Rising Through the Storm

Rising Through the Storm: A Testament of Resilience By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar

There’ve been days when life had me pinned beneath its crushing weight so much that I thought about taking my light back from the Creator, convinced my flame had extinguished for good. In and out of struggles year after year, waiting to be given a break during the storm, a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds of adversity. Some nights I tossed in bed, wondering whether all this work was even worth it.

I just have to be honest fully honest. At times, my own mind becomes an enemy, reminding me of all that has gone wrong, replaying failures like a broken record. I begin to drown in what-ifs and should-haves, completely blind to all the times divine hands snatched me from things I never thought I’d make it out alive from. My frustration builds like an overpacked suitcase threatening to explode, and the load of struggle, heartache, and disappointment weighs me down so much, I feel I hear the cracks.

Some days, I have no idea how the bills might get paid. You ever have one of those months where you overdraft your account just to scrape by, and then it’s payday and you’re stuck with all those fees that you’ve got to pay off, and you’re still broke? Or those moments from years ago where you botched something so badly that you can’t even fathom how to start making it better? Yeah, I’ve been there too.

And yet, despite it all, I keep getting back up. Like a seed buried in the dirt, I push through, struggling toward the light.

I will not give up and accept life’s storms and hang my head. Let the rain fall, but it will not drown me. I will not allow giant challenges to test my faith. No matter how high the mountain, I’ll find my way over it, around it, or right through it. I am a human being with opinions my escape is certainly not full of hate and will not trap me in negativity while I am capable of moving forward.

Yes, there are days that feel painfully dark, but I read somewhere that even in the blackest of nights, light somehow manages to seep through. And with all that in mind, I know my ship will never sink it’ll always sail. The Creator didn’t bring me this far just to drop me now.

Better days? They’re coming. I cling to that with all my might.

I won’t play like life’s struggles don’t hurt, but I will not allow them to define me. I will not suffer history when my future is still to be written. What I do is acknowledge all the miracles, all the grace, all the times that I was lifted and had no strength left.

I rise.

I’m being called to something bigger than my pain. Even when I start questioning myself and my mind wants to deter me, I stand strong knowing that I was created to conquer. There will be storms, winds will howl, but my foundation is solid. I might bend but I won’t break. I might cry, but I refuse to give in. I might struggle, but I won’t get crushed.

I’m still here. As long as I’m here, I’m going to keep rising.

Better Days are coming for sure.