Marching Through the Mud

I strive to always be proactive and have a game plan for my life, for my year and for my day. But sometimes life hits so hard the plan falls by the wayside and it’s just about getting back up after I’ve been punched in the mouth. Last week was one of those weeks.

I feel as if God is telling me, “Can you practice what you preach? Will you put your money where your mouth is? Will you walk the talk when all you want to do is lie down and rest.” I encourage others to stay in the fight and battle through the trials in their life; what will I do when it’s my fight and I am the one struggling? Can I be a good example to others who have a much tougher fight than I do?

I used to pray for my life to go smoothly, for things to work themselves out. Basically, I was asking God for “easy.” I now realize that was the wrong request, and like Garth Brooks sings, sometimes God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayer. I should not ask that the mountain be less steep and the path cleared. I should request stronger legs and surer footing. I need not pray for favorable winds and less storms. Rather, I should appeal for more wisdom to set the sails and better mastery of my ship. I should never pray for easier fights, but the fortitude to get back up. I cannot control how hard life hits, only how long I choose to stay down.

Don’t ask for less rain, ask for the determination to keep marching through the mud.

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