Every time I’ve been beaten down has been an opportunity for me to grow. I didn’t realize that for many years. There was a time I thought, I just can’t take anymore. I can’t take one more insult, one more critic, one more heartbreak. There have been times I felt like crumbling under my pain and humiliation and thought I would never recover. The truth is life is long and full of so many experiences. People typically say life is short and it’s said to be true because of how quickly it seems to go before our eyes. One day we wake up and realize we aren’t 20 anymore, or 30 anymore or 40. We look at our children and loved ones and see how much they’ve grown or aged in the blink of an eye. Time seems to go by so fast. However, when we’re in pain or suffering, it seems to last forever. That’s what I mean when I say life is long, because life is full of a lot of experiences which include a lot of pain, a lot of heartache and struggle. No matter how much joy and comfort you may have in your life, things will always happen that are out of your control. People will hurt you, or get hurt. You may have to watch people you love suffer and it will break your heart and it will cause you grief. No matter what it is, we can only control so much and the rest we have to trust with God. We have to make a choice in life as to how we deal with life struggles from the most minor to the most major, and it’s always our own choice. No one can decide for us.

     A client of mine said this to me years ago, “Make sure you marry someone who treats you right, really think about it Kari because life is long.” That always stuck with me. Choosing a life long partner for marriage is the most important decision one can ever make, next to accepting Christ. It’s one society today doesn’t take seriously enough, which only causes more pain and heartache. When you’re 80 years old, you’re going to look back at all the wonderful things you had in life, the blessings and regrets, and you’ll look back at a lot of misfortune and pain as well. It’s inevitable, so don’t lose heart over what may come, choose joy in all things and circumstances. Use every worry you have, every heartbreak and every painful life experience as an opportunity to grow! When I get to the end of the tunnel of a painful situation, I always look back and see the blessing in it. I realize that God had me the whole time, every time. So why do we worry ourselves so much? I’m realizing if I know this truth, there is never a need for me to worry. How comforting is that? And how encouraging to know how much I am capable of growing into something that much stronger and more beautiful through every painful and hurtful experience in life. We have to remember this, no matter what anyone says or does to us, no one can ever control our thoughts, feelings or actions unless we allow them to. The one and only person in life we have to answer to is God and it’s our responsibility to choose growth in Him or to fall away. 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. “ 

Romans 8:28

”They will have no fear of bad news, their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Psalm 112:7