Don't Worry, You Can Handle It



﴿ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُخَفِّفَ عَنكُمْ ۚ وَخُلِقَ الْإِنسَانُ ضَعِيفًا


And Allah wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak. (Quran 4:28)

 

Have you ever felt like the problems you face in your life are endless? Have you ever felt like luck never works in your favor? Have you ever felt like the world is always against you? Everyone is fighting a battle of their own, but some tougher than others. Allah only places these obstacles in your way to test your faith, to teach you patience, and to make you a stronger person. Sometimes you just can’t take it anymore and want to give up, but if you give your struggles some thought you can change your entire outlook on life. Consider transforming your obstacles into blessings and you will surely realize that God only places these challenges in your life because He loves you [1] and He is sure that you are strong enough to overcome your difficulties. But keep in mind that God has created you as a weak being and even if it seems that your challenges are getting more difficult, He did not create you to live a harsh life. Therefore seek Him at times of trouble because He is there to lighten your struggles and comfort you, after all He will never put you in a situation you cannot handle because He is aware of your capabilities and does not want to over burden you.   

Image courtesy of @tazawadoo
   

﴿ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا


Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity… (Quran 2:286)

 

You have a limit; you can only withstand so much. He knows, in fact He is fully aware of your capabilities. Yes, He places obstacles in your way that are seemingly impossible to overcome. Yes, they become more and more difficult. Yes, you cannot take it anymore and are exhausted and desperate for an escape. But He has set a limit for you and will never put you in a situation that you are incapable of fighting. He is not trying to hurt you, nor is He trying to put you down. He is lifting you up, making you stronger, and giving you the ability conquer the impossible only to achieve what is best for you. Never underestimate your abilities, because you are Creator made you well-equipped and capable of defeating what has fallen upon you. More importantly, He will not trouble you beyond your limit. Be patient, persevere, and accept the challenges that your are facing. He will never burden you with more than you can handle, and always keep in mind He is making you stronger, not hurting you.  

Image courtesy of @tazawadoo



[1]  It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah () said:
“The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4031. Book 36, Hadith 106)



How to Bear our Difficulties

﴿ وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ (97) فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ(98)  وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ (99)

And We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say. So exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him]. And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty. (Quran 15: 97-99)

 

There comes a time when things become out of control. Or perhaps too much to handle; when your life doesn’t seem to be going as you might have planned or challenges are coming at your way unexpectedly. Sometimes it hurts; a load is burdening your chest, strangling your neck, stinging your heart.  Life was never meant to be completely blissful, but it’s how we handle our difficulties that changes the way we live this life, the way we accept it, the way we tolerate our challenges and bear our difficulties. The first step of dealing with our struggles is by recognizing that Allah is the A’lim, the Knower of All. Regardless of how far or near we are to Allah, He is well aware of the pain we are experiencing. He knows that our hearts are throbbing as a result of all the difficulties, struggles, and hardships that have filled our lives. 

The second step to coping with the hardships of life is to seek the treatment for an ailing heart. The only cure that treats an aching heart is to get closer to Him. To exalt Him and bow down to Him, for He is the only One you can trust, for He is more than enough to resolve all your hardships and heal all of your pain. Exalt Him by praising Him, thanking Him, and contemplating the blessings He has bestowed upon you. Bow down to Him in prostration and draw yourself closer to Him. Bow down to Him in prayer and seek the most sacred form of communication with your Lord, supplication. The road to peace of mind and inner peace is often clouded by our own misconstruction of the way communicating with Allah works, yet there are no barriers between you and your Lord while you are in prostration or supplicating Him. Therefore, seek Him In prostration and pray for relief, pray for strength, pray for support, pray for guidance, and pray for peace. 

Worship your Lord, not merely for the reward in the hereafter or to be an ideal Muslim. Worship Him because you need Him, you need His love, His mercy, His understanding, His support, and most importantly His guidance. Worship Him to let loose the rope that strangles your neck and find security, serenity, and relief to your worries. Worship Him to find the ability to bear your difficulties and overcome your challenges. Worship him, find Him, and approach Him until you are close enough to feel that you are certain, that you are convinced that as long as you are under His mercy and guardianship gradually the noose will start to loosen and everything will be okay. 

Image courtesy of @tazawadoo 

 

Reference:
Tafsir ibn Kathir (English Version), pg 2654 - 2656 

Closest to Him


﴿... وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِب


… But prostrate and draw near [to Allah]. (Quran 96:19)


Allah is everywhere, He is surrounding you in every moment, every circumstance, every smile, every tear, and He is with you wherever you are. What about when we want some time alone with Him? When we want to get closer to Him? When we want to sacredly connect with Him in the most revered manner? The divine destination where you can be closest to Him in absolute seclusion is down on the ground in prostration, sujood

In sujood, you lower yourself down to the base of the earth, place your palms down, press your knees into the floor, rest your forehead, and embrace Him, as you release all that is in your heart, in the closest position to Him. Down there, let it all go, empty your heart, discover the peace your heart is aching for, and pray, pray for you are in the best position to pray [1]. Whisper your prayers down into the ground at the bottom of the earth and your voice will be heard at the peak of the sky, up in the heavens. He will listen to you, for at this instant you are nearest to Him and no one can hear you but Him. Supplicate your Lord and pour your heart out. Thank Him, thank Him for the endless blessings He has bestowed upon you; your family, friends, health, education, and for the countless blessings in your life. Thank Him for His presence in your life and show Him that you appreciate that He is your Lord. Ask Him for forgiveness, to forgive you for being disobedient, for not fulfilling all your duties, for displeasing Him, for not being fully righteous. Ask Him to cure your heart, to heal your pain, to relieve your discomfort, to ease your worries, to give you inner peace. Ask Him to guide you to what is best for you, for His help, for the support you need to keep you going, to help you find all that is lost. 

Down there in prostration let your tears pour like heavy rain and let it wash your heart and cleanse it from all the impurities that have damaged your soul. Purify your heart and relief your distress and draw nearer to your Lord and He will provide you with the love you need to live blissfully. Down there on the ground it’s just you and Him; you whisper, He hears, you cry, He wipes your tears, you ask, He gives, you call for peace, and He cures. 

Image courtesy of @tazawadoo



[1]The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The closest that a person can be to his Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, is when he is prostrating, so increase in supplication then." (Sunan an-Nasa'i 1137. Book 12, Hadith 109)