We just had a massive storm in Santa Barbara. Many were negatively impacted. Storms generally don’t have an upside.
Life’s storms are different. They are essential because of the present opportunities.
Ryan Holiday, of the Daily Stoic, wrote The Obstacle Is the Way. The book narrates stories of people who opportunistically approached life’s trials. Although this strategy runs through stoic philosophy, it originates from the wisdom of Jesus and how He asks us to view trials.
You might be familiar with James (the brother of Jesus) and his commentary on trials.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…”
James 1:2
His point is that faith growth is contained in life’s trials. He says when endurance has its perfect work, the result leads to our transformation. It leads to our perfection.
No one is truly ready for life’s storms. They arrive without notice to disrupt our comfort status. Our typical response to a trial or obstacle is to avoid it. We procrastinate. We run.
But Jesus invites us to see the obstacle as an opportunity. I believe it’s how He upgrades us with new wisdom. How do we shift our perspective to show up with joy in a trial?
It’s not easy. It can take many experiences to shift your perspective slowly. The journey is worth it!
Here are my hacks to get there:
- Be clear about the obstacle. What is really in the way? I like to journal to get clarity on the trail. What’s at stake? What are the consequences of various possible actions?
- Embrace the obstacle. We’ve got to own the obstacle and commit to overcoming it. This is the trial you’ve been given. It’s yours to deal with. This is your opportunity. Move toward a joyful, celebratory mindset even though the outcome is uncertain.
- Form a strategy. An embraced obstacle positions you for strategy. What steps are involved in your plan? Who is responsible for each step?
- Embrace the pain of the obstacle. Faith is like a muscle, it requires resistance to grow. Embracing the difficulty of the trial helps us use the moment to maximize our growth. In the words of the Apostle James,
“And let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:4
God doesn’t cause most of our trials. That’s the enemy’s business. But God is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called to His purposes. He uses the trial to grow our faith in Him and His words. Each obstacle overcame – each trial endured – produces more wisdom and a greater capacity to believe.
Use this strategy to take advantage of the goodness in each storm life throws at you. As you shift your perspective toward God’s faith growth process, may you find joy in the trial!
In your corner,
Rob
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