New Beginnings II

What’s an accurate indicator for growth? How do you know when you’re living life at its maximum and not just being stringed along? As humans, I think we’re usually plagued with these questions as to our meaning and purpose in this world.

In recent times I’ve found myself battling with some questions as well. How can we effectively deal with disappointments? You know how you have a dream that you gently nurture and believe so much in so much so that it becomes a reality. But in a twist of fate, it never sees the light of day. You begin scrambling, trying to trace what you could have done right or better or not at all. A thousand and one questions fill your mind but no answers are in sight.

How do you navigate those situations? How do you manage to breathe when you can feel the crushing weight of disappointment on your chest? I’m asking so many questions today because I’m still trying to figure it out too.

One of the ways to deal is to have the right perspective. I find myself in a current reality that I never planned or dreamed about. As Pastor Steven Furtick said “it’s better, it’s just different.” It’s so different from how I imagined life would be and while it’s a beautiful chapter on its own, I wonder if I’m settling, if I’m too quick to let go. The truth is I haven’t let go, I mean after nursing a particular dream for such a long time, you don’t just let it go like that, for me, there’s been a mourning stage. But I’m trying not to let what would have been cloud my now what is. We all need to have the right perspective about life’s events. We have to know that it’s totally okay to be disappointed when things don’t go the way we want but it’s also okay to start experiencing and enjoying new realities. While it may feel out of loop, like I mean how did I even get here? You can still decide to see your life from the lens of your eternal Father, the one that exists outside of time and now writes your perfect story. You have to trust Him when He says His plans are only good and will bring you to an expected end. You have to believe that the end will be awesome.

Another thing is to be intentional. It’s going to be so easy to slip into the state of disappointment and stay there but you have to dust yourself up and acknowledge that disappointments are unfortunately part of life. It’s okay if your heart is broken but you have to decide to choose joy everyday. You have to believe that you are exactly where God wants you to be and He’s taking you even higher. You can ask Him to help you experience this joy. You also should make the most of your new reality. You can’t sulk forever, you have to realise that your next level is hidden in you finding the joy in every moment. I don’t know about you but I want to be happy forever. I like laughing, I like it when my heart is full of joyful musings, I like it when I love my life but sometimes it could look like there’s nothing to be happy about. This is the part where we have to recruit the help of the Holy Ghost.

I have some prayers I pray concerning this matter. I tell God the Holy Spirit; “please help me find joy in you”, “Lord, help me never lose my wonder”, “Lord, help me find fulfillment in all that I do.”

You can modify these prayers or pray your own. Whatever it takes, do not let life overwhelm you, don’t let it take your joy, don’t let it steal your wonder. I hope that even in unplanned and un-dreamed realities, we can experience the greatest joys and find ourselves laughing forever.

I now end with a line from Tauren Wells’ song ‘Hills and Valleys’:

I’ve watched my dreams get broken, in You, I hope again.