By Chido Chirumuta

As things change, one thing will remain. You! Not the same old you, but a different version of you. You will either be dejected and irreparable — clasping at shards of your former self — or you will resurface an overcomer, who was valiant when faced with a devastating situation. Though covered in battle wounds, you can emerge, loving who you have become. You must choose to survive this — overcome the challenges and arise on the other side; stronger, wiser and better than before.

You know enough about life, to remind yourself that this too shall pass. Maybe not tomorrow or next week. But one day…yes one day you will look back at this and applaud how you prevailed. You know that in life there are seasons. Sometimes you are on top and other times you hit rock bottom. Remember that no season lasts forever. Terrible things happen to good people and you can never be prepared for some things. Sometimes life just is not fair.

You know enough about yourself to get through this. You are courageous. You are stronger than you think. Even though you have your doubts; search for that still small voice that tells you that you will make it. Do not give up! You have to hold on to hope. Although you cannot see the way out and there seems to be no positive ending in sight — do not let this crush you. Keep walking through the pain, because it will not destroy you.

You will have moments of fear, doubt and anxiety. You will cry in the shower. Your mind will be filled with a million questions that you don’t have answers to. You are carrying a lot. You cry for all those you know who are going through a similar experience, whose lives and dreams have been devastated. You can now empathize. You will feel tired. Tired of having to keep it together. Tired of having to carry on when the world around you is crumbling and out of control. Accept that you have no control of what is happening to you, but you can choose how you let this change you.

You know enough about God to get through this. He has been faithful before. He will not fail you now. Even though you may be walking through the valley of uncertainty, he will be there beside you every step of the way. Meditate on your past victories. Meditate on the past miracles. Choose to believe that this is not the end.

You are not weak. You are doing the best that you can. Sometimes there is no clear path, you just have to be at peace with knowing that in every moment you are making decisions to the best of your ability. Believe in yourself. You are capable of finding your way out of this. It is okay to not know what to do next. But do your homework. Ask around and equip yourself. In time, your mind will come up with the right solution and you will know exactly what to do. Do what is best for you. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. You do not have to go through this alone.

So in the midst of the storm, be kind to yourself. I repeat, you are doing the best that you can. So, look after yourself. Find time each morning to encourage yourself. Find time to meditate, pray and to strengthen yourself. Remind yourself of who you are and who you want to be. Remind yourself that anything is still possible. Dare to resurrect your childhood dreams. Count your blessings, no matter how few and far between. Count the small victories, no matter how trivial. Count the number of times you have carried on when you felt like giving up.

You are in a battle. A battle for your sanity. A battle for your future. Fight to take back your peace and joy. Fight every second if you have to. Give it everything you have. You owe it to yourself. Do it for your loved ones. Do it for the greatness that lies within you. Your life has purpose and there is a destiny that only you can fulfill. Every step counts, so fight with all your might. You are stronger than you think. Do not give up!