What do we call children who get everything they want? I think they are often referred to as “spoiled brats!” If that is true, why do we take it so seriously when things don’t always go our way or we don’t get everything we want, when we want it, in life. Could it be that our goal would be to become spoiled brats? I don’t think so. We know that difficulties and challenges make us into better leaders. In fact, the way we respond to challenges and difficulties will really determine the kind of leaders we become.
Have you ever heard someone say something like this after they went through a particularly difficult time? “That was one of the most challenging times of my life, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.” While they did not particularly enjoy going through the difficulty, they realized that by going through the situation, the result was that they became a better person for it. Maybe their faith was strengthened, a weak area of their life was exposed so that it could be dealt with, a flaw in their thought process was corrected due to the experience, or any number of other things that the situation worked into their lives.
We all know that challenges and difficulties are agents that work good in our lives, if we allow them to. So why don’t we embrace difficulties more? Instead of waiting until after the difficulty is over to say, “That was one of the most challenging times of my life but I wouldn’t change it for anything”, why not say that up front? “This is one of the most challenges things I am encountering this year. I can’t wait to see all that the Lord will teach me through it!” I guarantee, if you have that mindset as you go through the difficulty, the journey will be much more enjoyable. And that which you thought was so difficult, you may actually find invigorating as you posture yourself to grow through it.
Go ahead, embrace the challenge and enjoy the process. It will keep you from being spoiled.
D.O.V.E.