My 4-year-old son wore the biggest smile on his face when his little voice spoke the words with confidence – "My name is Amos, and I can do hard things."

I started saying these words to him after I noticed him struggle with the word “no”, bedtime, or eating more than just cereal. I constantly say, "Amos, I know how hard this is for you, but I fully believe you can do hard things." I know this because I’ve seen him do it.

As I saw his face beam with pride uttering the line, I felt a new breath flow through my whole body.

I realized how disconnected I was from this truth. I tell my son he can do hard things, but I forgot to believe it for myself. Instead, I’ve been living as victim of my hard circumstances. This has been my inner critic’s language on repeat —

I can’t ever catch a break.
I keep trying, and I’m still never enough.
I’m going to be stuck forever.
God made a mistake when he chose me to mother.
I want out, this is too hard.

While my emotions are valid, such inner speech feeds pity, shame, and hopelessness. The constant rhythm caused me to resent God, other people, and myself. So when my son spoke this simple truth, my inner critic woke up to new language. The words weren’t just for him to speak, they were for me to hear.

With new breath, I now say —

I am connected to the ultimate source of strength, endurance and love. 
This won’t last forever.
One foot in front of the other.
God is present. I am present.
I can do hard things. 

When I doubt, I can look back on the hard things I’ve already been through and remember how I made it through —

I changed schools at 14 years old.
I lived in a different country.
I battled burnout
I survived postpartum depression 
I have experienced financial loss. 
I’ve been ghosted by best friends.
I went through four medical surgeries at a young age. 
I started a blog.

This isn’t to communicate my own greatness, it’s to remember that I have endurance. I have support and skills. I have resources and love. I have the grace to surrender and rest. My list of hard things is evidence that I will make it through. I have access to mercies made new day-in and day-out. Mercy like new breath found while sitting on the couch with my son.

I recalled this particular blessing the other day that has carried me throughout the years —

"I bless you with no anxiety in the present because God has spoken so richly in the past."[1]

It's easy to forget our endurance. It’s easy to fall prey to negativity and self-pity. It’s easy to live as a victim. While our circumstances may be traumatizing or feel impossible, tragedy is not the final verdict over our lives. The final say rests with the one who sees beyond time itself. He has a word for you right now, this present moment to get you through the next day, hour, or even 5 minutes— you can do this. God’s got you.

When you can’t get past the doubt or fear, list hard things you’ve already been through:

• What hard things have you experienced? 
  

• How do your past victories speak to what you're facing right now?
  

• How has God has spoken to you, delivered or healed you in the past?

When you feel like you’re not going to make it through. When you have been a victim and keep having flashbacks. When you can’t see passed the big responsibility. When you keep hoping for something that hasn’t happened — you can endure. You have enough. You will make it through. This isn’t forever.

With new breath speak, “My name is __________, and I can do hard things.”

[1] Daily Spirit Blessings by Arthur Burk and Sylvia Gunter