Exasperated by life’s many struggles, a young woman said, “Why can’t life be simpler?” I suppose we’ve all wondered the same when we’ve faced yet another trial. We want simple answers, but they don’t come. Sometimes we’re looking for someone to tell us what to do, but no one has a magic formula. What works for one doesn’t work for another. Some say life is simple; we make it complicated. I suppose that’s true, as we worry and project outcomes that become our fears and concerns.

Worry has a lot to do with losing our joy. It creates scenarios about our future that create anxiety in our present. When we can’t control outcomes, we spiral into hopelessness as we feel powerless. We want things to be simpler because we tend to believe simpler is better. But is it?

Life and its experiences shape who we become. Our experiences, both good and bad, can create great things in us. People who have gone through great trials have later shared that the experience helped them grow and that they were thankful for it. This aligns with James 1:2-4, which says, “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

The simple fact is this. Life is not simple, and sometimes it’s just plain hard. In these times, we need to stop and breathe. That’s right, breathe. Why? Breathing helps us step back and reexamine our circumstances; instead of reacting, we can choose to respond. When we react, we often make the wrong choice because it comes from panic and fear. Perhaps life would be simpler if we learned to approach it more simply. Rather than panicking, sit down, take a deep breath, and plan your next move. Think about it.