There are many seasons in life. Some seasons are happy - some seasons are difficult - some seasons feel like they last longer than we think! As a man I have learned that no one escapes fighting at some time in their life. There are battles we can see and battles we can't. Today's message is about someone who helped me through one of the most difficult times in my life and how he assisted me in spending time moving forward.
I used to be in the midst of all the uncertainties of life. I had dreams, goals, and expectations for myself but they weren't going the way I thought. I saw opportunities wasted by, plans go awry, and doors closed in spite of my efforts. It was frustrating and I did my best but the results weren't there. There's a pressure on men to be strong, confident and in control as a man. So, I didn't talk much about my situation.
I had to try hard to look happy and cheerful around people and to make things look good, but all the while I was struggling. I found myself in many situations during the night asking myself if I was on the right track? I felt concerned about the future and how much I would have to do before I would be successful. One of those seasons that discouragement would come knocking at my door every day.
One person was with me all the time, in that terrible time. This was a close family member. But not everyone had seen the side of me that I showed to the world, and this person knew that something was amiss. They were able to see through my disguise and detect my weight even when I was trying to hide it.
Their support was different from all other things because it was not that they solved all of my problems. Indeed, they were incapable of doing so. However, they did have something of equal value. They accepted my words. They helped me to share my fears, frustrations, and disappointments with them in a safe space that I didn't feel judged in. Sometimes I would talk about my concerns and would listen to me patiently, not criticizing me.
Each time I thought of quitting, they reminded me of how far I'd come. They mentioned things I hadn't thought about that I knew were good, and they also told me that bad times in life don't make someone who they are. When hope was hard to come by, their words gave me hope.
There was one aspect about them that I never forgot – they were consistent. Many people gave encouragement once or twice but this person was with them all the way. They kept in touch with me frequently and were sure I was doing well. When I wanted to be by myself, they could find a way to tell me that I wasn't doing it alone.
Prayer was another way in which they really helped me. As a Christian, my faith is very important to me. At that time, my faith was shaken because of all the difficulties I was encountering. But this one kept praying for me and kept me going on trusting God even when I didn't understand what was going on.
Often they shared the scriptures that strengthened my heart. One verse that I have always remembered was the verse, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God. (Isaiah 41:10) Those words would always remind me that God was still at work in my life, when I was anxious about what would happen next.
I think, in retrospect, that their support was a major factor in helping me get through that season. Sometimes we believe that help has to be financial or in the way of connections or material gifts. Emotional and spiritual support can be as significant as those things, but. . . Having someone that believed in me, gave me that strength to go on one day at a time.
It also led me to look at relationships in another perspective. It brought me to realize that there are many people who have burdens that aren't immediately seen. It is not what we say, but a simple act of kindness such as a kind word, a listening ear, a phone call or a simple message could mean more than we realise. Since what I went through, I am making an effort to be more conscious of helping others who may be having struggles.
Today I'm grateful for that chapter in my life. The problems were not easy, but they were necessary to learn lessons about being resilient, being able to believe and having supporting people around us. Most of all, they were a great reminder that no one goes through life alone.
I will ever be grateful to the person who accompanied me through that tough time. Their encouragement brought me to the realization that strength isn't about doing everything on your own. Sometimes it is best to embrace encouragement, rely on others for support and keep going when things may feel unclear.
It was one of the best lessons I had learned that one person's support could make a difference in someone's life.
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