How to Embrace the Best Thing—Even When It Arrives in the Worst Way

I’ve learned that one of the hardest things in life isn’t just enduring hardship—it’s recognizing and accepting a blessing when it arrives wrapped in struggle. It’s easy to embrace good things when they come with perfect timing and ideal circumstances. But what about when they show up in the middle of chaos, disappointment, or exhaustion?

If you’ve ever hesitated, doubted, or even pushed away something good because it came in an unexpected way, you’re not alone. But the good news? We don’t have to stay stuck in resistance. Here’s how we can shift our mindset and learn to embrace the best things in life—even when they arrive in the worst way.

1. Accept That Good Things Don’t Always Come the Way We Expect

We often set ourselves up for disappointment because we expect blessings to arrive in a certain way. We think love should look a certain way, success should feel a certain way, and opportunities should come at a certain time. But life rarely works that way.

The first step to overcoming this struggle is letting go of rigid expectations. A gift is still a gift, even if it’s wrapped in struggle. A breakthrough is still a breakthrough, even if it arrives at an inconvenient time. When we stop demanding that good things look the way we imagined, we open ourselves up to recognizing them when they actually appear.

2. Shift from Resistance to Curiosity

When something good shows up in the middle of hardship, our first instinct is often to resist. This can’t be right. This isn’t the way it’s supposed to happen. This isn’t what I expected.

Instead of immediately rejecting the unexpected, try shifting into curiosity. Ask yourself:

• What if this is exactly what I need right now?

• What if this is an answer to something I prayed for—even if I didn’t expect it this way?

• What if this struggle is actually preparing me to fully appreciate this gift?

Curiosity allows us to explore possibilities instead of shutting them down. It helps us see beyond our discomfort and recognize that sometimes, the best things don’t come in the way we planned—but in the way we need.

3. Separate the Gift from the Struggle

One of the biggest reasons we reject blessings that come in difficult seasons is because we associate them with the pain surrounding them. If something arrives in the middle of loss, grief, or uncertainty, we assume it’s part of the struggle rather than something meant to help us through it.

But think of it this way: If you were stranded in a storm and someone handed you an umbrella, you wouldn’t reject it just because you’re in the middle of rain. The umbrella doesn’t remove the storm, but it gives you shelter in the midst of it.

Maybe the good thing that has come into your life isn’t the storm—it’s the umbrella. Learn to separate the blessing from the struggle so you don’t reject something meant to help you.

4. Don’t Let Fear Steal What’s Meant for You

Sometimes, we don’t just struggle to accept good things—we actively push them away. Why? Because of fear.

• Fear that it won’t last

• Fear that we’ll lose it just as quickly as we got it

• Fear that we don’t deserve it

But here’s the thing: Rejecting something out of fear doesn’t protect us—it just robs us. It keeps us from experiencing something beautiful because we’re too afraid of what might happen next.

The antidote to this? Gratitude and presence. Instead of worrying about whether something will last, focus on experiencing it fully in the moment. Instead of questioning whether you deserve it, remind yourself that blessings aren’t about worthiness—they are about grace.

5. Trust That Timing Has a Purpose

We often assume that if something good comes at the “wrong” time, it must be a mistake. But what if the timing isn’t wrong at all? What if it’s perfect, just not in the way we understand?

• Maybe that relationship, job, or opportunity showed up in a tough season because it was meant to be your anchor during the storm.

• Maybe that moment of joy came in the middle of pain because it was meant to remind you that there’s still light, even in the dark.

• Maybe that unexpected breakthrough happened because it was always part of the plan—even if it wasn’t part of yours.

Trust that things arrive when they are meant to, not necessarily when we feel ready for them.

6. Open Your Hands and Receive

At the end of the day, we have two choices:

• Keep our hands clenched, holding onto our expectations, fears, and doubts.

• Open our hands and receive what life is offering—even if it doesn’t come in the way we imagined.

There’s something powerful about surrender. It doesn’t mean giving up—it means choosing to embrace what’s in front of you rather than fighting against it. It means making peace with the fact that life is unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Sometimes, the best thing that ever happens to us will come in the worst way. The question is: Will we recognize it? Will we receive it?

I don’t want to miss my blessings just because they didn’t arrive the way I expected. I don’t want to reject something beautiful just because it came at an inconvenient time.

So today, I’m choosing to embrace the unexpected. To receive with open hands. To trust that even when things don’t look the way I planned, they might still be exactly what I need.

And maybe, just maybe, the best things don’t come at the perfect time—they come at the right time.