This is not a new saying and, assumably, an average adult understands the meaning when he or she is told not to ‘look like what you’re going through’.
Let us face it! Challenges of life abound and vary from one man to another: while an husband might be looking for money to feed his family, a business owner will be looking for money to pay staff and expand the business.
It is even more intriguing when one considers the ceaseless changes in roles played by an individual in the socity vis-a-vis the enormous challenges we all have to solve in the process.
For example, a business owner at work will assume the role of a father at home; a staff in a company might assume the role of a boss when he enters his or her business enterprise (something commonly referred to as side hustle for the working class professionals).
The above said, it is good to take life with ease as too much thinking on this never ending process, fueled by the need to always meet daily needs, can weary a man or dampen his moral when his expectations are not met baaed on the target he has set.
This is not to diecourage anyone from pursuing life with diligence and hardwork but thinking too much on the problems at hand will not bring solution, rather, it is likely to result to other health challenges.
Perhaps, for our good, is why the Bible says “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” – Matthew 6:25-27.
A great question to be answered
Let us consider that ending of the passage and realise that if no one can elongate his stature by much thoughts then too much thinking cannot also solve life challenges.
It is okay to plan, strategise or scheme solutions to a problem but it is not okay to dwell too much on the problem by thinking daily of it.
The more one thinks about his problem, the more he looks like the problem.
Whereas, the best solution provider is the one who looks more towards the solution instead of the problem: as Betty Williams rightly said, “There’s no use talking about the problem unless you talk about the solution”.
The choice is all yours
Deciding not to look like what you are going through will be your sole responsibility even though it is not easy.
The mind will always bother itself about the house rent that is yet to be paid, children school fees that is approaching, the instability surrounding ministerial assignments or career among others but you can tame the mind and redirect its energy to towards finding solutions.
Oh, yes! You need to careless about people who constantly remind you of your problems or add to them but will never contribute to solving them.
You may find this people within your family, at work, in the church or social events – teach yourself to be in control of your mind and they will soon realise how much of a failure they have become in their attempts to make you feel little.
Lastly, learn to take your problems to God in prayers and always seek His guidance.
He has promised to always be there for His children and to hear us when we call on Him, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” – Jeremiah 33:3.
For whatever reason, we admonish you to not look like what you are going through because doing otherwise further portrays you as ‘one who has lost hope’.
