Not Now....

Challenges never seem to come at a good time. I don’t think we ever seem to be prepared to battle them. In fact, it seems like a lot of the times, we are already feeling overwhelmed in life for one reason or another.

The timing feels all wrong for us. We have this illusion inside that if a particular challenge came on at a different time, on a different day, or in a different way, that we’d be stronger to tackle it.

We look up at God and we say, “Not now….please!”

But “Now” it is.  The hurdles come, the challenges sweep in, the adversities pounce, and we have to deal with them one way or another.

I was facing one particular challenge in my life and I was feeling so overwhelmed. My emotions were pretty raw and maxed out as I was tackling one big life change while all of a sudden out of nowhere, another adversity reared its face right in front of me. I begged it to wait – but it came in my “now.”

I won’t lie to you. It was hard. It hurt. I cried. I lost sleep. But I made it through. God gave me the strength I needed and somehow I walked through it all and came out the other side a little bit changed because of it.

There is no right time for adversity and trials. There is never going to be a “later” that we will be fully equipped to handle. Our “not now’s” will continue to come and they will continue to invade our lives. We will continue to have to wade through things we dread and would rather avoid – it’s part of living.

How will you walk through those moments and days? Will you let those times make you better, stronger? Will you lean on and draw close to  those who try to come alongside and understand and love you? Will you let yourself be molded and shaped in a good way – not a bitter one?

Those are very big questions for very big moments. It’s good for us to decide them ahead of time so that in our weak times, our prior vows can arm and strengthen us just when we need it the most.

There will be those rare occasions when we will be spared. Our plea of “not now,” will indeed be answered. And at those junctures, we can feel blessed, knowing another day will come when we aren’t spared and we can’t avoid the hurdle in front of us. For climbing is as much a part of our life as breathing.  You do what you have to do to survive.