It is easy to have a good attitude and pursue our dreams as long as everything is going our way. That does not take a lot of faith. But what about the difficult times — when a relationship does not work out, or you get a bad health report, or a friend does you wrong? It is easy to lose your passion when you are hurt. Too many people are sitting on the sidelines of life because they are injured. Now they are nursing their wounds, not moving forward because of what they have been through. The Qur’an says about them,

“As for man, whenever his Lord tests him and grants him honor and blesses him, he says, My Lord has honored me. But when He tests him and tightens for him his provision, he says, My Lord has humiliated me”. (Qur’an; 89: 15-16)1

You may have a reason to feel sorry for yourself, but you do not have a right. God promised He will give you beauty for those ashes. He said He would pay you back double for the wrongs, but you have to do your part. If you are going to see the beauty, you have to shake off the ashes of self-pity. You have got to shake off the discouragement and get back in the game. Every person has injuries. We all have wounds, but you cannot let a loss, a health issue, a divorce or a hurt be an excuse to sit on the sidelines. Be like Zeinab, daughter of Imam Ali2 (peace be upon him) who said after martyrdom of her brother Hussain (peace be upon him), “I saw nothing but beauty”.3 Yes, when you do your best for the sake of God, the result is nice.

Now, get back in the game. Know that your best days are ahead. Know that He is working things together for your good, and He has victory in store for your future.

• 1. .
  فَأَمَّا الْانسَانُ إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَئهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَكْرَمَهُ وَ نَعَّمَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبىّ‏ِ أَكْرَمَنِ. وَ أَمَّا إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَئهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبىّ‏ِ أَهَانَن‏ ‏.
• 2. . Imam Ali is the successor of Prophet Muhammad and the first Imam of Shia Muslims.
• 3. . Al-Lohouf, P. 160.