Facing Life’s Events

Is God asking too much of us when He calls us to be thankful even in the midst of trials? That’s a great question and deserves an answer.  Saying that God never calls us to do something that he does not equip us to handle is facing the situation head on. When we face trials of any kind, God also gives us the ability to handle them. It may not seem like it at the time, but God is there for us. Circumstances in life are ever-changing; in the midst of trials we fear there is no escape. Sometimes the madness seems unending and we want to give up, especially during the holidays.

Remaining faithful in the face of your situation will give your spirit endurance. Patience is heart strengthening, it captures the essence of who you are inside.  When a crisis hits, how you react to the situation defines your attitude.  Who you are on the inside will truly show when the heat is on. Finding strength to overcome the situation will put you in better standing with yourself.

So how does a person remain thankful when the problems seem to be mounting, when the pressures of life seem to be accumulating? Look around.  Everyone is going through something or another. There are people in all walks of life that are hurting. Ask your friends what is bothering them and they will probably give you a list of details of who hurt them yesterday. Is it our jobs that bother us? How about the economy?  We hear all about the latest downfalls in the daily news reports.  Maybe it’s our families? Those relationships that mean the most to us have let us down in some way. So how can we be filled with gratitude when all we have are problems surrounding us?

Finding a restful place to remove all our fears is required. Essential wisdom only comes through faith in the One who has the power over all circumstances. It is clear that life will happen whether you are part of the problem or a victim of circumstances. Through faithful prayer, answers will become part of the solution.

In all things we should be grateful because it is by endurance that will build our characters. Strengthening our walk in gratitude over our situation will build our perserverence.

Ask for help if you need it. Find a support system. We are not meant to do any of this alone. We are made to be in community, in healthy relationships with others. So if you find yourself living in dread over the next day, follow these 5 simple steps.

1. Ask yourself what you can do alone to change it?  Then meditate on it and pray over it. 
2. After you taken that first step, then go to a trusted friend and ask them for help. Pray with them over the situation.
3. Once you have exposed the situation in a clear light, lay it down to rest.  Let it go and forget about it. 
4. Forgive yourself for anything or the choices you made during your crisis. Remember you were doing the best you knew how to do in light of the circumstances. Forgiving yourself is essential to letting it go.
5. Now give thanks. In prayer, in thanksgiving, and with heartfelt gratitude, give thanks. Say it loudly, say it with faith. Give up your doubts, any fears, and release those problems you are facing.

Remind yourself that God never allows us to go through anything that we can’t handle. He remains steadfast and true to His nature. He never changes and will always be there. Keep pressing forward, and in faith, your circumstances will change.

Remaining positive in the face of trials will keep your outlook optimistic. Stay strong with the support of close friends and family. Reach out and ask for help.

We are not alone in this life and the choices we make will lead us into a better tomorrow.