4 TIPS TO GROW IN TOUGH TIMES!
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” Psalm 4:8
My heart goes out to Joseph! He never expected to find himself hated by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery. His life went in the opposite direction of what he expected—but God used these tough times to mature his faith. Joseph learned to see God’s presence and experience His care when everything seemed against him. Genesis 37-50
When life doesn’t turn out as you expected, God wants it to lead you into deeper faith and maturity, just like Joseph.
Here are four ways we can all grow spiritually and emotionally when dealing with life’s pits. Yes, they are inevitable in life, but they don’t need to devastate your faith. Let God use them instead, to deepen your relationship with Him.
- Pits can leave us vulnerable to fear. Use them to increase your faith. Joseph remembered the promises of God and the dreams He gave him. Instead of fear, he focused on who God was and His plans for his life—even though those plans seemed so removed from his circumstances at that time. When you’re in a pit, remember how God has worked in your life. Let those memories strengthen your confidence in God.
- Pits tempt us to doubt God’s love. Use them to grow in trust. Instead of slumping in self-pity wondering if God cares or has the power to change your circumstances, use your pit times to develop your trust in God. How? By digging into His Word. Read Isaiah 55:6-13. Surrender your doubts to God and trust He knows what He is permitting and that He loves you.
- Pits can turn us inward, fixating on our feelings. Use them to ask, “Lord what do you want me to do?” Rather than being blind or deaf to God’s will, use tough times to sensitively seek God’s direction. Jesus repeatedly linked loving Him with obeying His commands. “If you love me, you will obey what I command” John 14:15. Focus on what God wants to produce in you or accomplish through you in this hard time. Ask Him to help you obey His commands to forgive, to think what is good, to behave and act as His child and to help you be a blessing even when you hurt.
- Pits can plunge us into bitterness. Use them to grow in forgiveness. Instead of nursing grudges, God offers us His power to forgive, release, and move forward. It is possible. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph utters the most incredible words of forgiveness to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.” God intends good for you, too, as you release your bitterness.
Joseph learned to recognize God’s presence and care when everything seemed against him. How about you?
Poppy
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