Freshly Bru'd

It is a universal fact:  Every person faces hard times, obstacles, disappointments and some degree of emotional pain throughout his or her life.  Such things simply cannot be avoided.

I don’t know about you but it helps me to know that I am not alone in such circumstances.  King David, the Apostle Paul and Jesus all had moments of despair, anguish, suffering and heartache. (Read Psalm 38:6; II Corinthians 1:8; Matthew 26:38)

Just as it was feasible for them to find victory through such things, so it can be for you.  Let me share with you how to triumph through hard times and the emotional agony you experience in those hard times.
 

1. Examine your mind (Psalm 26:2-3).  If the messages you play repeatedly in your mind do not line up with God’s Word, they are false and must be replaced.  You can’t control emotions; however, you can control thinking.  Controlled thinking enables you to choose a healthy response.
2. Engage the Holy Spirit.  He exposes the false messages that drive us in the midst of hardship.  When He unearths the falseness of those false beliefs, He then replaces them with truth and makes us whole.
3. Envelope yourself in God’s Word.  This will enable you to change the way you see things and gives you His perspective of your situation.  The Word will reveal the conditions that trigger your damaged emotions and how to respond in a manner that builds you up.
4. Exercise the power of prayer.  Ask for His help.  Listen to Him as you cry out.  He will help you and lift you up if you seek His help. (I Peter 5:5-6)

Victory over hardships is possible.  God wants to restore you.  He desires that you trust Him.  He promises to give us victory over the damaged emotions we have because of hardship.  Trust Him to do what He said.  (Exodus 15:26; II Kings 20:5; Psalm 34:18-19; Psalm 107:19-20; Psalm 147:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Isaiah 57:18-19; Jeremiah 30:17; John 14:27).

Blessings!




P.S. Is life hard for you right now?  Are you overwhelmed with how difficult it is? Do you need a boost of hope or a reminder that God has not deserted you? Join us Sunday as we begin a new series Bittersweet: The Story of Ruth.  A story of redemption, hope, faith and love.