Struggling? I get it!
By Brenda Wyatt
Visual Marketing Teacher
Developer of 'Be Unforgettable' online Course
Visual Marketing Teacher
Developer of 'Be Unforgettable' online Course
It's been a while...hope your summer has gone well...in fact where has it gone? I've been back at work and some days it's a real struggle! There's been overwhelm and pressure.. still for the most part I love what I do! Though what I really want to talk to you about is Struggle. There are so many things we struggle with, yet also some things we can let go and stop struggling, then there are other things that we will have in our lives that often create struggle. It’s part of living in this old world. So, I'd love to share a story with you-
'As a child, I loved to go to the County Fair. I particularly like the Incubators in which the eggs were struggling to become baby chickens - it was messy. The shell would be slightly cracked or you could see part of a baby chick. The shell was restricting the little bird's progress, the egg would roll around.. a little kick, and the crack would become larger. I could see damp feathers, and perhaps little feet. I admit it was a struggle to hold back, I knew I could help the baby chick. Why I could break the shell open myself if I could get inside the incubator!
The baby chick wouldn't have to work so hard. The chick wouldn't have to struggle breaking the shell that it had outgrown. One of the instructors at the show explained, "If you break open the shell, instead of letting the baby chick do it alone, the little legs will not be strong - the baby chick's whole body is being strengthened by the struggle to get out of that shell."
'The Problem of the Eggshell' is a lesson. It's the 'Power to Become' - the struggle strengthens us. Without it, we will not be strong. Below is an excerpt from my one and only Book: Four Days the Lazarus Principle.
...Here's the Thing - it might seem obvious - Life is messy. We won't understand all of anything when we are living in the midst of our life. So? What to do? For me, it's getting quiet. It's listening to my Instinct...that God given gift. it might say - Do this, or Wait. Don't go there. or even this: Take the Next Best Step...
Instinct is what makes the baby chick keep kicking. That's really all its little life knows to do. The shell might not crack according to plan. It's definitely messy. It might not even make sense. The chick could get into its head that things aren't going right. Here's the thing.. No matter where you are, in the long run if what you do- helps someone else, improves the lives of others, enriches the life of yourself, you family and friends.. well, it's worth the Struggle.
'As a child, I loved to go to the County Fair. I particularly like the Incubators in which the eggs were struggling to become baby chickens - it was messy. The shell would be slightly cracked or you could see part of a baby chick. The shell was restricting the little bird's progress, the egg would roll around.. a little kick, and the crack would become larger. I could see damp feathers, and perhaps little feet. I admit it was a struggle to hold back, I knew I could help the baby chick. Why I could break the shell open myself if I could get inside the incubator!
The baby chick wouldn't have to work so hard. The chick wouldn't have to struggle breaking the shell that it had outgrown. One of the instructors at the show explained, "If you break open the shell, instead of letting the baby chick do it alone, the little legs will not be strong - the baby chick's whole body is being strengthened by the struggle to get out of that shell."
'The Problem of the Eggshell' is a lesson. It's the 'Power to Become' - the struggle strengthens us. Without it, we will not be strong. Below is an excerpt from my one and only Book: Four Days the Lazarus Principle.
...Here's the Thing - it might seem obvious - Life is messy. We won't understand all of anything when we are living in the midst of our life. So? What to do? For me, it's getting quiet. It's listening to my Instinct...that God given gift. it might say - Do this, or Wait. Don't go there. or even this: Take the Next Best Step...
Instinct is what makes the baby chick keep kicking. That's really all its little life knows to do. The shell might not crack according to plan. It's definitely messy. It might not even make sense. The chick could get into its head that things aren't going right. Here's the thing.. No matter where you are, in the long run if what you do- helps someone else, improves the lives of others, enriches the life of yourself, you family and friends.. well, it's worth the Struggle.
As good as Goals are...and they are. The Next best step might be to just keep on going... or kicking as the baby chick! So how do we know if we've reached our goal? For the chick? Its released from the confining eggshell! With a mess all around it- the baby chick stretches its little wings, walks on wobbly feet and a new goal is set!
Again, when you're in the middle of the struggle, you may not think you're making a difference. Or maybe you don't think you're making progress. Here's the thing. No matter where you are, in the long run if what you do - helps someone else, improves the lives of others, enriches the life of yourself, you family and friends.. well, it's worth the Struggle.
And remember this, as good as it is to plan, sometimes something comes along you didn't expect. Good or Bad. It interrupts the plan. So? Instead of giving up. Go back to your Instinct. Pray. Listen quietly. Allow the Word, the Holy Spirit to guide your Intuition to inform you of what your Best Next Step should be...and remember, the Struggle is making you stronger, if you'll allow it. Do you recall anyone in Scripture who struggled? What about Jacob? He struggled.. he wrestled and said - ‘I won’t let You go until You bless me!’ Now, Jacob came out of the struggle with a limp. Yet, Jacob came out of it all a blessed and better person than he was before his struggle!
And that's the point of it... Struggle often makes us stronger, pressure when we use it for good - is like coal becoming diamonds or combined with heat? This southern girl knows heat and pressure make Biscuits Rise!
Here’s another thing, when we’re struggling, feeling overwhelmed…we aren't really taking care of ourselves. We need breaks, we need to decide the importance of what needs to be done - we need to take frequent breaks and let our minds go blank sometimes. Take deep breaths, get out in nature. Spend some time alone with God. This will help us regain our strength and creativity.
Realize that we're sometimes our own worst enemy. We need to ask ourselves...What's holding us back? Is your mind asking - 'What if I'm not good enough?' Yet- What if you are? Yes, what if you are? Pray that you will come out of this current struggle - Blessed and stronger!
Don't be afraid to try, to struggle or even fail. Let the 'Problem of the Eggshell' help you get stronger, blessed and better!
I wish all the best blessings with this beautiful season! A big ‘Thank you’ to Shelly for asking me to contribute again…please know that I’ve wrestled with the Problem of Eggshell many times…in fact, this article you’ve just read is ‘Fresh from the Eggshell’.
Love y’all, Brenda
Again, when you're in the middle of the struggle, you may not think you're making a difference. Or maybe you don't think you're making progress. Here's the thing. No matter where you are, in the long run if what you do - helps someone else, improves the lives of others, enriches the life of yourself, you family and friends.. well, it's worth the Struggle.
And remember this, as good as it is to plan, sometimes something comes along you didn't expect. Good or Bad. It interrupts the plan. So? Instead of giving up. Go back to your Instinct. Pray. Listen quietly. Allow the Word, the Holy Spirit to guide your Intuition to inform you of what your Best Next Step should be...and remember, the Struggle is making you stronger, if you'll allow it. Do you recall anyone in Scripture who struggled? What about Jacob? He struggled.. he wrestled and said - ‘I won’t let You go until You bless me!’ Now, Jacob came out of the struggle with a limp. Yet, Jacob came out of it all a blessed and better person than he was before his struggle!
And that's the point of it... Struggle often makes us stronger, pressure when we use it for good - is like coal becoming diamonds or combined with heat? This southern girl knows heat and pressure make Biscuits Rise!
Here’s another thing, when we’re struggling, feeling overwhelmed…we aren't really taking care of ourselves. We need breaks, we need to decide the importance of what needs to be done - we need to take frequent breaks and let our minds go blank sometimes. Take deep breaths, get out in nature. Spend some time alone with God. This will help us regain our strength and creativity.
Realize that we're sometimes our own worst enemy. We need to ask ourselves...What's holding us back? Is your mind asking - 'What if I'm not good enough?' Yet- What if you are? Yes, what if you are? Pray that you will come out of this current struggle - Blessed and stronger!
Don't be afraid to try, to struggle or even fail. Let the 'Problem of the Eggshell' help you get stronger, blessed and better!
I wish all the best blessings with this beautiful season! A big ‘Thank you’ to Shelly for asking me to contribute again…please know that I’ve wrestled with the Problem of Eggshell many times…in fact, this article you’ve just read is ‘Fresh from the Eggshell’.
Love y’all, Brenda
About Brenda Wyatt
Brenda enjoys encouraging and motivating others as they move forward and achieve their God given pursuits. She's had years of experience in the retail industry and her faith has moved mountains. She's married to a retired Judge. Brenda is an avid reader, and loves gardening and cooking. But her favorite thing to do is spend time with her husband and family, traveling, visiting, and sharing life.
Brenda enjoys encouraging and motivating others as they move forward and achieve their God given pursuits. She's had years of experience in the retail industry and her faith has moved mountains. She's married to a retired Judge. Brenda is an avid reader, and loves gardening and cooking. But her favorite thing to do is spend time with her husband and family, traveling, visiting, and sharing life.
You can learn even more from Brenda in her book 'Four Days the Lazarus Principle' Click here to go to Amazon and learn more about this rather unconventional Bible Study book by Brenda.
'Four Days' is Brenda Wyatt's first book. She says: There are many lessons in this unconventional Bible study of dis-ease, unanswered prayer, loss, letting go, struggling to believe and wrestling with God. Come with me and learn the lessons from a little green worm, two devastated songwriters, the weavers of Persian carpets, even a baby chick at the county fair. Look with wonder at the last living thing removed from the devastation of the 911 World Trade Center, the ugliest building in Boston, the boat that rescued hundreds of survivors from the flood waters of Katrina and blue glass hands. Within these stories and the lives of two sisters in John 11, I hope you will find the great love of God even when you don't understand Him. Brenda and her husband, Wallace Wyatt, Jr. live in Pell City, Alabama, along with their big Himalayan cat, Walter.
'Four Days' is Brenda Wyatt's first book. She says: There are many lessons in this unconventional Bible study of dis-ease, unanswered prayer, loss, letting go, struggling to believe and wrestling with God. Come with me and learn the lessons from a little green worm, two devastated songwriters, the weavers of Persian carpets, even a baby chick at the county fair. Look with wonder at the last living thing removed from the devastation of the 911 World Trade Center, the ugliest building in Boston, the boat that rescued hundreds of survivors from the flood waters of Katrina and blue glass hands. Within these stories and the lives of two sisters in John 11, I hope you will find the great love of God even when you don't understand Him. Brenda and her husband, Wallace Wyatt, Jr. live in Pell City, Alabama, along with their big Himalayan cat, Walter.