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DEALING WITH HARD TIMES

23/08/2016 00:34:00 By Charles Samunenge

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IT is important to realise that the road to destiny passes through many valleys and sometimes goes up mountains. Problems, trials and temptations in life are everywhere. They are actually no respecter of persons, time or places.

Life is usually a combination of good and bad days, strength and weakness, victory and defeat, win and lose, give and take, plant and reap and so forth.

Problems will keep popping up in life at different times, different levels and with different intensity. When trouble and problems arise, some people rise higher and become greater, while others sink deeper into the depths of depression, discouragement and hopelessness. Problems mean different things to different people. We all view problems and trials in different ways. Those who usually survive storms of life perceive problems as indicators of change or transition.

It is important to realise that the greater the problem, the greater the victory. Usually the intensity of our trials is equivalent to the importance of our future assignments in life. Your tomorrow can be sabotaged by the decision you make in the heat of the present trials or problems. Every trial or problem is designed to impact us for our future. Every decision we make today in the light of our problems will also help shape our future.

Problems are trainers for decision making. What is a problem anyway? Problems are obstacles on the pathway of destiny. Obstacles are not really designed to stop us, but to qualify us for new levels in life. Challenges and obstacles build in us spiritual, mental and emotional muscles of character.
Every level of life demands certain degrees of spiritual, emotional and mental stability. Problems are obstacles which frustrate us while we attempt to reach certain goals.

It is how we react to these frustrations that is key to building muscles in us and qualify us for our next level in life. Problems are also lessons which teach us how to be flexible, determined and focused in life. Sometimes we need a situation to teach us something. For instance, you could be very judgmental or critical of other people’s issues until the same problem visits your house; it is called ‘experience’. Sometimes problems are indicators that measure progress and development in our personal lives, and professional sphere or businesses.

There is nothing like a problem to redirect your life. Actually a problem usually sends us messages about our love levels, patience, faithfulness, loyalty etc. Problems should not be ignored but analysed so as to understand the message in the problem and then given an appropriate response. We also must know that problems are solvable.

Every problem has an answer. Just because we cannot see the answer now, does not necessarily mean there is no answer. Usually the problem is not really the problem, the problem is how we see or perceive the problem. We must always be willing to pay the price for solving problems, instead of being in the habit of blaming others. A good attitude and clear perception are key ingredients in turning our problems into stepping stones. Problems are usually blessings in disguise. With every problem, trial, obstacle or challenges, there is usually a hidden blessing. Problems could be refining moments of life.

Certain things that we embraced and thought were valuable to our lives, all of a sudden could become valueless in the light of present problems or trials. Certain relationships that we were not really aware that they are contrary to our purpose and destiny become valueless. Problems are a blessing in disguise because they have the potential to bring the best out of us and help us see new doors to greatness and significance in life. In Mathematics, a problem is anything which is required to be done; as in Geometry, to bisect a line, to draw a perpendicular; or Algebra to find an unknown quantity.

One of the good things about problems is that they usually kick us out of sleep, laziness and complacency, so as to awaken in us creativity and innovation. Trouble has a way of making us discover unknown strengths or weaknesses about us. Sometimes the potential of a community or nation is unveiled through challenges. Actually many inventions in society came about because of the frustration of problems.
Since life is a journey, problems help us pack and unpack our bags, because we sometimes carry excess baggage with us from our past failures and mistakes.

Problems and trials, when handled with understanding and a good attitude, will teach us the art of unpacking so that we stop hanging on to things that we think we need but are actually not necessary for our present level in life. Problems may sometimes announce an ending of something, and a birthing of something. Trials and problems are not designed to be de-railers or disqualifiers, rather strengtheners and that which qualifies us for a life of greatness and significance.

We must, therefore, not allow problems, trials or challenges to sabotage our better future or rob us of our positive contribution to a better family, society and nation.