Embracing tough times in the midst of your struggle is a hard thing to do.  I used to look tough times as setbacks or road blocks.  When you are in this mindset, you will end up digging a deeper hole to fill your troubles with.

I lost my grandfather when I was a teenager.  I always looked up to him and his accomplishments in life.  During his adult life, he was a small business owner of a children's clothing store.  When you are an entrepreneur, you are in charge of two things.  The direction that you lead your company and the way you deal with things that you cannot control.  Sometimes no matter what you do as a business owner, you cannot overcome your destiny to fail.  Inevitably my grandfather lost his business and lost every material possession in his life.  This life experience devastated him and destroyed his confidence.

Instead of embracing tough times and growing through the failure, my grandfather chose to let it get the best of him.  He became pessimistic and angry towards what had happened.  From being a huge success and influence in his community to working dead-end jobs and living in a twenty-year-old single wide trailer, devastated his self-confidence.

Embracing tough times can save you from self-inflicted turmoil.

When you give up during tough times, you end up wallowing in your self pity.  Instead of using the resources that God gave you such as prayer to better yourself, you rely on your strength instead.  Embracing tough times as learning experiences where you lean on God for guidance, turns despair into determination.  There are a lot of occasions where the lesson that we learn through the struggle is ultimately worth the cost of the battle.

Sadness turns into strength when we let God walk us through our struggles.  I know for sure that God uses my struggles to make me stronger and rely on him more.  My strength is found in the comfort of his promise to never leave my side, no matter how hard the situation is.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NASB Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”