7 Effective Ways to Overcome Hardship
How do you define hardship? Are you in a season of hardship? What do you do about it? How do you cope? There is a way to handle hardship today and prepare for possible hardship that may come tomorrow.
What is hardship?
We experience hardship in many different ways. Sometimes we suffer financially especially when we cannot pay all the bills. During times of unemployment or unexpected expenses, we may find ourselves under great stress and with no way out.
Sometimes our suffering is in the form of sickness or injury that robs us of the things we would love to do. Our lives are subject to prolonged periods of suffering in this way – and more so as we get older.
Sometimes our most trusted relationships become rocky and difficult. We suffer as we try to reconcile and make sense of things.
Hardship is not fun!
Seven strategies to handle hardship
Only strive to handle today! Don’t dwell on tomorrow or how long the season of difficulty may last. Get through today.
Think back to previous seasons of suffering. Reinforce the reality that you made it through those times and so you will make it through this time as well.
Pray, a lot! God provides strength and comfort for you during every season but especially during seasons like this. He is faithful and he will do it!
Find scripture promises. Here are a few (all from the English Standard Version):
2 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties upon him, because he cares for you.
Romans 8:38-39: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11-13: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Wait on the Lord. The passage in Jeremiah reminds us of the importance of seeking God during seasons of hardship. We must also wait on God. Just wait to see what he will reveal and how he will manifest his power in your life.
Ask him: What am I supposed to learn here? Jesus often teaches us during times of suffering. In each circumstance the lesson may be different but if we will listen we may learn some very important life lessons.
Keep your faith up! Believe you will make it through with God’s help and then live like you will make it through!
How to plan for future hardship
Know it will happen. Hardship is part of our human experience. There is no way to totally escape it.
Build a solid spiritual foundation in your life. Work on building your faith every single day.
Read and study the Bible. Get God’s word hidden in your heart. Often, when you are suffering it is very difficult to read the Bible. With his word in your heart, you always have access to his counsel.
Pray. A foundation of prayer will strengthen you powerfully for every circumstance you will face in your life.
Hardships in life are sure to come but they don’t need to derail your faith. Keep following Jesus right through the valley. He is always with you and will never let you down!
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