Withstanding the Storms of Your Life

Have you ever had one of those days when if it can go wrong, it does? We all experience times when dissolving into tears or speaking sharp words to our family become tempting releases for the pressure bubbling inside. We don’t want it to happen, but sometimes circumstances push our limits.

Maybe the baby cried all night and you received a call to come in early to work. Or your workday was stressful, and afterward you drove all over creation taking your kids to their activities. Now you don’t have time to fix dinner—a quick trip through the local drive-in will have to do before tackling their homework. Then you walk into the house and the AC is broken.

How can we ward off an explosion? What can we do to shrug off that creeping sense of losing control?

Build Your Life on a Solid Foundation

Make sure you know what you believe and why you believe it. If your faith is secure, it will give you perspective in the tough times. If you already have a close relationship with Jesus, then when unforeseen difficulties pop up, it will be a natural response to turn to Him for help. The following ideas can help:

Develop a daily habit of prayer and Bible study. It is a habit that must be cultivated, but one that will make the most difference in your life. As in any conversation, this time should include both listening (reading God’s Word) and speaking (prayer).

Discover creative ways to display Scripture all around you. The Bible instructs us to do this in Deuteronomy 6 for very good reasons. When we can see a verse, we’re much more likely to incorporate it into our lives. We memorize it without even realizing what we’re doing. It sometimes becomes stuck in our brains on constant replay. And it works its way down into our hearts

In the Storm, Batten Down the Hatches

There are also strategies you can employ to prevent life-storm damage such as a hysterical meltdown or full-blown case of hot messiness. I needed to use them when my life felt like it was falling apart the other day. These simple items helped me calm down and gain better perspective. They filled me with peace that pushed away my anxiety. They will do the same for you. 

1. Pray. Take your concerns to the Lord. Tell Him all about them and offer them to Him.
    
2. Find something to be thankful for. One of the best things we can do to get our minds on the right track is practice gratefulness. After remembering truth and praying, it’s much easier to move toward thanksgiving.
    
3. Think right thoughts. Philippians 4:8 provides a list of the types of thoughts we should keep in our minds."Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." This is a discipline we need to practice all the time, but it is imperative when storms bombard us. These thoughts are lifelines that calm and help us see hope.

The next time life’s storm clouds gather, or a sudden rogue wave knocks you off your feet, these steps will help you stay rock solid. You’ll be prepared and able to re-group. Building a life on the Rock is the best insurance against serious damage and a guarantee that you won’t be smashed to bits. It doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen, but it does mean you’ll be helped through them and emerge safe in the end.

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