For several unforseen reasons, I’m struggling a bit with my finances right now. It’s not end-of-the-world bad. I’ve been in tighter spots before. But I’ve declared a shopping ban on myself for the forseeable future.

The exceptions are necessities: if I drop another size, I will have to buy some clothes. And since joining Weight Watchers I don’t restrict myself when it comes to spending on food. I figure it is always worth it to spend whatever needs to be spent in order to get the fresh fruit and veggies that I need to make sticking to my points possible.

But buying clothes because I feel like it? Makeup because I want something sparkly? Accessories as a pick-me-up? That’s out for now.

As I said, this isn’t the worst financial struggle I’ve ever been through, and I know that I can get it under control (I’ve done it before), but I was chatting with a friend on the phone today and it struck me that this IS a struggle I’m facing right now. And then I thought of this pin I’d seen on Pinterest.

I loved this when I saw it because it made me think that struggles aren’t something to just be solved and moved-on-from, but something to be fully experienced and which can help form us into the person we were made to be.

So I am choosing to trust in this struggle. To trust that it will help shape me. To trust that God has brought me to this time for His purposes in my life.

I choose to trust the struggle.