For most of my life I’ve lived by the biblical principle that “The race is not given to the swift, nor to the strong, but to those that endure to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
Although it took some time for me to truly understand what exactly that meant. In the beginning I thought, perhaps if I’m strong enough or fast enough, I can get through anything. I imagine that if you’re reading this, then you’re a living witness that this tactic is rather easier said than done. But this is not the case. In order for me to better understand this principle; I had to first realize what all it took to endure something. Being strong or fast enough is just the tip of the iceberg. To my understanding, “fast enough” simply meant being able to forcefully push myself into something I wasn’t ready for. It was then that I asked, how would an individual endure something of this nature by rushing through it? At some point, you’d have to come to the realization that this thing was something that would take every fiber of your being to get through or to succeed at. Otherwise how can you adapt and learn the most valuable lesson from it?
“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.”
So then I started thinking, what does it truly mean to be challenged? This task can go above and beyond the norm of your capabilities, thereby taking you out of your comfort zone. Granted, when we are in our comfort zones it feels good to us simply because our minds and our bodies are at ease. And a lot of times embarking on a path to the “unknown” can be difficult and terrifying, but we as human beings must not allow fear to creep in and detour us from our destiny and life-fulfilling purpose. When you are pushed to be the best version of yourself it’s never going to be an easy, swift process because what comes easy won’t last; and in this case, you desperately want it to. You don’t have to convince yourself that whatever position or situation that you’re in is all there is. If you do, consequently you would be limiting yourself to something that can be expanded with infinite possibilities. Something that requires all of your invested time, energy, will-power, faith, and so on will not be easy to come by, but I promise you in the end, the reward will be well worth it. So let this be encouragement and motivation for you to welcome the unknown and rise to the challenge because if it doesn’t challenge you, then it doesn’t change you.
Be Blessed,
Toccara
