Believe in God and His messenger and strive in the cause of God with your money and your lives. This is the best deal for you, if you only knew. He will then forgive your sins, and admit you into gardens with rivers flowing beneath, and beautiful mansions in the gardens of Eden. This is the greatest triumph. You will receive what you love: a victory from God and an incursion that is close at hand. (Qur’an, 61:11-13).

You may face situations that seem like they could bury you - the loss of a loved one, bad news concerning your health, a divorce. Those negative thoughts bombard your minds telling you, “It is over. You have seen your best days. That set back is going to taint your future. That lay-off is going to ruin your career. That illness is always going to limit you.”

It is easy to feel like you have been buried, but what is interesting is the only difference between being buried and being planted is the expectancy of what is going to happen next. When you put a seed in the ground you do not say, “I am burying this seed,“you say, “I am planting this seed,“ because you know it is coming back. You face difficulties but you have the seed of Almighty God on the inside. He breathed His life into you. He says,

“I breathed into him of My spirit.” (Qur’an, 15:29).

When you go through disappointments, you are in tough times. You might feel like you had been buried, but the fact is, you have simply been planted. That means you are coming back. Moreover, you are not just going to come back; you are going to come back better, increased and stronger. What was meant for your harm, God will use to your advantage. You go in as a seed, but because of the life of God, you come out blossoming, producing even more fruit. Just:

Believe in God and His messenger and strive in the cause of God with your money and your lives. This is the best deal for you, if you only knew…. You will receive what you love: a victory from God and an incursion that is close at hand. (Qur’an, 61:11-13).

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and is planted, it will not produce fruit. You can have a seed lying on the shelf for a lifetime; it will never become what it was created to be until you put it in the ground. Its potential will never be fully realized until it is planted.

As long as it is up on the shelf where it is comfortable, where it does not have to stretch, does not have to deal with any adversities that potential will remain locked up dormant inside. Only after it has been planted, and it goes through the process of germination - the outer shield breaks off, the new growth springs forth - that is when it will blossom and produce more fruit.

I am sure if you were to ask the seed, it will say, “I do not want to be planted. It is lonely in the dark by myself. It is dark. It is uncomfortable.” It feels like it has been buried - cannot see any light, people walking on top of it.... The truth is, it is not buried; it is only planted.

When it is in the ground, in that dark time, something supernatural starts to happen. Although the dark is hundred times of powerful, possibly a thousand of times heavier, it cannot hold the seed in. I can imagine the dark, when it feels something stirring, it says to the little seed: “What do you think you are doing? You cannot get out. I am much more powerful than you.”

The seed says, “No, no, no. I know a secret – I am not buried, I am planted. I may be down right now but it is temporary. I am coming back. I have got the life of God in me.” The dirt says, “What are you talking about? You are nothing compared to me. You do not have a chance.” Something in that seed rises up even stronger and says, “No, you cannot keep me down. I have comeback power in my DNA. I will rise again.

God’s help is indeed near. (Qur’an, 2:214).

God is sufficient for us, and He is an excellent trustee.” (Qur’an, 3:173).

Sure enough one day, that little seed breaks the surface of the earth. It smiles and says, “I told I was coming out.” It is no longer buried, no longer hidden and alone. No longer has people walking on top of it. It has a new beginning. Its potential is being realized. As time goes by, instead of being a little seed buried in the ground, it grows into a beautiful plant, producing all kinds of bright, beautiful flowers. What happened?

It went through the process of being planted. Had to go through some dark times, some lonely nights; had to push some dirt out of the way; it seemed like it would never see bright day but it just kept pressing forward, and eventually it became everything God created it to be. Almighty God says,

“Do you suppose that you shall enter paradise though there has not yet come to you the like of what befell who went before you? Stress and distress befell them and they were convulsed until the apostle and the faithful who were with him said, “When will God’s help come?” Look! God’s help is indeed near!” (Qur’an, 2:214).

You need to get this deep down into your spirit. No matter what comes against you in life; you are not buried, you are planted. You may feel like, even now, that you have got dirt on top of you, you have had a tough time, something was unfair, does not look, it is ever going to change... .

However, if you can just keep shaking off the dirt, shaking off the self-pity, shaking off the lies that are telling you, “it is over and you are done,“ then like that little seed, you will begin to feel the life of God spring forth.

That sickness will tell you, “You cannot push me out of the way. I am much bigger than you are. I have got you buried.” Do not believe that lie. Just say like that seed, “I am coming back. I may be lying in the hospital right now, but this sickness is only temporary. This chemo might have taken my energy, my strength, my hair, but know this today, I have comeback power.

This is not the end. This is only the beginning. This addiction might have kept me back a long time, it might have kept my full potential from being realized, but I am not staying here. This business might be slow; I might have lost my biggest account, but I know I am not buried, I am planted. I know God has another victory in my future. I know my best days are still out in front of me. Therefore, I

Call on Him with fear and hope. Indeed God’s mercy is near to the righteous.” (Qur’an, 7:56).

I want you to have this new vision that Almighty God will not let you go through more than you can handle.

God does not task any soul beyond its capacity. (Qur’an, 2:286).

Now, if you have a big challenge today, it means that you have a big destiny. Extraordinary people face extraordinary difficulties - as Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said that the most difficulties are for prophets and then their real followers.1 However, the good news is you serve an Extraordinary God! He has you in the palm of His hands. In those tough times, you have to draw a line in the sand and make a declaration – “This difficulty is not going to bury me.

This loss, this disappointment, this injustice is not going to cause me to give up on my dreams. I refuse to live in self-pity. I know I am a seed. That means I cannot be buried, I can only be planted. I may be down but it is only temporary. I know I am not only coming back, I am going to come back better off than I was before.”

Your attitude should be: “I may be down but I am not staying down. This difficulty was meant to destroy me, it was meant to harm me, but I know better. God is going to use it to my advantage. He is going to use it increase me.”

Do you know the only difference between a piece of black coal and a priceless diamond is the amount of pressure it has endured?

How you handle your adversities will make you or break you. If you get bitter and lose your enthusiasm, you will allow the difficulties of life bury you. They can keep you from your God-given destiny. However, if you will choose to shake it off and step up, that means you keep pressing forward with a smile on your face; you know that God is in complete control, so you do the right thing even though the wrong things happen. Know that

God’s victory and help is near. (Qur’an, 2:214).

Instead of complaining, you have got a report of victory. You go around saying: “This problem did not come to defeat me. It did not come to stay, it came to pass. I have strength for everything I need. I am equipped, empowered, anointed; I am more than a conqueror.” Believe that

Indeed ease accompanies hardship.” (Qur’an, 94:6).

Think about what happened to Joseph. His brothers betrayed him. He went to prison for something that he did not do, but joseph did not get upset. He stayed in peace. He stayed on the highroad. The people that did joseph wrong indeed up working for him. His brothers, the same one who betrayed him came and bend low before him.

What happened? Instead of having a victim mentality, he had a victor mentality. God not only brought him out, but he saw his life blossom to the fullness of what God had in store.

Indeed those who keep from evil and are patient, God does not let the wage of the good doers go to waste. (Qur’an, 12:90).

Sometimes the things that you get discouraged about are the things that God is going to use to promote you. God does not send the storms, but He uses the storms. He will not allow a trial to come into your life unless He has a purpose for it.

When you are in difficult times, know that, that challenge was not sent to destroy you, it was sent to promote you, to increase you, to strengthen you. You might not see how right now, but God has a way. Just like that little seed, God uses adversity to bring potential out of you that you did not even know you had.

He will surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; and give good news to the patient. (Qur’an, 2:155).

When you are in those dark times and you feel like you are being buried, maybe you had been through some kind of loss; you do not see anything bright in the future, and feel like people are walking on top of you.

Remember that there is a process-taking place. Like that little seed, new growth is springing forth, new talent, new determination, new opportunities, new friendships; God is birthing something in you, greater than what you are right now.

You have to keep reminding yourself, “God is still on the throne, this is not the end, it is only the beginning. I have got comeback power in my DNA.”

Understand that the only difference between being buried and being planted is what you expect. If you expect that difficulty to be end of you and you give up on your dreams, even though you are a seed with the life of Almighty God, even though God has already planned your comeback, because of your own thinking it is not going to happen.

Be like those who have gone through incredible challenges but right in the middle, they have a smile on their face. They are hoping, believing, expecting. Do you know what they say? They say, “God, we know we are not buried. We are planted and we are eager to see what You are going to do next.

We cannot wait to see the new doors that are going to open, the new friends we are going to make, and the new opportunities we are going to encounter. We know that

God is sufficient for us, and He is an excellent trustee.” (Qur’an, 3:173).

If you stay in faith like that, your difficulties will lead you to a new fullness. You will see God blossom your life in ways you had never imagine.

When you are in tough times and everything that could go wrong does, you have to dig your heels in and say “This attack was meant to destroy me but I have got inside information that it cannot bury me. It is only planting me.” You should wait for God’s promises as a farmer waits for his harvest. I have never seen a farmer plant a crop, and then worry night and day if it is going to come up. He does not lose sleep at night and say, “Please pray that my corn take root, I am so worried.” No. He waits with a knowing and a confidence.

In fact, he does not necessarily hope that it happens; he does not even have to believe that it will happen; He takes it one-step further - he knows that his harvest is on its way. He has seen it happen repeatedly. He has planted, he has watered, and he has fertilized; now he waits with a knowing. He knows that the real sower who causes it to grow is God. Almighty God says,

“Have you considered what you sow? Is it you that cause it to grow, or are We the causers of growth? If We will, We would make it broken stubble and you would remain wondering, “surely We are burdened with debt“.” (Qur’an, 56:63-66).

Well, you have stood on God’s promises. You have prayed, you have believed, you have watered your seed with your praises, now it is time to come over into this knowing. It is time to come into this unshakeable confidence. God says,

“As for those who strive in Us, We shall surely guide them in Our ways, and God is indeed with the virtuous.” (Qur’an, 29:69).

Somebody asks you, “You still think you are going to get out of debt with the economy being as bad as it is?” Tell him: “I do not think so. I know so. It is just a matter of time.” “Well, you still think your child is going to straighten up? He is as wild as he can be.” “No. I do not think so. I know so.

As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” “You really think you are going to get married? You have been single so long.” “I do not think so. I know so. God is bringing the right person into my life. He is bringing me divine connection.”

You have going to have an unshakeable confidence, just like you know the Sun is going to come up in the morning, you know God is going to bring about His promises. It may happen this afternoon, it may happen tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, 20 years from now, but you know that just like that farmer, your harvest is on its way.

You have seen God do it in the past, and you know He is going to do it again in your future.

Do not despair of God’s mercy. Indeed no one despairs of God’s mercy except the faithless lot. (Qur’an, 12:87).

You may have some difficulties, but do not talk about your problems, talk about your God.

God indeed defends those who have faith. (Qur’an, 22:38).

Let God arise and His enemies will be scattered. When you let God arise in your life and you go out with this unshakeable confidence, you are waiting for your harvest like that farmer, knowing that it is going to be better than expected. You know down, no difficulty can defeat you; no person can keep you from your destiny; every setback is only temporary. Just trust in God.

Anyone who puts his trust in God, He suffices him. God’s commands will be done. (Qur’an, 65:3).

Instead of complaining, you are saying, “I cannot wait to see what God is going to do.” When you let God arise, you might as well get ready, your enemies will be scattered- Enemies of sickness, enemies of debt, enemies of depression, enemies of disappointment.

Somebody may have walked out of a relationship, but I know God is going to send me someone better; It may be hurting right now but I know God is the restorer of my soul. He is giving me beauty for my ashes. I may have lost money in the stock market, but I am not worried. God is my provider. He is supplying all of my needs. Somebody might have cheated me at a business deal, No big deal. God is my vindicator. He will make my wrongs right. He is fighting my battles. I am not buried. I am planted.

Think about Moses (peace be upon him). As a young man, he had a desire to deliver the people of Israel but he got out of God’s timing and he killed a man. He had to run for his life. He spent years on the backside of the desert, looked like he was buried, looked like his dreams would never come to pass.

The truth is he was not buried, he was simply planted. He was coming back. Those dreams were still alive. Through all those years out there in the wilderness, he did not get bitter; he did not get discouraged. He still knew that God was in control. One day, when he was 80 years old, God came and said, “Moses, it is time for your comeback. It is time for you to blossom. I have an assignment for you.

Go to pharaoh, he has become exceedingly insolent. Then say, “Have you (a desire) to purify yourself? I will guide you to your lord so that you should fear.’” (Qur’an, 79:17-19).

Do you know the latter part of Moses’s life was much greater than the first part? Some of you may feel like Moses, as you have made too many mistakes. Listen! God wants the rest of your life to be the most fulfilling, the most rewarding.

Those dreams that you once had, they did not die. They are still alive on the inside. You may have made poor choices but it did not bury you. It planted you. That means God has already arranged your comeback.

Now you have to do your part and get your fire back. Quit living condemned; quit listening to the accuser, reminding you of everything you have done wrong. God knows every mistake that you have ever made. The moment you ask Him for forgiveness, He forgives you.

God declares, “O My servants who have committed excesses against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of God. Indeed God will forgive all sins. Indeed He is the All-forgiving, the All-merciful.” (Qur’an, 39:53).

The good news is, He did not cancel your destiny. He did not give away your assignment. You need to dig those heels in and say, “That is it. I am not living condemned anymore. If God gave Moses another chance, He will give me another chance. This is a new day. I am putting on a new attitude. I know I have not been buried. I have been planted.”

Friend, you have comeback power in your DNA. You have been created to overcome every obstacle, to rise above every challenge. I want you to have the confidence that no matter what comes against you, it cannot defeat you. As long as you are letting God arise, your enemies will be scattered. That same dirt that is trying to bury you can be the dirt God is going to use to promote you.

Learn to shake it off and step up. Remember in the tough times that loss, that disappointment, that injustice is not the end. It is a new beginning. Pull your shoulders back; hold your head up high. Dare to declare, “I am coming back and I am coming back better.”

If you do that, those difficulties are going to give way to new growth, new potential, new talent, new friendships, new opportunities and new vision. You are going to see God blossom your life in ways you had never even dream of.

Be careful of (your duty to) your lord; for those who do good in this world there is good and the earth of God is wide. Surely, those who are patient will be recompensed in full without count. (Qur’an, 39:10).

• 1. Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 252.