When Life Doesn’t Turn Out the Way You Expected It To

Have you ever had those moments when you felt as though life could have been different from the way it turned out to be?

How did you imagine your life would be when you were young? What were your hopes five or ten years ago?

For some people, this difference could be a welcome surprise. We may have received blessings we never expected to have. We may have met people who blessed our lives beyond anything we could ever imagine.

For some of us, however, our present life could be an array of some disappointing things. We never achieved that dream we had back when we were young. We didn’t become rich. We may still be struggling even though we thought we’d already be financially stable. And yes, for us of some, we may still be single even if we thought we’d get married or we’d be a part of a religious community.

Life doesn’t always happen the way we want it to.

We experience ups and downs along the way. There are detours that take us to unexpected places and situations.

How are you doing right now with life? Did it turn out the way you expected it to?

On my part, my life right now is a mingling of the bitter and the sweet. There are things that still frustrate me whenever I fail to lift up my eyes towards heaven as I try to see the blessings sent my way.

One thing that is currently a challenge for me is my financial situation. Although I have survived all these years as a full-time Catholic writer, I cannot say that I have already reached financial stability.

Another thing that can sometimes cross my mind is my inability to have my own family. Unlike my peers, I don’t have children of my own. I can’t also say that I have found a religious community just like the nuns I knew.

It is true, however, that I have found peace.

The kind of peace I never had before even when I still had a stable job in the Corporate world.

And it is also true that deep in my heart, I think I could not settle anymore with any man. Since I tasted God’s love, He was all that could ever satisfy this deep thirst in my heart.

In truth, God has given me more than I ever thought I would have. He has allowed me to taste spiritual delights I never even knew existed!

Life may be challenging and a mingling still of sorrow and joy.

But when I come to truly think about it, life is far sweeter than it is bitter. It is more joyful than it is sad.

In the end, happiness and sadness are fleeting things. It is love alone that stands.

Wherever you may be right now in life, do remember what matters most. It may be painful now, and you may not even know how you could carry on.

But continue to trust in the One who loves you.

With His love, your burdens become lighter. They become more bearable because you are not alone.

“And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold, and all men were hushed. And he sang to them, now in the elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness.” - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

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