Difficulties Expose You - Margo Woodward

Though we don’t necessarily prefer them, we can’t avoid them. Difficulties are apart of life, and you know what I’m learning?

Difficulties Expose You.

They simply reveal what’s within. They allow us to better understand ourselves. Difficulties simply show us what we’re made of. Essentially, difficulties are necessary for the growth process.

Think about it. How do you get stronger? Difficulties. How do you develop character? Difficulties.

We must adjust our mindset as it relates to difficulties, and stop avoiding and denying them. I get it. Hard times are hard so though we may not actively seek them out, when they do come (as they will), we must face them. Adjusting our mindset toward them and accepting the necessity of them will help us to overcome them more effectively and victoriously.

Not only do difficulties expose you, but they humble you. They remind you of your imperfections. So often we walk around thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought. We may inadvertently act as though we’re labeled with exempt stickers. We are not. None of us are exempt from anything. Though we all have our various struggles, we all have our struggles. Regardless of our particular position, we must identify the blessings that lie within our difficulties.

How do you respond to difficulties?

Are you impatient, angry, easily discouraged? Or, do you lash out at others and blame, accuse, or shut down? We must begin to really focus in on our responses to difficulties so we can really begin to focus in on the root of our issues. The issue really does not lie in the difficulty, the issue lies within our response to the difficulty.

Though we tend to think that others may have it easier than us, or that no one is facing what we’re facing, that is simply not true. Anyone who aims to achieve and accomplish anything worthwhile is going to face some struggles. No one is exempt.

Everyone has their share of difficulties. The key lies in our response.

For me personally, I can attest that 3 things have been key to my progression in life:

Being honest about my issues.
Staying focused on my issues.
Working diligently on my issues.

Overall, we must focus in on us and our issues. Difficulties in life are rarely about that thing, and are more so about us. God is so extremely concerned about the condition of our heart and He so often uses issues to simply expose what’s in our heart, so that we can deal with it and overcome it. We do have the victory! We tend to be intimidated by our issues, but they don’t have the power to overtake us. As believers and followers of Christ, we have a power inside of us that is greater than anything! We need not fear.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33

What are you afraid of?

Don’t run from the very thing that God is using to grow you. We struggle because we don’t always picture the path that God has for us. We desire comfort, while He is after conforming us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Face your difficulties. Don’t shun them or run from them. Face them head on and allow them to expose your infirmities. Remember: