Growing From Challenges
- Vernita "Neat" Simmons
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Beloved, some of my most astonishing milestones were birthed from struggles and unexpected challenges. Though uninvited, unwelcome, and painful, the outcome was more than I could have imagined. As much as I enjoy writing, the journey to being a published author came with opposition and facing challenges. Those hardships caused me to grow and become all God created me to be. Like the fruit of the Spirit, growth must happen for us to be led by the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:18-22, AMP)
From the girl who said I did not write my first play, and some Christian magazines that rejected me, I refused to allow this to destroy me. Even when I lost my position as a Substitute Teacher, I never knew it would be what would cause me to publish my first book in 2015. That student said she had read the play in a magazine. Her words were supposed to make me doubt myself and not ever write again. Instead, I thought, “It must have been pretty good to have been written in a magazine.”
Rejection is painful, and having your self-esteem attached can prevent you from growing. However, here I am, almost ten years later, and not only am I a multiple CBA award author, but several of my articles have been published in a magazine. I was even the Interview Manager at Faith Filled Magazine, where I supervised assigning their Feature Writers. Because I faced those challenges, acquired the skills, and kept submitting compositions, God’s Words have gone into regions my feet never have. Such as Canada, Africa, and even parts of America, are impacting lives.
Dear One, we will not thrive when things are easy. We need challenges, troubles, and barriers to bring us out of our comfort zones. In our safety nets, we feel comfortable, protected, and at peace. However, to go further than we ever have, the challenges can cause us to reach heights we never thought possible.
As 1 Peter 2:1-3 warns us, we must rid ourselves of words that make us doubt our abilities. Beloved, stop accepting easy assignments instead of those that challenge us, or give up when we get frustrated. Like newborn babes, we must crave spiritual milk that pushes us past those comfort zones and helps us grow to be who we should be. God is walking right beside us, blessing us with a cheering squad who encourages us and those who will not allow us to give up. Besides, failure can lead us to victory as we trust God to make the impossible possible.
I pray the musical selection, What If by Consumed By Fire, stirs your heart to recognize that what if God is waiting for you to see just how big He is? Sweet Jesus, I want to see what is beyond what I have not seen.
TIME FOR REFLECTION: Coming out of our comfort zones takes tremendous courage. Please encourage somebody today. What benefits can we gain when we step out of our comfort zones? Share your experience, hit that star button, and share this devotional with others.
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