Recently, in a time of difficult and emotional challenge, I learned how we often give up before our efforts have a chance to succeed. I became uncertain and doubtful during a period of prolonged waiting, expecting to hear from an important colleague when the call didn’t come. I felt let down, disappointed, and even resentful that I was not given the answer I expected to receive. Instead, I became full of frustration and convinced that I had relinquished a vital opportunity to move forward in my life’s work.

Then a new thought emerged in my mind. It was this: that we often do not realize how we may become stronger or more refined when life sends us a challenge and expects us to grow and learn from it. We sometimes count these experiences as betraying our efforts or our dedication. We don’t yet realize how they are meant to shape us and to lift us to greater outcomes. We may find ourselves feeling lost or defeated, when in fact we are merely approaching something bigger and more lasting by our pursuance to defeat the anger or frustration itself.

We can lift our minds to higher opportunities when given challenges. We can trust in greater meaning when we let go of expectation and just allow life to direct us forward. We can hope that all that we receive is meant for a higher purpose, a brighter outcome, and more opportunity in the long run.

We only see a sliver of what life holds for us when in the moment our long view is obstructed. Rather, we will reach farther and more successfully through those dark times when we let go of our rigid expectation and permit our experiences to shape a new and brighter being within us. This is how we can move past uncertainty and know that all of our truest life’s experiences are here to grow our capabilities and not to restrict them.

We can allow, in peace and without expectation, those learning gifts from higher realms and reach our best efforts into their lessons. From this may we grow, learn, and receive far greater.

As well as being a writer and mother, LeeAnn Taylor is also an award-winning independent filmmaker and spiritual artist. Propelled by an unforgettable life story and a remarkable family, LeeAnn is an original and unique voice of inspiration and enlightenment.