Viewing Challenges Through a Spiritual Lens

Life is full of challenges. Some are minor inconveniences, others can be life-changing situations that shake us to our core. We often meet challenges in life with fear, frustration, anxiety, and even despair. We may see them as unfair, or the reason we're unhappy and unfulfilled.

But what if we shifted our perspective on our challenges?

What if we viewed our challenges not as punishments, but as opportunities for growth, and opportunities to forge a deeper connection, with something greater than ourselves?

Embracing a spiritual perspective doesn’t just change how we see our challenges—it redefines how we rise above them. When we see challenges as part of a greater plan, we stop resisting them so much. Instead of fighting against reality, we accept it and ask how we can navigate it wisely. It reminds us that we are not defined by our challenges, and our self-worth is not dependent on how easy or difficult our lives are.

Peace and Serenity

Challenges As Lessons Instead Of Burdens

Many spiritual traditions teach that suffering has purpose and meaning. Instead of viewing difficulties as meaningless obstacles, a spiritual perspective suggests they are lessons meant to guide us toward growth, and self-discovery.

I studied Buddhism for many years, and one of the most powerful teachings that resonated with me, is that suffering is an inherent part of life, but it can also serve as a path to enlightenment, if we learn from it. Christianity speaks of trials as tests of faith, that strengthen character. Hinduism and other Eastern philosophies view hardships as karma—opportunities to balance past actions and progress spiritually.

So when we view struggles as lessons, we begin to ask different questions:

• What can I learn from this?

• How is this shaping me into a better version of myself?

• What deeper wisdom is being revealed to me through this experience?

This mindset helps us face adversity with curiosity, rather than resistance. Instead of feeling like victims of circumstance, we can become students of life. We can be open to gaining wisdom and insight, from the difficulties we face, rather than spending our time asking why it happened to us.

Finding A Spiritual Meaning in Pain

One of the most challenging aspects of suffering is that it often feels meaningless, and we can find ourselves asking, “why me?”. However, viewed through a spiritual lens, pain isn't random—it does have a purpose, even if that purpose isn't immediately clear.

Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning, that those who found meaning in their suffering, were more likely to survive and recover. His experiences in concentration camps led him to believe that, although we can rarely control what happens to us, we can control how we perceive and respond to it.

If we approach suffering as a necessary part of our soul’s journey—one that shapes us into being more compassionate, wise, and understanding—then we can endure what comes our way with greater strength. This perspective doesn't eliminate our pain, but it does gives us a different way to view pain and the circumstances we may find ourselves in.

Spiritual Crises

Strengthening Our Connection with Others

When we're in pain, it's easy to become isolated. We can believe that no one else can possibly understand how we feel. But spirituality is about interconnectedness —the idea that we're all part of something greater than ourselves.

Many spiritual traditions teach that suffering is a universal experience. Christianity encourages us to support one another, and in a sense bear each other’s burdens. Buddhism speaks of karuna, or compassionate action, by encouraging us to help alleviate suffering in others. Indigenous spiritual traditions emphasise the idea that the wellbeing of one, affects the wellbeing of the whole community.

Therefore, if we see our challenges as something that connects us, rather than isolates us, we may be more willing to reach out for support, and also more likely to offer kindness to others who are also struggling. A spiritual perspective encourages us to move away from a mindset of “me versus the world”, and into one of shared experience and mutual support..

Trust in the Universe

Trusting in a Spiritual Higher Power or the Universe

One of the most comforting aspects of spirituality, is the belief that we are not alone in our struggles. Whether that's through the belief in a higher power, God, the universe, fate, or angelic guides, many people find comfort in the idea that there's a higher intelligence at work.

When I faced a life-threatening illness, although I was in a lot of physical pain and definitely scared at times, I trusted that things were unfolding exactly as they should. That didn't mean I didn't take action, such as increasing my meditation practice when I was well enough to do so, and seeking the help and guidance of spiritual teachers and holistic practitioners, but I knew I didn't have to carry the burden alone..

Many people who have faced incredible hardship, find that their struggles led them to their true calling. Through a spiritual lens, every challenge has the potential to lead to a far more meaningful life.

When we view our challenges through a spiritual lens, our challenges becomes our teachers, rather than our punishments. We find a sense of meaning in our suffering, instead of asking "Why me?", we ask "Why not me?". We know we have the resilience to transcend our current situation, and live with a stronger sense of trust, knowing that we're part of something bigger than ourselves.

Trusting in a Higher Power or the Universe

Spirituality won't eliminate your pain, but we can see it as a sacred opportunity to navigate our challenges with wisdom, strength, and grace.

Even in our darkest moments, we have the strength to endure, the power to rise, the courage to rebuild, and the resilience to emerge shining brighter than we did before.