The only way to go is up

There may be times in your life when you feel that there is no lower that you could sink, that you’ve reached the bottom of the barrel, and I’m sure you can list several off the top of your head. Our lowest moments are something we never forget, but something that tends to escape our memory is how once we’ve fallen, we have to rise. There’s nothing to suggest life isn’t a struggle, we constantly encounter obstacles and setbacks on a weekly basis, but nothing can prepare us for the phone call or message that drops us to our knees. The Bible says that those in the midst of Hell will be unable to recall the presence or face of God. Well, often we find it hard to imagine anyone in the depths of our misery, we get tunnel vision--where all we see is the bottom of the hole we’ve stumbled into.

It may not be the condolences you’re looking for, but the only way you can go once you’ve hit the bottom is up. It won’t be easy. Getting yourself out of the hole may be nothing shy of your own personal Mount Everest. As daunting as that is, it’s necessary to help you overcome the stress, trauma, and obstacles that have piled up around you. Muscles and strength are built as you tear and wear down your muscles, then by letting them heal to increase their capacity and durability. Building your strength of character works by overcoming the challenges life gives you. It’s not something you have to do alone, the people you keep around you should build you up and push you beyond your limits and weaknesses. Don’t fall into the trap of self-pity, there’s more to life than wallowing in the comforts of your inadequacies. Joy can be derived from the simple pleasure of finding a newness in the world around you. When you make your life an adventure, struggling to climb out of the barrel you’re stuck in is just like climbing another mountain. The only thing stopping you is your fear.