When hardships started coming into my life, at first it was all new. I was in despair and suffering. What a difficult situation to be in. Being deprived of blessings was a new life lesson. I couldn't do the things I once used to do. In my understanding, I was impaired. I was hopeless and sad. I didn't see the purpose to life. No matter my opinion or understanding, fate was going to take its course. The will of God was destined to happen, and I was part of his master plan. I just had to embrace it.
In my understanding, all my dreams came to an end. I was crushed. Why is this happening to me? I had envisioned a completely different life. One full of blessings and happiness. One which I had the physical and mental abilities to do things on my own. For the time being I remained defeated, while God was carefully improving many aspects of my life.
A blessing in my understanding was a misfortune by God's wisdom. But little did I know that hardships can be a catalyst for achieving new heights in our personal and spiritual lives. When you are so accustomed to a certain way of life, you only see one direction. And that was my path. One direction with no purpose. No wisdom. But thanks to God, I was growing and becoming a different person.
God's master plan is unique and befitting for His creation. All the pieces are put precisely in place at the right time. He took some blessings away from me, to allow me to develop new skills. To develop new talents and goals. He opened the doors I was searching but did not want to open them myself, because I was deceived of my superficial view in life. I viewed some things as useless. I lacked wisdom and understanding. I did not properly judge and value things. I was unguided.
God wants us to embrace the truth that our problems, difficulties, and disappointments are storms on the sea of life that are not meant to sink us, but to sanctify us. Each "storm" is an opportunity to grow closer to God. As we grow closer to God, the more we love Him. And the more we love Him, the more we desire to serve Him and others. Then, the more we serve Him and others, the more like Him we will become.
Eventually, hardships did come to pass leaving me with scars and a new perspective in life. I became a learned man. I became more like Him. The hardships brought the best out of me, but at the time, I did not understand how. They truly were blessings in disguise. .
The same things no longer were boring and useless, they were the most precious gift to life. The act of worship was once considered a waste of time, now it was the best of my time. What had happened to me? Why did I start seeing the world with different eyes? It seemed like a new lens with better magnification and focus was being used. I was seeing a new world. One created with a purpose.
For the first time I started to appreciate life. Nothing physically was different but my attitude. I needed a wake up call. I needed a hardship. An alarm that does not go off until you turn it off. So I developed new skills to better handle my future hardships. God prepared me for the uncertainties that life throws in our path, and I will forever be thankful.
The hardships of life were God's plan for my future, but I did not understand His plan. I viewed hardships as a defeat. A loss. An unpleasant situation to be in. To my blind eyes and deaf ears, I was defeated, yet to God I was the victor. I could only see the outcome, and I could only hear the noise, but there was plenty of action that I did not see throughout, and lots of messages I did not hear. You may Ask why, so do I, but God in His perfect wisdom says here is why: "Its not for you to know, just keeping pushing and you shall come out victorious, with more strength and a new perspective. When the storm passes, you will know. Be patient!"
We should keep in mind that every difficulty is a character-building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater is its character-building potential. Swimming against the current makes us stronger. However, this growth in character is not automatic. Many people become bitter, rather than better, when faced with suffering. Adversity can either make us or break us, depending on our reaction to the situation.
When we are going through a difficult journey and we fall short, we ask ourselves: What am I going to do. I have been defeated? When we have put so much time and effort into succeeding in something. Be it a job, a relationship, a business transaction or a trust. And it all comes to crash. We become hopeless and cannot see any benefit out of it. Whatever it may be, If not by our lack of effort but because of Gods will, it has a great purpose.
Victory lies not in the physical manifestation, rather in the wisdom and lesson acquired by the situation. That is victory not defeat. I ask myself: "How much wisdom and patience have I acquired because I was tried and tested. How many dua's (prayers) have I made to Allah to guide and help me. How much did this hardship increase my patience and humility. My understanding and appreciation. My view in life. My considerations of those less fortunate. My worship of God. My understanding of His greatness and mercy. How much did I learn. How much forgiveness did I seek. Wow, MashAllah what a victory have I achieved!
It is indeed true that sometimes we see with our ears and hear with our eyes. In that we take things too literal. We do not try things out ourselves, but we rely on the opinion of others, never learning and experiencing certain things in life. Never seeing with our own eyes. Similarly, our hearing and understanding is based on the outer appearance, whereby very seldom do we hear the inner messages that are being relayed.We pay attention only to the obvious messages. That is not hearing.
So take a few minutes and think of your latest defeat in life. Be it a failed exam, a hardship in life, a loss of wealth. Whatever it may be, understand that Allah granted you wisdom and patience through this experience. If not by your lack of effort and striving, great wisdom lies in it. Allah may have withheld for your benefit. He knows what we do not know. He is carefully planing our life, while we are blind and ignorant to see this transformation happening into our life. We will know once we learn to reflect.
Next time you face a hardship remember that when it is dark enough, you can see the stars. But when it is daylight, we only see the visible. The wisdom you acquire through hardships allows you to see deep within your soul. So embrace it. Appreciate it. Think of it as a blessing that cannot be avoided, but it has come your way, and you should deal with it. Be thankful for this great opportunity for growth, and remember what God says in the Glorious Qur'an: "Dan ia mungkin bahawa anda tidak suka satu perkara yang baik untuk anda dan bahawa anda suka kepada sesuatu padahal ia buruk bagi kamu. Allah mengetahui, tetapi anda tidak tahu. (AI-Baqarah, 2:216) "
*i cant translate this ayah(ayat) in english ,,,,,
PLEASE MAKE ME STRONG THAN EVER FOR YOU..
THE MOST KNOWING ...
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