As the
song says: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!” Learning to be on
our own and becoming independent is not an easy thing to do. It is up to us to
overcome the obstacles we encounter throughout life. The key is to know that no
one ever said it would be easy. In life, there are happy moments, and there are
sad ones; tough times and enjoyable times; easygoing people and mean, difficult
people; moments when we are surrounded by people who love us and lonely moments
when all we have to count on is ourselves.
We
cannot foresee what is coming our way, but we can plan our reactions and be
determined not to be tossed around by our problems. We can make it our goal to
overcome every situation with resolution and perseverance. We can try our best
to find solutions instead of freezing and feeling sorry for ourselves. We need
determination in our heads and strength in our hearts, so we can keep moving forward.
When we encounter a difficult situation or a challenge, we can be sure of one thing: it can be overcome if we stop, think and then act. Every step in life is an opportunity to learn and to grow. If we fall down, then we must stand up, dust ourselves off and keep on going. We can advance toward our future with confidence, knowing that obstacles can be overcome. Little by little, we can keep moving forward, progressing step by step through all sorts of situations and the different stages of our lives.
If athletes
get overwhelmed by the obstacles ahead, they will never win gold. If they
settle for easy limits, they will never set new world records. If they give up
too easily, they will never find out how far they can go, and they will never
fulfill their potential. Anyone who wants to be a world champion must look
ahead, determined to endure all hardships and to meet the toughest opponents.
Anyone who
wants to be the best in mathematics will seek harder and harder problems to
solve. Anyone who wants to get better at scuba diving will go to greater depths
and dive in more dangerous conditions and in the
greater depths find different and more beautiful surroundings. There is a
hunger for challenge within us because after every obstacle that is overcome lies
a reward.
Yet, often in our everyday life, we are easily
discouraged. Why? Most of us accept that life is full of changes it is full of opportunities and challenges. None of these
things should cause us to give up or be so overcome by fear or discouragement
that we forget that we are warriors.
Yes, we are
warriors. We are here to fight the good fight. We fight against evil and
against all fears, hate and depression. We fight against our own weaknesses and
defects and our own shortcomings. We fight against disappointments, against
humiliations and against injustice, enduring every trial and looking forward to
tomorrow.
When the water has reached our neck and we find it
hard to keep our feet on stable ground, we know we can always turn for strength
to God our Father. He will give us the courage and strength to continue, the
faith and the will to keep on trying. We must fight this fight with joy in our
hearts, knowing that in all these things we have already conquered in Jesus
Christ our Lord. (Romans 8:37)
Every challenge, every obstacle can be
overcome with God’s help, and we can be sure that we will win the gold medal.
Do you know what “gold medal” I am talking about? The satisfaction, joy and
peace we feel in the moment we successfully overcome whatever hard situation or
trial we have faced. There is a tremendous satisfaction in knowing that we did
not look for excuses or for someone to blame and we did not play the “poor me”
card. Instead, we looked for God’s help, and from Him we drew our strength. When
we do that, God bestows on us all kinds of good gifts gifts such as endurance and wisdom at the very moment we need them. Next time we face a tough
situation, we need to know we already have learned, struggled and conquered
that situation. We have already won! Why? Because, like Holy Scripture says, “I
have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians
4:13)
Wisdom to
contemplate:
“My strength, for you
I watch; you, God, are my fortress, my loving God.” (Psalm 59:10-11)
“The LORD is my strength and my shield, in whom my heart
trusted and found help. So my heart rejoices; with my song I praise my God.”
(Psalm 28:7)
“He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes
vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and
fall,
they that hope in the
LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will
run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)
“You are my hope, Lord; my trust, GOD, from my youth. On you
I depend since birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength; my hope in you
never wavers.” (Psalm 71:5-6)
“Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’
and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm
you.”(Luke 10:19)
