“There is no security in this life. There is only opportunity.”

Douglas MacArthur

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses HOW THINGS HAPPEN FOR US with Jeremiah Miller.

Jeremiah Miller is a leadership coach and the founder of Forging Leaders. For the last 13 years, he has worked with business owners, executives, and other leaders to change the bad behaviors that keep them and their organizations stuck. Jeremiah lives with his wife, Andrea, and 5-year old son, Gable, in Roseville, California. Jeremiah is also a co-founder of a non-profit company called ForgingDisciples. Forging Disciples works to expand one-on-one biblical discipleship in the greater Sacramento area. They can be found at www.forgingdisciples.org.

Sometimes things happen in our lives that are beyond our control. Though we may never understand why difficulties arise, we can choose to believe they occur for our good. Job loss, heartbreak, losing our wallet, whatever the problem is, we have the option in how we respond. Responding with, “Why is this happening to me? It’s not fair,” are thoughts that deepen the disappointment. If rather, we choose to believe that things happen for us, instead of to us, it repositions us in a place of progress. 

When my youngest brother started high school, my mom decided it was time for her to go after her lifelong dream of being a teacher. Going back to school after 20 years was really challenging, but she succeeded and got her teaching credentials. Right about that time, the economy and education system went down. The first few years after her graduation, she couldn’t get a job and took whatever sub days were offered to her. 

She finally got a job, but at the end of the year got a pink slip. Every following year was the same story. She would get hired at a new school, new grade level, get established, then pink slip, and this repeated for several years. 

The first few years, I was so angry. I was so frustrated for my mom, seeing what hard work she had done to get her credentials. I was thinking, “This isn’t fair. Why is this happening to her? My mom has done nothing for herself all these years, and when she finally has the time to do what she wants, she can’t get anywhere!” Well, what I witnessed from my mom is that she didn’t stay in that “Why is this happening to me?” mentality. She just made the best of her options. She made the most out of her situation, and doors have continued to open. Her positive outlook further developed great flexibility, patience, faith, and tenacity. She got comfortable being uncomfortable. She demonstrated this lesson that things don’t happen to us. They happen for us.

So, how do you respond to difficulty and disappointment? Do you ask why or do you choose to believe it is working for your good? If you choose to believe it is happening for you, then no challenge, disappointment, or obstacle will defeat you. You will be able to bounce back from anything. And when that difficult time has passed, your experience will give hope and encouragement to others. Keep heart during any challenge. Know that the difficulty will pass and will produce greatness in your life!