Building People. Spreading Hope.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Pressing Through a Difficult Season


I have several friends right now who are going through a dark season in their lives. Business is slow, health is failing, relationships are breaking up and their trust in God is shaky. What to do while going through a difficult season and come out victoriously?

The first thing I will tell you is to understand that this is only a season. When we realize every season has its shelf-life, we will not give up so easily. Nothing that goes down in life has to stay down. In fact if you’ve hit rock bottom, the only thing that can happen is for things to look up. Down season comes to everyone’s life. How we handle our difficult season will determine how quickly we will enjoy our next.

When the storm arose in the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was fast asleep. The disciples panicked but Jesus slept. Same circumstance - two completely different responses. When difficult time knocks at your door don’t say, “Why is this happening to me?” Answer the challenge and remind your heart, “All is well. Everything will be alright in the end. If it’s not alright, it’s not the end.” Don’t panic. Instead of looking at the storm consider who is in the boat with you. Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Another thing you can check while going through a tough time is your attitude. Keep your inner dialogues going in the right direction. Be healthy in your thought life. Because you’re a human being, you can’t help but feel discouraged and despair at times. There’s nothing wrong feeling down; but there’s nothing right staying down. The better you win the inner battle the sooner you’ll experience victory on the outside. At times the battle gets most intense when you’re closest to your victory. Stay calm, cool, and collected. You’re on a fixed fight. God has already won the battle for us.

One of the most difficult things to do going through a season of disappointments is to keep our mouth shut. We like to vent. At times things are so stressed that we feel like a pressure cooker ready to burst. It’s perfectly alright to share your struggle with people who will encourage you and build you up in your faith. You can vent but don’t make it your song for the day. Encourage yourself in the promises of God. Get backup support in prayers. Watch what you say. When you feel like speaking the most is the time for you to say nothing. Don’t abort your dream by spurting out a bunch of negative words. Feelings are fickle. Faith is stable!

Another thing you can do is to consider your friends. If you have a bunch of negative, doubting, critical friends, you’ll end up prolonging your tough season. Find faith-filled friends who will listen to you vent but then pull you out of your pit. Overdose on the faith food. Our God is a positive God. Find positive friends.

When Sir Edmond Hillary failed in one of his attempts to scale the Mt. Everest, he was called to give a speech on his experience. He paused at one of the slides of Mt. Everest, shook his fist and announced, “Mt. Everest, you’ve grown all you can but I will grow bigger from my experience and conquer you!” Soon after, Edmond Hillary became the first person to top the Mt. Everest. What about you? Are you going to overcome your giants or are you going to leave it to your children or grandchildren? Be courageous. Grow during your season of pain and struggle. You too will overcome the obstacles facing you today. You’re fighting a fixed fight. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19 NKJV).
What are your thoughts?

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