In The Storm’s Heart (1)

The last few months have been a rollercoaster ride for me. There have been dips and rises in the dance of my life. Sometimes the dips have been intense and required me to gather all the strength I can fathom to be able to make it through the day or night. Here are some of the lessons I have learnt along the journey about how to deal with the hard times.

Pray.

 There is a lot of strength to be gained from God especially in the times when we are weak, for in our weakness, He is strong. Taking time to pause and say an honest prayer is like recharging your batteries and re-orienting yourself. You are able to think better and clearer after a prayer.

Recently, my YALI RLC group mates and I were about to do a presentation for a project. We were already under pressure and yet guess what happened-we got technical challenges with our file in the last hour prior to the presentation. I was in a real panic. I decided to pause and pray silently in my heart. After the prayer, I started on a new presentation file. I believe God gave me the sharpness of mind to put together a new clear presentation in about 30 minutes, and it was that very document that we used. I could have given up at that moment but saying a prayer enabled me to have clarity of perspective and get proactive to finding a new solution.

Pause. Reflect.

When in doubt or confusion, pause. Take some time to reconnect with the inner you and understand what you are going through. Be honest with yourself about the outcomes of your reflection and make decisions based on the honest results of your time with you.

I have heard it said that God is not a god of confusion. So if in confusion, something is not right.

Reach Out to a Friend.

Friends were made for the hard times especially. Never feel weak to reach out to a friend to talk or ask for a prayer. A true friend will not take advantage of your weakness. They will stand with you and be there for you in that moment in the best way they can be.

I am grateful that in the midst of the crazy schedules and hurtful situations, I have had some friends I can count on. They have really held me up and kept me from crumbling or doing something I would regret. Friends help you keep sane.

Confront Your Problems.

I know that people deal with problems in different ways but it is important to face your challenges and problems head-on regardless of your personality type. Sweeping something under the rug or ignoring bad situations is simply a way of postponing problems. I’ve learnt to ask relevant questions to get the answers I seek and to accept those answers when given to me. Facing problems head-on, when they are fresh, may seem scary but it is worse to let issues rot because when they rot, they stink. It’s important to learn how to communicate at times like these so that you don’t aggravate or accelerate the problem instead of solving it. People react differently to confrontation and it is imperative to know how to confront different people with the aim of reaching to the bottom of a matter and hopefully, getting a favourable solution.

Remember You Are Special.

Regardless of the moment you are facing, you are special. You need to hold your head up high and not lose sight of that. Times will come to test your personality and test your resilience. You may be tempted to doubt yourself and doubt your abilities and unique nature. Know this though, that you are special and loved. For every person that does not appreciate your value, there is another person who will. So, appreciate who you are and appreciate your personality as it is, at all times. Don’t doubt your personality type because you are innately that way, for a special purpose and a special reason.

Look out for the part two of this piece “In The Storm’s Heart (2)” which I will publish on 5th June.

Until next time, I will keep you in my heart and mind. Thank you for reading.

-Keziah Elaine Ayikoru-

NOTE: All images used in this article are downloaded off the internet through random searches and this blog does not claim any ownership of any of them.