Times of crisis are the Best Opportunities for Discovering Ourselves, our Gifts, and our Callings
I
have found that it is
during times of crisis we have the most potential for discovering
ourselves and how God can use these experiences for His glory. I believe God allows the
“perfect storm” in each of our lives to bring about the changes He
desires. John Townsend says, "Until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain
of change, we will remain the same." It is during these storms that we
can
discover where we have come from and how our past experiences have
affected our
relationships, our present circumstances, and thus our future. We have
the
potential to discover who we are, what it is we want, and what we were
meant to
do. But we must choose to take the courage in the midst of fear and uncertainty and dare to change.
The storm is different for
each person. It is perfectly orchestrated to bring about God’s plan for our
lives if we will allow it. What I have
learned is that it is in the midst of our storms when we have only God to cling to that He will show us our
potential, our calling, and our purpose.
About Lori:My “storm” came in the fall of 2005. It was shortly after my family moved into our “dream home” while it was still in the construction process. Our two daughters had just graduated from 10 years of homeschooling, thus ending my role as “homeschool mom” and “mom.”
While trying to live in the chaos of construction I was severely depressed and struggling with my teenage daughter and her depression. I was also nearing my 50th birthday (and all that entails). I was suffering with extreme anxiety, panic attacks, depression and an identity crisis. I had no idea that anything I was experiencing was connected to my past.
What I discovered was that my
past experiences of abuse, neglect, and shame had affected every aspect of my present
family, my reactions to family members and how I dealt with conflict in most of
my relationships; My relationship as wife, mother, friend, sister, and daughter
were all affected and I did not even realize there was a problem…me.
I believe it is the
accumulation of all my life experiences and the healing power of the Lord God
Almighty in my life that I have anything at all to offer as a coach. Beth Moore said it best in her study of
Esther; “You cannot amputate your history from your destiny, your history is a
part of who you will become.” I tried to live my adult years as if my past did
not affect me. It did. The abuse and rejection I suffered as a child
caused the feelings of inferiority and shame I carried into my adult
relationships. This process of
recognizing, grieving, and healing the experiences of my past and replacing the
lies rooted in my wounds with the reality and truth of what God says about me has
equipped me to now help others find the same freedom.
There is no greater joy for me than to sit with a woman, a group of women, a couple or a teen and see them come to those a-ha moments, when the light bulb goes on and they can make a connection, see the truth and choose to move forward. They are then able to move from the shame and lies they have believed about themselves or others and into the truth. The Truth changes everything!
It takes true courage to keep
walking forward regardless of the mistakes we make.
Mistakes are
for our benefit if we will learn from them. I made plenty of mistakes
along the
way, the difference was I was able to
recognize, take responsibility, and learn from them and be honest with
myself
and with those I loved and cared about. I learned how to not take
myself so seriously and to find humor in my mistakes and shortcomings.
I learned how to be vulnerable.
Brené Brown calls vulnerability “…not weakness, but pure courage,
emotional risk, our most accurate measurement of courage. Vulnerability
is the
birthplace of creativity, innovation, and change.” If we are vulnerable
it gives others permission to be vulnerable as well.
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Here is a poem I wrote several years ago that sums up my journey through a season of tears and what I have the awesome privilege of doing now as a coach, mentor, facilitator, and friend.
Tears
By Lori Hauswirth
So many tears did I cry to the Lord,
Tears of regret, tears of pain and shame,
Tears of deep sorrow,
Deep, heart wrenching depths of sorrow and despair,
I thought I would break under their weight.
Then a small light began to show in the distance,
Hardly visible, it grew and brightened,
Until one day I began to recognize it as HOPE.
HOPE that I would not remain in this
Dark and fearful place
HOPE that I would again praise
His name and glory
HOPE that I might have something to offer others in
Darkness and despair
HOPE that God would use my tears, my pain, my shame
to bring Him glory and show that glory to others.
HOPE to be freed myself,
and possibly lead others to the same freedom.
Those who
sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes
out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
Will return
with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5,6
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