Pushing Forward in Tough Times

Do you have a hero or heroine? Someone you want to imitate? Have you looked up to a person who seems to manage their way through difficult circumstances in a positive way? Maybe you know of something other than a person representing the grit it takes to push forward in tough times.

Let me introduce you to the mighty hosta.

We’ve had quite the journey with the hostas lining our small backyard patio. We began by transplanting a few small plants from my mother’s house years ago. The plants soon grew so large and in such great numbers, they seemed to take over the patio area.

One winter, after cutting back the hostas, I added a wooden planter with winter plants at the corner of the patio. You may have seen one like it—an old wine barrel cut in half. It sat over an area previously inhabited by a hosta. I’d decided to leave the planter through the spring because moving it after it had been filled with soil proved difficult.

As spring rolled around, a hosta leaf worked its way up through the bottom of the planter, muscling through almost two feet of soil, and emerging to look down on its ground-dwelling friends.

Pushing Forward in Tough Times.” #hope #faith #WritingCommunity Share on X

We’ve since transplanted the plants to more suitable areas. Still, volunteer hostas have to be managed regularly. I’ll tell you; they are a determined lot. You can see why the photo prompt for this week—a lone, new hosta leaf, brings to mind determination and perseverance.

Maybe you are in a time of fearfulness. You don’t feel like you can push through whatever may be causing your fear. You may have health, finance, safety, or any number of threats to your peace of mind. Maybe you haven’t prayed about it yet, or you have prayed about it and you’re not sensing God’s hand in your situation.

Do you feel alone or abandoned?

If you find yourself in a place of aloneness or abandonment because of your fear, take heart, because you are not alone. You are not abandoned.

Many years ago, God’s children, the Israelites experienced a time of Babylonian captivity. God provided comfort to His people by reassuring them of His intentions to help them.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, NASB)

No matter what you are feeling. No matter how your world seems, God is with you. He wants you to not only believe He is with you. He wants you to act on that belief.

How do you act on believing God is with you?

God tells us to let go of fear. Let go of anxiousness. It may sound strange, but He also wants you to let go of your own strength. He will strengthen you and surely help you. He will uphold you with His righteous hand.

Anything keeping you from pushing forward? Are you feeling fearful or anxious? Let us know. We’ll be happy to pray for you.

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.