Dealing with life’s adversities
Remaining an example for your children
Our constant, our strength, our hope...Jesus
On Saturday I attended my church’s annual Women’s Tea where I shared a devotional with the ladies. Immediately after speaking, a point I briefly covered resonated in my mind.. the example we set for our children during these trying times. I would like to expand on that thought now.
In sharing with you the “how to” of not only surviving, but thriving in life’s storms, I want to start with this illustration found in Matthew 14: 25-32
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
This depiction of Jesus reaching out to the disciples to calm their fears sounds lovely. However, I don’t know about you, but I find verse 27 pretty irrational. It is not in our human nature to ” be of good cheer and not afraid” when we are in the midst of life’s crisis. There is however one key element stated in this verse that is significant to note and that is, “It is I”. This statement alone is what can help us act in a manner in which we otherwise couldn’t rationalize.
BUT HOW EXACTLY DO WE DO THIS AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Allow me to share with you three points on how the Bible teaches us how we can do this.
by daybreaksdevotions
1. Trust in the Lord: This is the hope we have in Him. When we are keeping our eyes on Him and not on our situation we are trusting Him to provide, to prevail, to protect, to fill in the blank.
Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. ~Psalm 31:24
In my life this has been put to the test over and over and over again, from loosing our home when I was pregnant with our first son, my husband loosing his job when I was pregnant with our second son and again today my husband again being laid off of his teaching job where we are left uncertain of our future. These trying times have been humbling, but having the Lord as our Hope has greatly helped us to be of “good courage”. I don’t know how else we could have endured this. This brings us to the second point.
2. Endure: Pursue what is right in the sight of God, regardless of our circumstance. Stay focused and continue to be a light to people around us. Be content in the midst of our circumstance. Focus on what we can change and let go of what we can’t control.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us ~Hebrews 2:1
In my life’s crisis and circumstances there are 3 things that I have held dear that have helped me to stay focused and these are; 1.preserving my testimony 2. knowing that others are praying for me and that they too will be blessed by God’s faithfulness, and 3.knowing that I am walking with the Lord and doing His Will gives me the confidence to endure my circumstance. When we lose sight of God, we will lose our solid foundation and sink just as Peter did when his faith dwindled and was called out on it by Jesus.
This is the part where I wanted to elaborate on as it pertains to us preserving our testimony not only for our sake, but our children’s. In case we have not noticed by now, our kids watch everything we do and mimic us in our actions sometimes unfortunately to no avail. During life’s storms they don’t turn off their learning bifocals, in fact, these are the times that will be engraved in their memory bank just as we can always recall where we were and what we did on an infamous day such as September 11th. They too will recall how you conducted yourself during these trying times and thus learn how to cope with life’s crisis by witnessing you.
Every hardship my husband and I have experienced has been difficult. I am more than grateful for my community of believers that have remained loyal and interested in our situation to pray alongside us. Seeking God in prayer and in His Word has given me radical peace of mind that is unexplainable to the world. I remember one day, before having kids, I was totally distraught and crying and my dog, a pit bull, drew close to me and caressed his face to my leg as if he knew there was something wrong with me. Even my dog could sense the fear, anxiety and sadness in me, how much more can our children? I thank God that since having children and experiencing other hardships, my kids haven’t seen a difference in me today from any other ordinary day.
This is easier said than done I know, but I also know that God will equip me to be the example I need to be for my children. This alone is reason enough to rejoice.
3. Rejoice: Be of good cheer that God trusts that you can get through this because he doesn’t give us more than we can handle.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. –I Corinthians 10:13
The Lord is our hope and will equip us throughout our adversities.
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ~Romans 12:12
You will be better for it through Jesus Christ, He will be glorified through it.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ~James 1:2-4
I rejoice in knowing that through my storms my weaknesses are exposed and thus God’s GREATNESS is revealed.
This is how I have learned through the bible to not only handle but thrive and be better after life’s storms and I am taking comfort in this. I hope this is comforting to any going through hardship now. Let us be stronger, wiser and filled with joy for our children through Christ. God Bless you.
Related articles
- Can you walk on water? (fyi5.wordpress.com)
- JESUS WALKING ON THE WATER Pt. 2 (2right2bleft.wordpress.com)
- Those that morn are happy? Matthew 5:4 (pinchofgrace.net)
Training Up My Boys 
Inspirational way to start the week 🙂