Let me start off by saying this post has completely shifted from where I was originally coming from. Now with that being said…

I had a conversation with an Elder after church service one day, and out of the blue she says “You’re really strong in faith”. I laughed. I didn’t laugh because I felt she was joking or even the irony of the circumstances. I laughed because of my own disbelief and resolve. It wasn’t until she used those words and my reaction was disbelief that I realized my faith was being tested and strengthened. You see, I often tell the story of 3 businesses I started and became discouraged when they didn’t prosper the way I thought it would. So being spiritual lead to open another business had me less enthusiastic to being obedient. I mean no one wants to fail or be viewed as a failure. I took it personal as if I not only fail myself but I failed God. Yet He still wanted me to continue this path. “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬ So not wanting to disappoint my Heavenly Father (again) I did it. I should have been thinking “He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭112:7‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ I also did it because I knew the promises that were spoken over my life and I wanted a those promises. So Father’s Day came and I watched my beloved Warriors lose the basketball championship. I watched a great team who had a proven record of victory take a mighty loss. I couldn’t believe it. Later the next day or so I saw a post on Instagram with Stephen Curry’s post last year. “Win or lose thank Him for the ability and opportunity to play.” -Stephen Curry. That’s when it hit me. We often think that because we are Christians that we don’t have to go through anything. Especially if God told us to do so, but may I admonish you to read the bible. I’m not talking about Ruth, Esther and the Gospels. I’m talking about Hosea, Jeremiah, Job and etc. Everyone has had trials and tribulations to face and it was a divine assignment. Those events had to happen to strengthen us during our time of waiting. To make us stronger, to become the example, to coach those who are going to go the same way. You can’t be effective being perfect all the time. You wouldn’t have compassion if you’ve never experienced loss. You won’t have the right words to coach if you never been where they are. Right now you are the player in the game, but next season (phase in life) you will be the coach. You can help those where you failed or stumbled. I said all of that to say lift up those weights and stay in the wait (process) the longer you stay the more fit you’ll be…. #OnPurpose