Winston Churchill said, “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.”

To the students finishing up this school year, be it from college, high school, middle school, or even elementary levels, you are ending a difficult experience in life, and I’m glad you faced this.

These past few months are showing you how tough life can be, how we don’t always get our way, how plans change nonstop, and so many other extremely valuable lessons. You have seen your teachers become creative in striving to still make sure you have the opportunities to learn, grow, and develop. You have witnessed your caregivers try to help in all kinds of areas. These past few months have shown that even when you are forced to change things, you can still rise above and make the best of what you have.

Author, Catherine Pulsifer, has said that one of her primary goals in life is “to help others build a more rewarding and successful life by sharing her experiences and challenging people’s thinking.” She writes, “Sometimes, life’s challenges are tough to deal with. You will succeed if you focus your thoughts on how to overcome the challenge.”

Instead of looking at what you didn’t get to do or on how your plans got all kinds of messed up, be grateful for what you do have, and pay attention to those around you who have quickly and efficiently adapted to make the best of what they have available. Life doesn’t always go our way. Our plans get torn apart. Things are ever changing around us and we are struggling to embrace just what in the heck we are supposed to be doing. “Sometimes, life’s challenges are tough to deal with. You will succeed if you focus your thoughts on how to overcome the challenge,” Catherine Pulsifer wrote.

In 1 Peter we read, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cared for you (5:7).” God tells us, in Isaiah 41:13,“Do not fear; I will help you.” Psalm 27 calls God “the strong hold of my life”.

You see, we should expect things to go full crazy sometimes. When it does, the only constant we may have in our life is the love and help of God. Pain allows us to know we have feelings. Sorry allows us to know we loved. Struggles allow us to anticipate and celebrate the better days to come. It’s great how James 1:2-4 said to “consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Learn as you grow. #yougotthis

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com.