Disappointments and Difficulties
By John W. Vander Velden
What can I say? The title seems to say it all. But I,
like everyone, have faced times when things did not go as I had hoped. And just
like you have found myself struggling to deal with things in general.
I was led to thinking on these subjects last month.
You see, after a few wonderful days venturing off and around, I came down with COVID.
But what made it seem incredibly unfair was that I had endured the virus only
thirteen months before. I had followed the guidelines, been vaccinated repeatedly.
But alas it was my fate to be exposed and to develop the illness.
Surely you understand I was disappointed and what
followed were difficulties dealing with COVID and its aftereffects. Some of
those difficulties I continue to face even today.
I will not go over the symptoms and the weakness that
has followed. No, this is about a more general topic, the disappointments and difficulties
we all face, and how, in the face of them, we can see something positive. For
positivity is a choice and so it is up to you and me to see things through a
different lens.
I use myself as an example. True, I wanted to wallow
in self-pity last month, and there are moments I did. There are moments I still
do, when stairs seem nearly impossible to climb. But I use these moments as a
contrast of what I had before, and realize I took for granted so many gifts
that God has given me.
So, I refuse to allow disappointments become a
consuming dark cloud, at least for now. But knowing that at present my strength
is lacking and the difficulties that might cause, I am driven to fight
for recovery, knowing full well that battle will be difficult. So, I find
gratitude in the will to endure, in the will to fight on today…tomorrow…and all
the days God gives.
So, as I remind myself of life’s joys, of my experiences,
those of I enjoy in my present state, as well as those past days, I find the
sting of this particular disappointment weaken. When I consider all the
difficulties I have endured in the past, and how I had pushed through those
problems, I understand nothing of value comes easy. I thank my God for bringing
me this far with the confidence that God will take me further, if it is His
will.
For though I am disappointed. And yes, once again I
face difficulties. But I am not yet beaten.
Therefore, I face the days ahead, and in doing so I
find joy in overcoming my disappointments because God has given me the courage
to face life’s difficulties. For in the end, I will be a better…stronger…person as
a result of the Disappointments and Difficulties I face.
And as you face life's challenges...you can be as well!
(476 Words) 11-24-2023
