How to overcome tough times in life

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33.

Jesus is the Son of God who was manifest in human flesh. He left the heavenly glory and was born man. He endured the suffering of the world until the last moment. Being God’s Son, He could have easily avoided the suffering. Before the crucifixion, in great agony and sorrow, He asked His Father to take away the cup of suffering, but in the end He prayed for God’s will to be done. He submitted Himself to the will of His Father, our God.

The sin of Adam meant that man was separated from God and was condemned to die. However, because of how much God loves us, He sent His begotten Son to die for our sins and set us free from the law of sin and death.

But God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16.

What do you do when the storms of life attack you from every direction? It is easy to lose sight of who you are and begin focusing on the storm. During such times, it is easy to forget our identity in Christ. We forget who God says we are.

God predestined us for adoption to son-ship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:5.

We are created in the image of God.

So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27.

How then do we remain steady in the midst of a storm? We put on the armor of God.

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm…

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:10–18.

Life can change in an instant; we are surrounded by disease, violence and natural disasters. Most of the time they strike without warning and when such things happen, we can be shaken to the core. There is a lot of outer turmoil and with time the outer noise may dim our inner voice, who we really are.

What do you do when your loved one dies, when inflicted with an acute or terminal illness, when you go bankrupt, when injustice prevails; the possibilities of what could go wrong are endless.

What do you do when your life is turned upside down, when your ‘normal’ becomes non-existent and you have to adjust to a ‘new normal’, when life throws storms at you and you walk into the storm? It is easy to stumble and fall, it is easy to give up, it is easy to conform, it is easy to allow the storm to define you. Yet, we are called to greatness.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2.

When we know who we are, why we are here, and that we are passers-by on this earth, then we will be able to stand and come out victorious.

Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard: Fear God and obey His commandments, for this is what it means to be human. Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Our life on earth is to serve God, anything else done out of God’s will is vanity. We will all be judged by our actions, therefore let us not be deceived that evil will prosper. We should endeavor to do good all the days of our lives, and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.

For there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble. Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen? None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked. I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have power to hurt each other…

I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes. This too is meaningless. When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, i know that those who fear God will be better off. The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows. Ecclesiastes 8:6–13.

What then shall we do? We stand firm in Christ.

Therefore thus says the Lord God, behold, I Am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. Isaiah 28:16.

A God-centered life gives meaning to every good we do. We know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

And coming to Him as to a Living Stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 2:4.

Christ sets us free.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1–2.

God’s Word remains true and is the road-map by which we are to live. When we stand by what God says, we know we are firm and secure. With His Word we test every obstacle we come across. We seek what God says about the circumstance we are going through. God does not go back on His Word and therefore we can rest on what He says.

So will my Word which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11.

No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single Word I said. Psalms 89:34.

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes’. And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means Yes) ascends to God for His Glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Now behold, today i am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one Word of all the good Words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. Joshua 23:14.

Through Christ we have a promise of eternal life. Let us not lose sight, let us not trade eternity with fleeting things of the world.

And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. 1 John 2:25.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Blessings.

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Originally published at https://www.vickysforum.com on December 1, 2020.