Getting Through The Hard Times

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

James 1:12 (NIV)



This is the verse of the week listed in the CWAHM Newsletter that I received today. Inspiring, isn't it? I, myself, have been going through a personal trial for the last couple of months and at times, I have been tempted to throw in the towel. Thank God that he gave me a whopping dose of perseverance.

Throughout everyone's life, there are times of peace & contentment as well as times of trial. I've had my fair share of trials in all areas of life, whether in personal relationships, health matters, financial issues.. the list goes on and on. What I have learned is that you cannot let your emotions rule your actions. Yes, we get depressed and stressed-out. We get overwhelmed at times and can't see the silver lining around each grey cloud that comes our way. Our emotions will wreak havoc on us if we do not have the proper mind-set that will allow us to take things one step at a time, one obstacle at a time and continue to push forward toward our goals.

How do we create this can-do, never-give-up attitude within ourselves to allow us the peace of mind and quietness of spirit to get through our many tests and trials?

A Firm Belief In God.

I don't know any better way to get through life's difficulties than to take to heart the words of our Father in Heaven, who has promised victory to those who love and serve Him. Some of our difficulties are direct results of our own mistakes .... so what? God is certainly a lover of all people. All you have to do is read the Bible to realize that he had no less love for the prostitute or the tax collector than he did for the men of the cloth. Many of the people He chose to do amazing and wonderful things had backgrounds that would make anything you might have done look like small potatoes.

A Daily Routine Of Studying God's Word

Very often, the Lord will lead you to just the right inspirational verse or promise that will give you just what you need to hang on till the end. One of my favorite sayings is "Don't give up on the brink of your miracle." Read about the tests that others in the Bible have gone through and how they handled their situations. Get inspired by the many ways God came through on their behalf. Get a reality check by comparing what you are going through to what our forefathers went through. When is the last time you wandered in a desert for 40 years? When is the last time YOU were whipped and beaten for what you believe in?

Experience is one way, unfortunately!

As we go through life and come up against situations where there seems to be no way out we can always look back on times when we had faced similar trials before and in some way, found the solution to our problem. Some things have a way of working themselves out. Often, it is just in the nick of time! Right before we give up. We can be encouraged by the times in our life when we have overcome difficulties and know that it wasn't a fluke. We have it within ourselves to keep on keeping on. Asking God to increase our Faith in Him to see us through is never a prayer left unanswered.

Share What You Are Going Through With Someone Who Has Been There - Done That

God allows us to go through certain things in order to help others who will eventually come into our lives and are experiencing the same situations. Seek out someone who has been through what you are going through and learn what they did to overcome their delimma. You can draw strength from others who have beaten the odds, come out on top and share their experiences with you. And when someone comes into YOUR life who needs your experience and encouragement - give it to them!

Prayer and Praise

You don't have to be an eloquent person to pray to God. At times we are so overwhelmed that we hardly know what to think, let alone pray! Even a one word prayer of 'Help' is heard by our loving Heavenly Father. Just as you would hear that one word from your own dearly beloved children, He hears your heartfelt prayer even if it is just a thought. Thank Him for helping you even when you cannot see or feel anything specific going on. God works in mysterious ways and we don't always know what is going on behind the scenes.

Know That All Things Work Together For The Good Of Those Who Love Him

Regardless of what we think is good for us or not, God knows what is good and right for our lives. Our children think it is good for them to have a diet consisting only of candy, soda and potato chips. But, we know better and do not allow them to subsist on only those things. We consistantly expose them to new and different meal choices, whether they like it or not. As they grow older, they realize that their bodies need other nourishment than just what tastes good to them at the moment.

I hope that you have gained some perspective from these few suggestions on how to get through your times of trial. You will undoubtably come across times when your emotions will leave you feeling wiped out and drained, thinking that you just don't have the power within you to take one more step. But, they are wrong. Look up and not down. Seek peace and not quarrel. Take a break instead of getting broken. Don't give up! You may be on the brink of your miracle!