My parents got divorced while I was in elementary school and my world was flipped upside down. I felt isolated from friends. I was worried about what other people were going to think. Everything in my environment and inner-being told me this was a very bad thing.

A few months later, my good friend’s parents got divorced also. He asked me what it was like. What was next for he and his siblings. This is when I realized the power of empathy. Because of my experiences, I was able to empathize, to counsel, to exhort. Or at the very least, I was able to relate and that’s often times all that matters.

I think about this a lot. I try to view my trials and challenges through this lens as often as possible, because ultimately, maybe the things we face aren’t solely about us. Maybe the purpose of our struggles is to be equipped to help someone out down the road.

That’s an idea that breathes hope.