There has to be some deeper, hidden meaning

I read a book, "The Secret Journal of Brett Colton" by Kay Lynn Mangum. It is a beautiful book. There is a quote from it that has inspired me to talk with you about the experiences in our lives and how to find something greater out of the difficulties we face.

"Nothing comes from nothing, as we've all heard Julie Andrews belt out in The Sound of Music a million times...There has to be a reason why I had to get sick - why I have to deal with this, and why our whole family has to deal with it, too. There has to be some deeper, hidden meaning in and for everything that happens. Clouds come around because we need rain. They aren't just there to be there. There has to be a reason why I had to get sick..."

We have talked about experiences before and how trials in our lives are here to bring us learning and growth. We are simply having an experience to give us experience. We are all of us faced with some challenge in our lives. For some it may be being sick like the character in this book. But difficulties in life come in many shapes and sizes. There are physical, mental, emotional, financial, and spiritual challenges in our lives at any given time. And the list doesn't stop there. You may be experiencing problems in a relationship or at work. Whatever it is, it is here for a reason.

The things we experience are here to teach us, to develop something in us that is ready to grow at this time. If you are experiencing it, something in you is ready. God has said that He would not give us anything more than we can bear. If we are bearing it, then from God's promise we know we can handle it. It may not always feel that way but this is where faith comes in. Faith is believing even when everything says it isn't possible. Exercising this faith is what grows and stretches you.

When you exercise you are breaking down the muscles. This is what an experience does, it breaks things down. When you rest after exercising the muscles knit back together stronger than they were before. This is what helps you to be faster, stronger, and more flexible the next time you exercise. After an experience breaks things down, faith builds things up stronger than they were before. This is what helps you to be stronger and more flexible the next time you have a similar experience.

This is the process of life; breaking down walls, perceptions, habits, thoughts, feelings, etc. in order to build a stronger more flexible you. Life and its experiences are not about breaking you but rather making you into the best version of yourself you can be. Just as with a challenging exercise, we feel better, stronger, and more able to move forward in life when we overcome challenges too.

So take a second look at the experiences that feel overwhelming in your life right now. Try to see what they are here to teach you. Finding out what that is may bring you the peace you are seeking.