Good (or God) Gives Us Strength

I have had a rough week, y’all.

Some of you may be bummed to hear that even the faithful have the occasional absolutely BLEEP week. I made mistakes at work, I made mistakes at home. I have run myself ragged and had misunderstandings both professionally and personally. Those kinds of trials can make a person wonder: what is the point of even believing in Good (or God)? Shouldn’t life just be perfect all the time once we’re connected to a supreme presence that is constantly watching our backs? 

Wellllllllll, ummmm… no, it turns out. Life certainly can be and is better with faith, in my experience. But I also know that we, as stubborn sentient beings, do a LOT to insist that our way to live life is the best way, while God (or Good) has other plans for us entirely. 

When I’m in the thick of a BLEEPSHOW of a week, I often forget who/what is in charge. I overthink the BLEEP out of everything and I forget I have the option of just entering the flow state, getting my work done, tuning into my higher power, and having faith that the lessons I am learning have inherent value, too. 

All the mistakes I made this week will lead to my growth and development. All of the conflicts I had with others (and there were several) were not the end of the world. They taught me something about myself or others, and all of it has value, even if it was difficult. 

Did I get bummed out? Sure. I’ve had a couple of brief pity parties this week, not gonna lie. 

Did I disappoint anyone? Yep, and it made me miserable. 

Am I learning and growing and do I still have faith? You bet.

If anything, my faith has been an undercurrent of strength, because I believe that all of it has purpose and meaning, if I just slow down and look for it. 

Do I need to find some new friends based on some unfortunate circumstances this week? Maybe. Do I believe that there are other people possibly more aligned with me and my future? Yes, I do, and I believe that because of God (or Good). Good would never isolate me. God would never bring betrayal or disloyalty into my life unless I had something to learn from it. I don’t believe a force for Good can coexist with punishment, but I do believe Godless, faithless people and circumstances regularly, regularly, regularly do us harm. 

We have to fortify ourselves against other people’s insecurities and practice faith to assuage our own. We do not have to keep suffering through trauma, abuse, neglect, selfishness, criticism, a lack of loyalty, or any other dysfunctional relationship in the name of Good (or God). 

God is Good for relationships, because it gives us faith in ourselves and our value. We get to speak up for ourselves, give other people the opportunity to respond well or poorly, and have faith that how they respond will inform our next steps in a relationship with them that is grounded in faith. If people treat us poorly, it is their own lack of faith that feeds that kind of harm, and it’s a good opportunity to move on to others who have more to offer.  

When it comes to work, the search for Good (or God) can give us the drive to search for work that has purpose and meaning. It can help us withstand the inevitably of BLEEPING up or failure, because no one on the planet can be a perfect employee all the time. It can motivate us to serve others, commit to dreams, and focus on a new and brighter future. 

I am here to attest that this faith business can do wonders for us, even during a BLEEP week. It has helped me grow a backbone in my personal life and helped me weather storms professionally. I pray throughout the day for guidance on how to handle people and what to do next, and as my faith has developed, I have spent less and less time in my head with judgment, criticism, or concerns, and more time in my body just living my life, learning new lessons, and seeing what faith has in store for me next. 

 So, no matter what you’re struggling with, I recommend putting your hands together in prayer and allowing yourself the opportunity to believe that what you have in your life now serves a higher purpose, and that a focus on faith will enrich your life in ways you cannot possibly imagine. Let Good (or God) give you strength, because you, too, are worthy of it.