Staying positive in tough situations is something that I believe most people have a hard time with—myself especially.

During work, it is difficult, but easier to maintain, only because it happens to be a part of doing my job well; since I have to deal with guests in an establishment, as well as other team members, having a bad attitude can potentially affect someone’s experience, and therefore is bad business.

In other parts of my life, after work is done, it becomes more difficult for me to stay positive, when sometimes I just want to be sad and feel sorry for myself. After work my mind starts thinking or worrying about all possible things, and I can feel the anxiety creep up on me.

In these situations, I am so thankful to have God.  Not that it’s easier right away, but at least I can give it all to Him, and just stop worrying about whatever is going through my head.

All of this takes a lot of perseverance.

Perseverance to feel happy when my thoughts are sad, knowing that God will take care of me and I’ll be okay.

Perseverance to keep working, reading, writing, or conversing when I’m exhausted and just want to watch a mindless tv show and fall asleep.

Perseverance to eat healthy, drink healthy, and make responsible short-term choices.

Suffering enables me to even begin to think about having to have perseverance.

If nothing went wrong in my life, I’d never have to persevere, and therefore I’d never grow.

All in all, I have to persevere to even thank God for the suffering in my life, just as much as I easily thank Him for the blessings.  I believe He has a great purpose for me, and therefore I have to be a strong woman, with character and perseverance.  That will only come from suffering.

“Suffering produces perseverance;

perseverance, character;

and character, hope.”

Romans 5:3-4