I want to minimize your hard times and maximize your faith and your greatness. A lot of us let our struggles become a mountain. We let our struggles become our identity and we stay there. I realized something when I went through my depression - no matter what I do, the bills still come in. People still live their lives. The world keeps turning no matter what I do. I told myself something that changed my life- “trent, if you stay here in this self pity, and feel sorry for yourself (even if you have every reason to) this is going to become your identity. This is going to become your story and everyone else is going to move on in their lives.”

Some of you reading this are waiting for some miracle to come along and save you. Last time I checked, we were made by a great God, and there are miracles inside of you. If you look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you will never be the same, you are closing off the chance to move on with your life. From the mouth, the heart speaks. Sometimes we get our feel-goods from telling the world about our struggles. I know because I have been that person, but I’m here to tell you that your life won’t change until you do. Period. You have to make changes in your life. Some of you know that my mother passed away and my grandmother passed away and my daughter went to the ICU all in a small period of time. It shook me and I felt like I had a solid excuse to say “my life is over.” I felt like I had a good reason to use that as an excuse and quit. But I didn’t want that to be my story, so I had to make the choice to refuse to give up. I had to make the choice to refuse to give up on what God gave me, and the purpose in my life. I refuse to give up on my dream and my growth. Some of you need to stop believing in your circumstance and start believing in your faith. How long until you get to that place of refusing second best for your life?

I know it’s hard. It’s hard to live your life in your calling. You know what else is hard? Living a life of regret. I know it’s hard to focus on your health, but you know what’s harder? Being trapped in an unhealthy body. You have to choose your hard. Life is coming for you either way. Maybe you just lost a loved one like me, but how do you think they would feel if they knew that they were the reason that you gave up on your own life? Maybe you lost a relationship in your life and you feel like you can’t go on without them- it’s harder to live a life without loving yourself or being loved by the person that you need in your life. Choose your hard. You have the choice.

It all starts with you.