In the previous blog, I talked about the "Three Phases of Life."
Phase One is future-focused and is a launching point for our lives-
both physically and spiritually.

Today let's talk about Phase Two, where we spend most of our life if we are lucky!

Phase One is all about the future--good things are coming.
God has big plans for you, hope for a future full of potential.
Picture that high school graduate about to take the world by storm.

The problem is that a new graduate isn’t going to take the world by storm.
But life will send plenty of storms his way. He will need to overcome those storms. And that’s what Phase Two is all about overcoming adversity. In life, we face one problem after another. We rely on ourselves, God, or others, and hopefully, a combination of the three, to help us overcome those problems. When faced with challenges in our present-day culture, we are encouraged (often demanded) to "deal with it" or "man up." Because, after all, whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.

If pain is weakness leaving the body, then each obstacle we face is an opportunity to get better and stronger. While I’m not hiding my opinion that this phase doesn’t help grievers, one thing is true: This is an incredibly helpful way to view our lives.
After all, we can’t let our problems routinely defeat us.

So then, what’s the problem?

The problem is that some obstacles can’t be overcome.

Luckily, when our first baby died, no one said, "Patrick, just deal with it!" Or, "Don’t cry! This pain will make you a stronger parent."

How do we describe the phenomenon when we can’t get past an obstacle? At least not in the way we had hoped. This is when we are faced with what Viktor Frankl calls a “fate that cannot be changed.”

This unchangeable fate is more common than we would like to admit.

It’s called Phase Three.

How to Talk With Sick, Dying, and Grieving People

If you want to understand how to navigate your own grief better or to support those struggling to process their grief. Click on the link above and pick up the paperback, audible, or Kindle version of my book on Amazon today.