Martin Luther King had said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” Each one of us has gone through times in life that have been less than ideal. Job loss, business failure, breakdown of relationships, illness… there could be many reasons that bring us bad phases in life. At times, they have been difficult enough to shake our faith in the divine power but time and time again, there have been heroes in this world that have encouraged us to understand that problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. Difficult times show us our true strength, hard times reveal true friends, and the light ultimately triumphs over the dark of our situation.
However, the fact remains that while going through difficulty, battles are fought in our minds every day. There might come a time when we begin to feel that things are just too difficult and want to give up. It is at such times that we need to keep our faith and know that we’re going to make it. Here are a couple of ways to keep your faith during hard times:
Lean into your faith and give it time. At times there is no obvious finish line for miles at a stretch and your feet are weary. There is no relief in sight. Keep trusting what you cannot see with naked eye. Understand that the universe works in its own way and the bigger plans it has are beyond our vision right now. Getting to the next level requires a time of discomfort while pushing forward. You will feel and eventually see the difference.
Pray for strength and guidance. Prayer is communication with the divine force, where we build a conscious relationship with it. Contrary to what we may feel, we are never alone. Each one of us has spiritual helpers from the realms that we cannot see in this fast-paced, crazy, and chaotic world of ours unless we take time to listen, feel, pay attention, meditate, and accept what we get back subtly. Divine powers connect with us through many signs, symbols, and synchronicities, in addition to the known five senses of the human body. Just as we can feel the wind or physically see the effects of the wind, but we do not actually see the wind, know that the object of our faith is present in our lives, thoughts, energy, and emotions. When we pray for guidance and look, listen, and feel this subtle communication, we receive plenty of guidance, support, and unconditional love.
Try your best to remain grounded. Being spiritual is a wonderful thing. However, it does not mean losing our connection to our physical existence. The two are not separate – we must live in both equally! Also keeping faith does not mean you run away from the problems that stand in your way. Try your best to stay grounded by exercising, taking long walks and focusing on your fitness in the best way you can and under your circumstances. Engage your body vigorously. It’s a respite from stress, even if for a little while, when your heart is pounding and your muscles are aching pleasantly. You could also spend time in nature. Put your feet on bare rock, or walk on some cool, soft grass. Lie on the ground and soak up some sunlight. Carry in your pocket or wear pieces of hematite or onyx, both of which have grounding qualities. Wear red or eat red foods. Red is the colour of the root chakra. You could also drink hibiscus tea because hibiscus stimulates the lower two chakras. Essential oils like patchouli or cedarwood help. Rub them on your ankles. You could also try sitting in utter stillness. It may not come easy but persist and you will see the results. Get quiet. Just look, listen, feel the air gliding around your body. Notice what you smell. Absorb the present moment. Being in the now will help you connect with your Higher Self and yield answers to whatever is bothering you.
Optimise life consciously. During tough times we must have hope that we will go through it. If we don’t, we will only drag ourselves down and enter a vicious cycle where our negative attitude makes the situation worse, which makes us even more negative, and so on.
Be in the company of supportive people. It is said that God works through people. Going through difficult times is tough, but going through them alone is even harder. All of us need positive people around us for support. Being a part of a group, a part of a community that cares and encourages, relieves stress and makes it easier to have faith in the goodness of this world.
Help others. When you think of other people, you shift your focus away from yourself. As a result, your situation doesn’t look as bad as it would otherwise. Shifting some of your attention away could also help in having a better perspective.
The power of faith brings changes in your life that you would not expect. It can take you beyond logic, far ahead of the ordinary, and manifest a miracle. Opportunities exist even in the midst of suffering. When you are in a difficult time, when you feel as if you are at the end of the rope, don’t let go. Hold tighter. The longer you hold on, the greater your blessings will be.
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