Surviving and Thriving During Our Current Hardship

This is a time of hardship such as we have never experienced. There is so much uncertainty, fear, suffering and sorrow. And changes are happening daily. There is barely any light at the end of the tunnel.

Everyone has days that shatter their hopes and dreams. And now we are going through a time and seasons of extreme suffering and disappointment. How do you survive in these times? How can you hold on to your faith in the face of such extraordinary difficulty? Are there some strategies you can employ to remain strong through the valley?

Four Essentials to Power Through Hardship

Understand Circumstances

Realize that your circumstances don’t define who you are. Just because you are experiencing extraordinary difficulty and hardship doesn’t mean you are somehow diminished. Your spirit, your personality, your faith and your determination will rise above these circumstances.

Realize, as well, that these circumstances don’t define God. Every day, good and bad, God is unchanging. He’s the same God when things are bad as when things are good.

Know That God Is

That is important to realize!

He is omnipotent. He has all power. He is faithful to employ that power for you at the right moment and in the right way.

He is omniscient. He knows all. He knows what you feel and he knows the right answer for your life at this very moment. He is good so you can rest in the assurance that his answer is perfect.

He is omnipresent. He has not left you. His love has not left you. He assures us in his word that we cannot escape his love even if we wanted to (Romans 8:38-39). How much more is his love available to us as we seek it!

Stay With What You Know

Prayer. Ask, ask, ask – and don’t stop asking. But don’t ask why! Rarely is this prayer answered. Instead ask: what can I learn from this? What are you trying to teach me? What do I do now? Ask for strength and wisdom and spiritual growth. He will answer these prayers.

Bible reading and study. The answers you seek, the encouragement you need can be found in God’s word. Don’t neglect it through the difficult times.

Worship. During the most trying times of our life, worship can take on a profound depth. When you persist in worship when you are struggling, hurting and in despair, God often breaks through with his glory. He helps those who are weak.

Fellowship. Especially don’t neglect time with other followers with Jesus. Satan wants you weak and isolated so he can pick you off and devour you! During this time fellowship must be creative but, with technology, we can find ways to connect. Remember, the church is a place of healing for the soul.

Don’t Lose Perspective

This can be very hard but try these four perspective hacks to help you cope:

Take a long view. Step back and try to project how long your present difficulty will last. We know that even the experts can’t tell us accurately but this is a good exercise, none the less. This hardship won’t last forever – you know that. It might be a few weeks or months or even a year but eternity belongs to God and our eternity in heaven will be glorious. Remember what Paul said:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NIV)

Think back. Even though this time truly is different, you have probably weathered some difficult storms before. Encourage yourself with your past success (or survival) of other hard times.

Look ahead. Although we do not know when we do know that this, too, shall pass. You can be assured of this.

Remember the tree. As winter approaches the leaves fall off and it looks dead. The roots, however continue to grow deep into the ground. Trees gain great strength through the winter. You can grow deep in the winter of your soul. Trust God for this process to happen in your life.

Three positive things you can do for yourself

Find an encourager. You need someone who is upbeat and positive; someone who has strong faith and is practical. You don’t need someone who can throw a good pity party! That doesn’t help! Connect with that person and hang out together for a while (however you can).

Escape. Even though you cannot complete escape this hardship, it is possible to get away from it. My wife and I have taken a few drives during this day. This time away even for an hour or two can help with perspective and your attitude.

Be an encourager. Something as simple as passing this article to someone else can make a difference. Call someone and tell them you love them and are praying for them.