"The basic difference between an ordinary person and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary person takes everything either as a blessing or a curse."   Carlos Castaneda, Anthropologist

My mom wrote me a letter one time that said, "things we call hardships or trials (or curses) are often actually blessings in disguise sent by God."  Part of finding the blessing is taking our life experiences as challenges.  Most of our real growing and refining comes when we gain insight and understanding about real life through our disappointments and what we see as defeats.  I know when I was navigating the ocean of divorce, there were times far from shore when I could not see one good thing that could possibly come out of that situation.  I felt that it was not only a complete defeat of everything I stood for ... but an almost irreparable destruction of me.  But I was wrong.  And after I got over that long agonizing grief, I started trying to find the good in the inevitable.  But I definitely didn't do it on my own.  God brought me through it.  My family and friends and fellow strugglers all helped in the process.  And all the spiritual tools were called into service as well.  The Bible says, "Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are more than words.  Learn how to apply them.  You'll need them throughout your life.  God's word is an indispensable weapon.  In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare."  You're facing a challenge.  This situation is not a curse.  It's a challenge and the cool thing is, your ultimate victory is promised.  Claim it and plant your flag at the top of the hill!

"Be prepared.  You are up against far more than you can handle on your own.  Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet."   Ephesians 6:13 (The Message)