It occurred to me not too long ago that living in a new culture, learning a new language, adjusting to heaps of change has accelerated growth in me and been a gift beyond what I could’ve anticipated. First, it felt like a curse because it highlighted dysfunctional habits in my life. These habits were ingrained in me long before I stepped onto a plane to live overseas; however, they weren’t as visible to me until the most basic activities became overwhelming and uncomfortable. If you live in your country of birth, celebrate the fact that going to the post office is not stressful, that phone calls to make doctor’s appointments are not overwhelming, and that so many other normal tasks are business as usual for you! That was my reality until I arrived in a country where I couldn’t even express myself. All the pressures of making a new life overseas revealed fears, anxiety, insecurity, and frustration. This new life clearly showed me the dysfunction because the bad habits made life unbearable. Something had to change because I was torturing myself with these negative thoughts and toxic reactions. Once life becomes more uncomfortable than we can tolerate, we are ready to start walking the path to freedom. I’m still walking on this path and it has been one of the greatest gifts I’ve received.
Are you facing something new or unknown in this season? What areas of your life are stressful today? What “ugly” is coming to the surface? Rather than seeing the difficulty as a curse, choose to view it as an opportunity to allow God to heal and restore the broken area(s) of your life. Let Him begin His good work by first admitting there is a problem. That’s the first step.
Simple and powerful truth! For me, it’s been moving overseas, being married, and becoming a mother. So, pretty much everything in my world over the past 11 years, but especially the past three. *Habits* is a key word in this – and lines up perfectly with the topic of a video I just watched that my brother made, on life lessons from softball 🙂 (https://youtu.be/6_WHfEF4EeE) – he referred to Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 7, when he says that those who hear his words and “put them into practice” will be building on that firm foundation. When you practice something like a softball swing, you do it over and over and over – until it becomes HABITUAL! But you’re exactly right – sometimes we don’t recognize how we’ve been practicing all wrong (like the people Jesus said “practice lawlessness!”) until we find ourselves under stress – and the bad habits knock us over, oops!!! So yes – sorry for the longwinded (foggy mommy brained) comment – but THANK YOU JESUS for these situations that reveal our need to practice new habits!! Love you Joy!! xo
Hey!!! Thanks for commenting. I’ll have to check out the YouTube link you posted. Thanks for sharing it. Yes, you are right. We do need to thank the Lord for these situations more than we do or at least I do! Love you too!