Have you ever experienced something that you looked at during the current state and thought to yourself “This is the worst thing that could ever happen. I don’t think I’ll be able to get through this.” Whether it be a heartbreak, an emotional pain, a state if depression, the loss of a loved one, the ending of a friendship, or even a physical pain and having to persevere through such things like a cancer treatment or learning how to live after losing a limb. I think that no matter what specific example you have there’s not a single person who can look back and say they have never suffered in some form, but if so honestly congratulations and this blog is Not for you.
I have recently finished a book that opened my eyes to the process of dealing with pain. It’s a book called “Through The Eyes of A Lion” By: Levi Lusko. It’s an incredible book where he speaks about the death of his 5 year old daughter and the process him and his wife had to find a way to manage through such a loss. It speaks about not viewing these times as we would in the “Victim State” but to view them through a new lense, and lense where we see the opportunity to grow and influence, encourage and strive. And although it has plenty of amazing points and perceptions to take away there are a few that truly struck me. They are that Your Pain Is A Microphone! And Smooth Seas Never Made A Skilled Sailor! And honestly if you are finding yourself now going through something your struggling to deal with, have already suffered some sort of pain, or believer it would be better to learn before you are tested I strongly urge you to buy this book and read through it carefully.
Many of you who follow my journey most likely have a personal connection to me and probably know parts of my life that the rest wouldn’t know. But for those of you who don’t know there is a part of my story that I consider one of those moments I explained at the beginning of this blog. A moment where my whole world stopped and I found myself saying that exact same phrase in my mind as I tried to understand what just happened and how I was possibly ever going to get through it. What I’m talking about is the day I saw my Father leave this world before my eyes. It’s a day that even the sheare memory of it brings a gut wrenching feeling back into my body and I’m instantly destroyed by the pain and suffering I found myself in that horrible day. And to be honest even though 12 years have gone by I still find myself trying to figure out how to process all the hard times and emotions that came with the loss of him. The feeling of being alone and lost without my father as my guiding star is a feeling I still carry with me.
But with that being said it doesn’t mean I will hold my emotions any longer, I will not cover up the past scars on my heart to make myself feel stronger or better because I can say “It doesn’t bother me anymore” the truth is that is does and will continue too. Except there’s something I can do about it. I can see the strength in my story. I can understand the knowledge and wisdom I gained from such a tragic memory. I can use my story to encourage others, to show others that they do not walk through the darkness alone. That’s the thing about being somewhere dark, you can’t see those standing next to you so you will never know they are there until they tell you “Hey, don’t worry I’m here too, you’re not alone. And I know the way out, just hold my hand and follow me. We can do this together” And it feels much better to know your not alone. Some of the most amazing conversations I have ever experienced in my life are the ones where me and that person can share our pain together and talk about it, share feelings and struggles. Not the ones that we both pretended everything is okay. One thing the enemy loves to do is put you in a bubble where you think no one else can understand you. Because in those moments of loneliness he has more power to attack you. He doesn’t want to battle you when you have an army behind you, because the truth is he isn’t very strong. Just tricky.
The things you have gone through or are currently going through are what make you stronger, they give you experience and knowledge, they shape you and create the person you are now. Those of you have gone through something have an experience that not everyone does. Experiencing the knowledge of going through something and learning from it. And we may say “Wow I wish this never happened” but guess what if it didn’t do you really think you would be the same person? Hard times make us stronger, wiser, and more influential. “Smooth Seas Never Made A Skilled Sailor” I wouldn’t trust a sailor to take me through a storm if he has spent his entire career docked in the calm waters without a couple rough rides under his belt, would you? Likewise wouldn’t you want to have a sailor tell you about the times he did conquer the storm? Stories like those are stories of inspiration and encouragement that storms ARE possible to conquer.
So what I want to leave you with before I go off on a 9 page rant blog is a couple simple things that have impacted me.
1. Your Story Makes You Stronger! – Whether you believe it or not what you have been through has given you strength and wisdom that other will look up to you for. Use the light you were given and respect its strength. You didn’t merely “Make it through” you are living proof that you conquered a storm of suffering. That’s Powerful.
2. You Are Not Alone! – People all around us are going through things that they struggle with too. Be vulnerable enough to share your scars. Maybe they could encourage others around you, or Maybe it will spark a conversation where someone will tell you something that is encouraging and will help you.
3. Your Pain Is A Microphone! – Use the scars you suffer from to reach out on a daily basis to the ones around you. There is power in your story whether you believe it or not. And your story will reach people that other stories wont, don’t leave others in the dark just because you made it out. Let them know your standing next to them and you know the way out!
