of all, I know where my hope is—and that is in Jesus Christ.  He is my Rock and my Salvation, and I know that no matter what I go through, He is always with me.  To be completely honest with you, it’s been during these dark times over the past few months that my relationship with Him has gotten stronger.  When I feel like I have no one to talk to, no one who understands me, I know He always does.  He knows my thoughts before I even think them or before I even try to explain myself.  Quite frankly, sometimes I don’t even understand myself or know how to explain things.  So, knowing that Jesus does, and that He felt my sorrows and pain as He died on the cross, makes it so much easier to come to Him in prayer.  But, why is it that we sometimes wait until things are so tough to come to Him?  I know I do that at least.  I think it’s because when things are going “good” in life, it’s easier to slip into the mindset that we can do things on our own.  However, when things are tough, we realize that we truly can’t do life on our own, and I believe it’s during those times when Christ can really use us if we choose to press into him.  One of my favorite verses, especially during times like this, is 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, which says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Secondly, I take time for myself.  I take time to let go and to release all the emotions that I’ve held bottled up inside of me.  I’m not one to cry much (especially in front of people), so when I cry and release those emotions, I do so on my own.  Whether that be at home when no one’s around, outside while going for a walk, sitting in the ice rink (a peaceful place for me to think and reflect), or crying myself to sleep, I truly let go and just cry it out.  I think that crying out to God is a humbling experience, at least for me.  Since I hate crying in the first place, it really breaks me down and helps me to see that God is working in my life.  Furthermore, in taking time for myself, I read a lot of personal growth and development books.  These have helped me immensely, as they’ve caused me to open up my mind and to view life through a different lens.  Having this other perspective helps me to see that everything will truly be okay.  A few of my favorite books that I’ve recently read include the following: On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, Live Love Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come!, and Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success.

Third, I force myself to spend time with friends.  While being around people is the last thing I want to do when feeling so low, it’s the very thing I know that I need.  Being around positive, like-minded individuals, helps me to be grateful for the little things in life, such as good friendships.  It helps me to realize that while things may be harder than I ever imagined them to be, that there are still good things to be thankful for.  And when you have a thankful heart, it automatically cheers you up.

My hope for you is that whatever you’re facing in life or whatever challenges may come your way, that you will truly be able to focus to see The Light.  Know that there IS light at the end of the tunnel, and if you choose to see that, then you’re already winning.  The only way to lose this battle is to throw in the towel and to believe that darkness is all you’ll ever see and that this must just be the life you were meant to live.  My friend, I can tell you for certain that is not true.  My God is bigger than that, and wants you to experience life in abundance.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).  Start believing and speaking that truth into your life today, and watch it come to fruition!

I pray that you have been encouraged by this, and that you will live the rest of today focusing on the positive things in your life.  If you’d like to know more or have any further questions, I would love to hear from you!  Feel free to comment or send me an email!!

xoxo,

miranda

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