Lessons from Life Events

Life provides opportunities of choice, choices in how we will react to life events.  A bad experience could result in depression, anger, negativity.  It could also result in growth, personal drive, or a reevaluation and change to correct bad experiences.  It’s all in how one reacts to life and life experiences.  When relationships end, consider the possibility that it’s needed to make room for a new relationship or a unique life experience.  At the end of a negative life experience, consider what personal growth has resulted from that experience.  Choose to look for the positive in every event.  Choose to look at how that experience can help in life moving forward.  I remember doing just that after my divorce.  I could have been bitter, could have wallowed in self-pity, blame, and taken on a victim mentality.  Instead, I used the experience to grow.  I went back to school, I took time to rediscover myself, and I used the occasion to evaluate the issues within myself that caused me to be in that situation in the first place.  During those years after the divorce, I grew, began walking a path of purpose, and became happy within myself.  I would never have gotten to that place had I not chosen to benefit from my life experiences, had I not chosen to grow and learn from that experience, to become a better me. 

Life is bound to bring heartache, challenges, disappointments, and loss.  It’s how we choose to react to those events that’s important.  You may be one of those people who can’t see the benefits from such circumstances.  Then it’s your opportunity to work to improve how you react to life.  Counseling, meditation, spirituality, or even purposeful thinking can be life changing.  Had I not purposed to change my life after my divorce, had not done the work on myself to heal and grow, I would not have been prepared for what was to be my future life.  I would not have been ready to challenge myself to get the degrees and certifications for my new future career.  I would not have been interested in getting healed in areas I knew were not well emotionally.  Finally, I would not have been prepared or ready to receive the person who would become my husband.  Becoming whole created the opportunity for me to prepare to receive love and accept an honest and beautiful relationship.  God wants to take us to a higher level, and sometimes the challenges, disappointments, and loss are used to get us there.

Choose to allow life to produce growth, a cleansing of self, and development into the person God intends to take you towards your calling.  I’m grateful for the challenges, the heartaches, and the traumas because without them I wouldn’t be the me that God has called me to be.  I’m ready now for the next phase of life. 

“’ The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of armies, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of armies.” (Haggai 2:9 – NASB2020)