When Life Tests You
No, God does not design tests to see if you have created yourself as a powerful being. Life just being life has within it, its own inherent tests. Well, there are more opportunities to see if you have actually garnered the skills required to live the life you dreamed of. It is not personal, and yet it is.
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In recent blogs, I have eluded to a health diagnosis that we are dealing with in my household, the diagnosis is cancer and the one diagnosed is my husband, Neil. So, here we are, preparing for my book launch and my son’s wedding, and this opportunity comes along. Don’t think for one second that I am doing spiritual bypass – I assure you, I am not. Life, the good, the challenging, and the hard are all opportunities to stretch and strengthen the emotional and spiritual muscles you have cultivated all these years. This is true for you, and I can testify that it is true for me.
Over the past five weeks, I have been strong during the initial diagnosis; I have cried as I witnessed my husband accept this diagnosis and the unknowns associated, I have given into fear, and I have walked faithfully with him to all the ensuing medical appointments, only to crash when I am alone.
What have I learned? I am all these things. I have all these emotions, and as I accept them and allow them to flow, courage finds me right where I am.
It is never an outside entity that tests us; it is never an outside job, but we can find ourselves tested by life as it introduces us to our growth edge. While I feel like one of these beautiful autumn leaves being moved about by the slightest wind, I am securely aware of my ground. I don’t have to fear my emotions as long as I allow them to be. This makes me a better caregiver because I won’t fear the unknown, but I will walk with my husband hand in hand to whatever is before us.
Faith and spiritual practices have their privilege - strength, courage, and calm acceptance are just the beginning.
