THE PURPOSE OF STRUGGLES

 

Happy new week my Dear friend, it's the last Sunday of the month, and we'll be wrapping it up with a message of hope. Recently, I was having a conversation with my daughter. She spoke about the difficulties and hard times she was passing through, and I reminded her that there is a purpose for every season, even the dry ones. Life is not without pain, but every trial carries meaning. God has a purpose for us all, and often, challenges are gentle, and sometimes harsh, reminders that we are being redirected toward His plan.

When God called Moses, he was busy trying to save Israelites one by one by killing Egyptians in secret. But God interrupted him with a burning bush, a divine distraction. It was at that moment Moses understood that his purpose was not about saving one or two people, but about leading an entire nation to freedom. In the same way, struggles have a way of drawing our attention away from what we think our life depends on, and pointing us back to God’s higher purpose.

I am a living testimony of this truth. I have gone through pains that seemed unreconcilable. Yet those very struggles reshaped me. They moved me from only caring for my immediate family to having compassion for anyone in need. My pain taught me to feel the struggles of others and gave me the strength to become a better version of myself. Without a rough road, it is hard to know the value of a car’s absorber. Life works the same way.

As the Yoruba saying goes, “Eni ogun o dé bá, lo npe ara rẹ̀ ni okunrin.” It is the man who has not seen war that easily calls himself brave. Struggles test us, refine us, and give depth to who we are.

There was a time I wondered why I never drank or smoked. I realized there was also a purpose in that. Not for pride or self-glory, but so I could inspire others by showing that it is possible to live free of substances. That realization planted in me the desire to organize programs that encourage people to live healthier, purpose-driven lives.

The truth is, no challenge is too small. Each one carries purpose. Trusting God requires understanding, and that understanding is rooted in purpose. When it feels as though God is absent, that may be the perfect time to recognize that He is speaking to us, shaping us, and calling us.

I don’t know what you may be going through right now, but I believe this. There is a message hidden in that pain, and a divine purpose waiting to be uncovered. Pay attention. Keep faith. Your struggles will not end in shame. They will end in praise.

Thank you for reading, do not forget to comment and share with your family and friends. As we go into a new month, I pray that it's going to be a productive and prosperous month, all that we lay our hands upon shall prosper. Happy new month in advance.