In correlation with one of my recent blogs, I believe God places stepping stones in our lives to continually prepare us for what’s ahead. As humans, we must go through challenges and experiences that shape and refine us, molding us into who we are meant to become.

I used to dislike hearing the phrase, “This happened for a reason; just learn from it.” Especially when facing something truly difficult, those words felt frustrating and dismissive. However, as I grow older, I see how much truth lies in that statement. Life’s struggles are not meaningless. They serve as opportunities to learn, grow, and evolve. If we don’t use these challenges as learning experiences, we risk remaining stagnant, unable to progress in our careers, relationships, or personal growth.

At times, I’ve found myself asking, “Why me?” Why do I have to go through this while others seem untouched by difficulty? From a spiritual perspective, I have come to believe that God has a specific purpose for me. One that requires me to endure certain challenges so that I am prepared for what’s next.

Life’s trials may not always make sense in the moment, but in hindsight, they often reveal the lessons we needed to learn. Growth comes from adversity, and I am learning to trust that every stepping stone is guiding me toward something greater.

I think it’s easy for people in their early twenties to struggle with this concept, especially when it comes to people we cross paths with or the working world. I’ve come to understand that some people are meant to enter our lives for a specific period of time and then leave. Their role may simply be to teach us something valuable. An exampleI have is from a former boss I had while working at a brewery in my college town. That one interaction led me to seek God again, and even more importantly, connected me with a guidance counselor whom I still speak with today. An encounter that was so simple, yet so significant. Who would have thought?

A well-known author, Ed Mylett, often speaks about the power of one more. It’s such a simple concept, yet incredibly profound. Sometimes, all it takes is one more interaction, one more decision, or one more opportunity to change the course of your life in ways you never expected.

From an employment perspective, I believe that certain jobs are meant to be temporary stepping stones. Opportunities to learn and grow so that we are better prepared for the careers we truly aspire to. The three restaurant jobs I once hated turned out to be crucial stepping stones, shaping my character and resilience in ways I couldn’t appreciate at the time.

This serves as a reminder to myself and others that it’s okay to feel like you’re not where you think you should be. Chances are, you’re exactly where you need to be for this moment. The most important thing is how we move forward because life is all about progression. What can we take from our last stepping stone to make the next one even better? Reflecting on past experiences helps us navigate new ones with greater wisdom and awareness. It’s important to ask, “How have I grown because of that experience? What lessons can I carry forward to make the next opportunity more fulfilling?”

What I’ve learned is that you never know what’s coming next. If we focus too much on where we think we should be, we might miss what is right in front of us. By embracing each stepping stone as a building block, we can prepare ourselves for the path ahead with confidence and gratitude.

Xoxo, Harleigh