A Million Strands of Friction

Life is fascinating. It's like an eternal loom weaving together strands of friction, beauty and the most random possibilities. Any experience could be labeled as one or two or maybe all three. It seems we really don't know until the situation has played itself out. I have made one consistent observation, maybe you have seen this too. It seems that when a strand of friction has been stretched to its furthest limits and it finally snaps, it's not replaced by more friction, it's replaced with strands of beauty and possibility. I can better illustrate this through a situation that has happened in my own life. About a year and a half ago, I lost my job. It was an environment of terrible tension and frustration. When that strand of friction finally snapped, I was thrown into even more tension, only because I didn't realize that it was being replaced with a hundred strands of blessings. I'll tell you about the two that have been most prevalent.

The first blessing: The opportunity to turn my side gig into a full-time career had finally presented itself. I was scared. No more predictable 9-5, no more "normal" work day, off at 5, fix dinner, go to bed. It was truly stepping into the unknown. I bought business books, consulted other entrepreneurs, and became educated in taxes. What started out as just 'Shauna, 9-5 by day, designer by night' turned into Designed by Shauna - Graphic Design, Web Design, & Marketing Services.

Possibility Strand #1 had arrived with several coats of Courage to help combat the fear.

The second blessing: I was hungry. Where I used to get up by 7:30, to work by 8:30, run errands at lunch, sleep in on weekends, dread Monday, and repeat, I now started every day at 6:25am. Laundry was going, bread was rising as I sent emails, gathered web stats and scheduled meetings. Even now, I'm building a brand, learning to sell myself, restructuring services, and reorganizing my website. It's all so invigorating because I WANT this to work. I don't NEED this job, I WANT this job.

Possibility Strand #2 had arrived with a splash of Motivation to keep me hunting for work.

My life has become richer since losing my job. I work with new people every day, attend community events, and help businesses in their plan for success. I spend more time cooking healthy, helping my husband on the farm, and helping the ladies at church. Honestly, my work today is so rewarding that it doesn't seem much like work, it feels more like, purpose.

I have to remind myself that difficult people, friction on the job, unavoidable situations, they all play a part in our fabric of life. They are temporary setbacks waiting to snap so that beauty and enormous possibility can take their place. I remember Joseph and how he was sold into slavery and became second only to the man of the house. The sketchy wife gets him thrown into jail where he meets Pharoah's cupbearer and interprets his dream. The cupbearer told Pharoah, Joseph interprets Pharoah's dream and all of a sudden Joseph is second in command of the entire nation of Egypt. What a fabric was woven in Joseph's life.

Try not to be so glad for the "bad" to have slipped away that you forget to take note of the good that came out of it. Every situation hides a victory that is meant for you to find and take hold of. Paul says it in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." If you follow Jesus, if you love him, then you are called to his purposes. Therefore, "IN ALL THINGS" is meant for you, too.

God is real and his son Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by him. If you don't know Jesus, could your heart be searching? Could it be what has lead you here? May you find that Way, and may every day after that be filled with beauty and possibilities for you. I'm here to help you find a place for Christ in your life.

If you have a "burdens to blessing" story, please share it with us and offer your own bit of encouragement in the comments. If you have a friend or family member that could use some encouragement, please share any of these stories with them.

God bless and have a wonderful day,

Shauna