The Encourager
“Overcoming Distressing Situations - by Ethan Tidwell”
Overcoming Distressing Situations
By Ethan Tidwell
We are all human and sometimes we go through hard times. How we handle it is important.
We can take examples from those in the Bible and apply them to our lives. One of these examples is Job. In the book of Job, he suffered greatly losing nearly everything (Job 1:14-19). In verse 22 of chapter 1 it says. “In all this Job did not sim nor charge God with wrong.” He lost his servants, livestock, and children. He did not blame the Lord for any of this. Although he would wonder why all this would happen to him, in chapter 10 yet he still never charged God with wrong. We need to have his attitude when it comes to suffering in our lives (Job 1:21).
David is another example; he had many enemies. He prayed to the Lord for many things. David speaks to God in a form of a song (2Samuel 22:7). How God hears his cries. He was protected by God. We may not be able to relate to David with the number of enemies, but we may have some sort of stress due to the world looking down on and persecuting us in any way for being a disciple of Christ.
Jesus prayed a lot as well. In the Garden of Gethsemane. He wanted the Father to take His burden away (Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42). He was in agony to the point where His sweat became drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Even though He was deeply distressed, He recognized the He still needed to do His Father’s will (Matt.26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42).
We can’t quite fathom the agony Jesus had to endure or come close to the level of His responsibility. We can however be distressed if it comes to persecution. With that there are things to help us through any hard times we might face. Praying (Philippians 4:6; Col. 4:2). Study (2Tim.2:15; 3:16-17; Heb.4:12). Doing the Lord’s will, no matter the situation and staying faithful to Him. There is a greater reward waiting for us if we stay faithful and do His will. Anyway, we suffer on this earth it will pass (Rev. 2:10b). Hope these words will comfort anyone in distressing times. Stay strong in the Lord.
Meditate on This:
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
