Cathy from Georgia asks, “How do you stay encouraged and keep pushing on when things do not work out, time after time? I lost my job over a year ago and took a month off but then hit the pavement. Since the beginning of 2016, I have not only applied for admin jobs but jobs cleaning houses, working retail, basically everything but fast-food and that is about to happen…..I am older, 52, but have lots of experience, a college degree and still nothing. How do I keep my spirits up? How do you? Obviously, work is something I have to do, so God is not shutting the doors.”
How to Stay Positive When Everything Goes Wrong
Wow, that’s a toughy Cathy! I can definitely empathize with you!
There have been so many points in my life where I’m CONVINCED, just absolutely CONVINCED this “next big thing” is going to work out for me.
I then pushed myself to the limits, trying to make it work, working my tail off, but never getting to the level of achievement that I saw others having or that I knew I could achieve. I’d pull out my hair and think, “Okay, just one more mountain to climb, Lord, that’s all I can do…just one more mountain. If it doesn’t work by such and such time, I’m done.”
I kept trying thing after thing after thing, until one day, God convicted me to start a blog.
Long story short is that I made it! I’m doing very well financially doing something I absolutely love to do.
So how does that encourage you? In this way…
EVERY SINGLE THING I did before I started blogging has MADE ME the blogger that I am today.
I sold on eBay and all those things I learned about marketing and giving so many details about something, good customer service, standing behind your products, and so on, helped me today as a blogger. Every single task taught me something that I am using now!
So, I would say, Cathy, that while it may not LOOK LIKE things are working out, it may SEEM LIKE things are just failing right and left, God IS using it for your good and taking you on a path He wants you on.
Psalm 37:23 quote (one of my two favorite verses in the Bible) says, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”
He orders our steps. It gives a sense of numbering…counting…He’s ordered them. They are in a specific order.
And there is hope in that!
While things may look bleak and hopeless now, it’s not over yet, and He is TRAINING you, so that WHEN that opportunity comes, BAM…you’re already trained and ready to go!
You’ll hit the ground running and be light years ahead of everyone else, because of all that training. It’s not wasted time….He’s teaching you. If you stick with it, keep trying different things, you’ll find it. Even a broken clock is right twice a day! 🙂 You’ll find it. Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope!
How have you stayed positive during difficult times no matter what? If you have any tips to share on how to stay positive when everything goes wrong, let us know in the comments below! <3
