How do we continue? That’s been my question in response to all that has been going on in my life and those close to me. Lately, it’s been hard to keep a hopeful perspective, and joy in my spirit, and not let that feeling of only treading water or staying afloat not overtake me. To not let that hope we as Christians have be taken from me.
It has been difficult keeping my head above water, feeling like I’m just one more issue or disclosure of bad news away from slipping and falling into the abyss of hopelessness and dread. I understand God is always with us and that He will never leave us(Romans 8:38-39 NLT), but sometimes it feels like God isn’t there or near me in light of all the struggles and hardships this life has to offer.
Recently, my uncle, who had just beaten cancer, suffered multiple strokes less than a week after being cleared of cancer, putting his health back into jeopardy. A close coworker of mine had been preparing to have a baby and celebrate a work party that our job was hosting for our recent accomplishments, but she is now devastated after suffering a miscarriage amid our celebration. Lastly, a very close friend of mine disclosed to me that he had recently been going through a traumatic break-up and felt that he was in the wrong career because he hated it and was left paralyzed on what to do next, and if he could even continue on. Couple that with the personal and professional peaks that I aspire for in my life, and one could say I truly felt weary and weighed down. I struggled with disbelief within myself, my capabilities, and how I would reach said milestones in my life (i.e. career success, financial security, marriage, and etc.). A lot of us are hope for these same things in life. All of these things left me and can have anyone stuck in a pit of despair due to our own limitations. To be honest, those moments of realization can be truly disheartening and have you questioning your self-worth and feeling helpless to help those close to you. Most notably, alone in this big stage, we call life. So do you run away from God and try to handle it on your own or do you depend on God?
I recently sought some professional career advice and what I was told was this: “Life requires our active participation.” God later told me that He also requires the same involvement from us in life as well, that “this life we live requires our active participation with God, not independence away from Him.” This statement was so powerful yet so simple. I felt dumb not realizing it sooner.
Life can be an amazing roller coaster, yet, it can still be scary due to all of its uncertainty. That fear and uneasiness can be from hearing the horrible things that people close to you go through and realizing the limitations that you have, knowing that you can’t do anything to help them or change their situations, even your own problems at times. Also, looking at the huge mountains that we all have to climb to reach our expected destinations. It’s easy for us all to fall into the mindset of I prayed for something, so God is going to make what we asked for happen and all we have to do is just sit here and wait and God will magically make whatever we prayed for magically appear, I know I have. All while negating all the active participation on our end it takes to reach wherever or whatever we prayed to God for and anything God has promised us.
Our participation doesn’t negate God’s glory in helping us overcome and be victorious in our circumstances. I think it comes down to us humbling ourselves to go to God and working in tandem with Him (Isaiah 43:1-3 NLT).
If I can leave you with anything, it is that life can feel like an overwhelming bowl of hardships and struggles, our own or others. These things can dismay you and have you puzzled and paralyzed about how to go. We may have come into this world alone, but God never meant for us to journey it without Him. The working in tandem with God advice showed that I can’t survive this life and its trials without Him, can you? (John 15:4-8 NLT).
