When the Going Gets Tough

March is upon us. It seems the weather can't seem to make up its mind. One day it is blustery and cold and the next it feels like spring. Changing from one season to another seems to be difficult even for mother nature and for we human beings, seasons of change and transition can be even more challenging. But not to fret. Just as the blossoms of spring are sure to bloom, so too, we will blossom and bloom when the time is right.

Ever feel like God is calling you to something new but you don't know what? Perhaps you've lost your passion for things that used to motivate you or don't know what season you are in right now, but I can tell you this. When things get uncomfortable and stuff starts happening, you can be sure something is up, but it is not the time to throw in the towel.

Someone said to me recently "You are used to toughing things out" and I realized that is true. I have been. As a single parent, working a demanding career, and not having family support around, it has been quite tough. But there are times in life when we need to tough it out, regardless of what others think or say. What really only matters is what God thinks and says. What matters is doing the right thing no matter how hard or inconvenient it may be.

So let's put this into more practical terms. Are you in a difficult marriage or relationship? Tough it out. Are you struggling with health issues, financial issues, or house problems? Tough it out. Are your kids doing the wrong thing even though you've taught them otherwise? Tough it out.

Too many times we throw in the towel because the going gets rough. Too many people get a divorce, quit their job, or disown their kids because things aren't going the way they would like them to go. Guess what? That's life. Life is not always a bed of roses. Things don't always go according to our plans and schedules. Sometimes people make poor choices that affect us. As a friend used to tell me, "It is what it is." So, what to do in these seasons of challenge when the whirlwinds swirl all around us?

Two words. Have faith. As I say in my book, faith is the power behind the promises, the fuel that fires up our engine. We all have it to some degree because it is a gift from God. The question is are we going to activate it? There are things we can do to strengthen our spiritual muscle to get thru the tough seasons of life. For more, check out my newly revised edition on Amazon.com or your favorite online retailer and in the meantime, keep looking up!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Faith-journey-wholeness-ebook/dp/B007P90GDU/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1395253800&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=the+power+of+faith+ariel+paz

Ariel Paz 

This is Only a Test

Has the weather got you down? Things taking longer than you'd like to change? Traffic getting on your nerves? Or maybe you've picked up a few pounds, lost your job, or are just plain stressed out by life in general? It seems winter can be a particularly grueling season to get thru. If so, you are not alone, trust me. Everywhere I go people are asking the same question "Is this ever going to end?" And the answer is always yes. Or as I like to say "This too, shall pass."

Trials and difficulties are not unusual. Things don't happen as quickly as we'd like. Our plans get side-tracked by accidents, illnesses, or other unforeseen circumstances. I call them tests. What irritates you? What makes you lose your peace? What makes you ditch the diet and hit the sweets or the peanut butter? If you stop to take a look at your life, I bet you'll
see a few patterns of your own.                          

This week, I've had a lot of tests and I'm sure you have as well. Like when the smoke detector on my cathedral ceiling went off at 4 am. Or when the heavily coughing neighbor stepped into the elevator with me. Or when I couldn't get the casters on the newly delivered office chair to fit into the base.

Every day is usually a series of tests. Will I be kind? Will I guard my tongue? Will I not react? Will I ask for help? Will I trust? Will I be positive? Will I reach out to help someone else? Will I be generous? Will I be patient?

A good day is when I only have one or two tests and I pass them both. When I reflect back on my day, I think about how well I handled a certain situation. Then there are those days when I remember  how I reacted or what I said or thought and have to ask the good Lord for forgiveness. Self-reflection can be quite a humbling experience, that's for sure.

The good news is every day we start with a clean slate.  God's mercies are fresh every morning. I try not to hold a grudge against anyone, including God or myself. Forgiveness is the key to moving on and staying in peace and living in joy. Faith is knowing that whatever happens, God will see us thru it.

So, what kind of tests have you had this week? Pick one scenario that really gets your goat and then resolve to be at peace with it the next time it happens. Resolve to have faith and trust God to provide whatever is needed for the situation and He will. All we have to do is ask.

Until next time, repeat after me "This is a test. This is only a test." Before you know it, you'll be speeding along the highway of life and getting an "A" on the quiz!

Ariel Paz