When Life Seems To Go Wrong
2017 was a trying year for most. For some of my clients, it feels as though it has been a much longer stretch of bone weary challenges and having lives turned upside down, disappointing relationships and unexpected new doors opening that forced the old ones shut.
Even those who have strong spiritual beliefs are wondering “what the hell is going on!”
We hear all the metaphysical explanations about the high energized level of vibrations we now live in which is forcing life changes at a faster pace and also raising the self-doubts and negativity that we hold within us to the surface. It appears that everyone is looking for the answers of how do I get out of this, when will this end or when will something good start?
If you talk to anyone who is in one of those melancholy life review moods, there is always a period of being tested to the limits to force us to grow and then spans of time when it seems things absolutely go your way. But when we are in the guts of despair, we find it hard to remember that life always has a way of working things if you step up and accept you must change also with the forces around you.
So what point am I trying to make here? When we go through hard times and challenges, we have no way of seeing the ‘Big Picture’ unfolding. The ultimate end game forces you to rely on your spiritual instincts that you and an infinitely complex divinity are co-creating this life adventure. If you hold onto that knowledge and keeping the best outcome in focus, it somehow always seems to work out.
After speaking with a friend and sharing the trials and tribulations of our group, she sent me a proverb I sent her many years ago when she was in the deep ‘dark night of the soul’ period in her life. It pretty much puts the answer right out there that we don’t have all the answers or outcomes but if you have faith and hope, it somehow works out. I hope this shared parable will also give insight to those who read this article. God is used in the parable but you can replace a word with whatever deity or higher power you are comfortable with.
God Is Never Wrong
A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances would say: “My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!”
One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal but could not prevent his majesty from losing a finger.
Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said: “Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger.”
The slave replied only, “My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows the “why” of all these things. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!”
Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave. Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices.
While on the altar, ready to sacrifice the noble, the savage found that the victim had a missing finger and so he was released. According to them: he was not perfect enough to be offered to the gods. Upon his return to the palace, the king authorized the release of his slave to whom he said very affectionately:
“My dear, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: If God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail? The servant answered, “My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, I would have been sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger.”
(READ: Study Finds Spirituality Increases Life Satisfaction)
Susan Z’s Verdict
Often, we complain about life and the negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose. We may not see that good outcome when we are drowning in hurt, anger or disappointment but we are truly making it up as we go along. If we hold onto the idea there is a divine presence doing life with us, wanting only love for us, things will eventually even out. When we get to that point of having no hope or giving up, ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, give you courage and to ease your feelings until that solution appears.
Susan Z Rich is an emotional addiction counselor, spiritual intuitive and holistic therapist. She counsels others to see life in a more positive way and teaches personal accountability for life choices. She is also the author of several children’s books and Soul Windows…Secrets From The Divine.