Life is full of setbacks and stress, dilemmas and disappointments, conflicts and crises:
- The new dishwasher springs a leak and damages the adjacent cabinet before it’s discovered
- Your new boss consistently demands more than you can deliver without overtime, but there’s no extra pay since you’re salaried
- The company you work for is looking to sell; everyone is anxious how the sale will impact employees
- Your sister and her husband seem headed for divorce; he won’t go to counseling
- Your daughter was just diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes
If it’s not one thing, it’s another. How can we “be strong and take heart” as the imaged scripture above encourages us to do?
The psalmist King David tells us where to begin in the very same verse:
HOPE IN THE LORD
And how do we do that?
We keep our eyes open for God’s encouragement as he gives light to our path, provision for our needs, and blessings to lift our spirits. (A previous post, “Sacred Hands Behind the Scenes,” provides a few examples.)
Watchfulness often leads to amazement, and noticing what God is doing now fuels our hope for what he will do in the future.
Also good to remember? Some of the most beautiful and sacred encounters with God occur during the difficult seasons of life.
Christina Gibson observed, “In positions of flux, in the horrible disappointments, I usually have the greatest opportunity for a sacred encounter . . . I don’t know if it’s because I’m more malleable or if God has a soft spot for suffering” [1].
We’d also be wise to:
EMBRACE GRACE
“The greater your knowledge of the goodness and grace of God in your life, the more likely you are to praise him in the storm”[2].
And praise has a way of cheering and strengthening the soul.
We mustn’t forget to also embrace grace for ourselves. We’re human, with physical, mental, and emotional limits.
God has provided the grace of sleep, rest, food, relationships and more to replenish us. We’re wise to take time to do so—and set aside the false guilt for doing so.
ACT KINDLY TOWARD OTHERS
A strange phenomenon occurs when we care for others and ease their burdens—even through small acts of thoughtfulness. Our own heavy hearts grow lighter.
Kindness produces a number of benefits by reducing unhealthy self-focus, fostering joy and gratitude, contributing to spiritual maturity, and growing our dependence on God.
RESOLVE TO STAND FIRM
First, stand firm on truth (Ephesians 6:14a).
“It’s important to rehearse the lovely, rich truths and promises that remain when other things change. Keep telling these truths, in all their many-sided glory, and one day, walls already cracked will crumble and fall”[3].
Second, stand firm on praise (Psalm 147:1).
“No exercise or medicine will cure the ill of discouragement like praise. Depression and praise cannot long live in the same heart. They are absolutely incompatible roommates.
“Praise brings the consciousness of the presence of God and liars from the pit cannot effectively market their wares in the atmosphere of praise”[4].
Third, stand firm in expectancy (Psalm 5:3).
TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME
We mustn’t allow our thoughts to run ahead into the swirling “what’-ifs” that spiral us downward. Instead, we focus on what needs to be done in this moment, remembering it just might be rest.
Know also that even in suffering “there is enough beauty to get through the minute and then to get through the hour and then to get through the day”[5].
Practice these strategies and find the H.E.A.R.T.—the courage—that Kind David urged:
H = Hope in God
E = Embrace grace
A = Act kindly toward others
R = Resolve to stand firm
T = Take one step at a time
“Trouble is our common lot. The big difference is the people who follow Jesus get to add this tiny little hand grenade of a footnote to our bumper sticker:
“But take heart! I have overcome the world”[6].
[1] Soul Bare, 94.
[2] Matt Chandler.
[3] Jim MGuiggan, quoted by Beth Moore in Praying God’s Word, 138.
[4] Jack Taylor, quoted by Linda Dillow in Satisfy the Thirsty Soul,191.
[5] Cara Sexton, contributor to Soul Bare, 198.
[6] J. D. Walt, quoted at https://wrestlingwordblog.wordpress, 11-7-2020.
Image credits: http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.dailyverses.net.
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Those “swirling what-ifs” attack most strongly for me as I try to go to sleep. I turn to “Amazing Grace,” the Lord’s Prayer, and the 23rd Psalm to calm my mind. They remind me of God’s goodness and that “He will never leave me nor forsake me!” Your post has so many more good reminders.
That’s my go-to also for calming my mind at bedtime, Linda: reciting scripture. Most often I’m asleep before I finish the passage or chapter!
Me too! I think it is the act of mentally turning it all over to God.
Agreed!
Nancy, I love this such a wonderful reminder on how to keep our eyes on Jesus and off of the things we sometimes have to walk through. This will be a way for me to encourage a young lady I’m doing Sister to Sister with. You have a talent for articulation in ways I could never imagine. Anita
Praise God you found this post useful to share with one of your mentees, Anita. And thank you for your sweet encouragement! Please know: YOU have talents that I could never imagine, like your ability with just about every type of craft and needlework there is!
I love your breakdown of the word, “HEART,” so much, that I wrote it down, Nancy. That is one I want to memorize and put to daily use in my life. I can’t thank you enough for your inspirational words here today. Blessings always!
Praise God you found the H.E.A.R.T. acrostic worthwhile, Martha! (I should memorize it myself!!)
I wrote it in my gratefulness journal so I could do just that. Thanks again, Nancy!
All good heart advice!
Praise God for the good advice of his Word that ALWAYS provides benefit!
Thank you for reminding us of the hope we have in Jesus. He is with us through the good times as well as the bad. Praise Him for His consistency.
AMEN, Kathy. Just knowing God is always with us, and sensing his comforting presence, does MUCH to calm our spirits!
I needed this reminder. Thank you. God bless.
Praise God for his timing, Judy. He’s SO good to give us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it!
Amen
H.E.A.R.T. is a great recap of ways to practice King David courage. Thanks, Nancy! 😁
You’re welcome, Nancy. Praise God for his inspiration!
Love the acronym and the meaning behind it. Thanks, Nancy.
You’re welcome, Sue. I’m so glad you found the acrostic meaningful!
I normally don’t look at the blog the day it comes out. I believe the Lord led me to read it this evening. Once again, this was so timely, especially regarding setbacks. This afternoon I backed into my nephew’s brand new truck. He hadn’t even had it a week. I admit to having a panic attack and won’t soon be forgetting that sound. Right now I don’t ‘feel’ particularly strong. I just read in the ‘Life Principles Daily Bible’ (Charles F. Stanley) that Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God.
The truck only a ‘thing’ and isn’t actually a tragedy but it was a painful thing to experience.
In reading the Charles F. Stanley quote, along with your blog, I am certain that the Lord was calming my anxious heart.
I have many blessings in my life, the greatest of which is the timeliness of the Lord speaking to me.
It’s such a blessing when that happens–when we hear something or read something that speaks exactly what we need in the moment! Praise God for his graciousness to bless us in that way. Dr. Stanley’s statement makes sense. Numerous people have experienced just that–a deeper relationship with God while traversing a dark valley. / I’m SO sorry about your accident with your nephew’s truck. I’d be upset too. I pray that repairs will happen quickly, and all will be well again in less than a week! In the meantime, may you sense God’s comfort and calm in your spirit. Somehow, God will bring good even from this!
Great advice and lots of encouragement here today. I learned a few years ago to ask myself what is the kindness thing I could do for myself right now? Often that is a rest or a walk but always refreshes my soul and then helps me focus on God.
Thank you for your affirmation here, Jean, that rest or a walk can be a wise choice for the refreshment it brings–not only to our bodies but also to our souls. We can even fine-tune our focus on God as a result. Wise advice to keep in mind!
I like the heart acronym. We are focused on the here and now and current circumstances whereas God has the big picture of our whole lives and know how the pieces fit together. Ultimately our suffering in this life ends and we have eternal blessings. One thing we can count on in this life is that Jesus loves us and never leaves us.
Praise God he does indeed see the big picture of our whole lives, and he’s always working for our best welfare. And all along the way we can be confident of his love and faithfulness. Hallelujah!
Sleep, rest, food and quality relationships are true blessings. And I am thankful God lights our paths. He is always with us. Thanks, Nancy.
You’re welcome, Dawn. I too am so thankful for all the blessings God bestows–way beyond what money can buy (that can’t satisfy anyway)!
This was such an encouraging post, Nancy. Each of the points you mentioned that will enable us to navigate challenges and when our thoughts and emotions tend to get the better of us, is so good. And you made such an easy way to remember it too. Thank you, Nancy.
Praise God you found encouragement here, Manu. I’m so glad!
Nancy, thank you for this encouraging post. I am writing down the H E A R T message!
I’m so glad you found the HEART acrostic worthwhile Pam. Praise God for his inspiration!
Oh yes, Nancy! “Some of the most beautiful and sacred encounters with God occur during the difficult seasons of life.” How many times I have asked the Lord to give me the same intimacy I feel in difficult seasons even when things are good. It would be so wonderful to have the best of both worlds, wouldn’t it?
Indeed! It seems he saves the sweetest aspects of intimacy for those times when we need it most..
Nancy, I appreciate the thoroughness of your research in building this testament. Hope and grace walk along parallel paths. Colleen and I continue to lean on the Lord’s grace as He nourishes our hope for her amazing recovery from her fall two months ago. At the same time, He has strengthened the bonds of our relationship.
Thank you, Richard. I didn’t know about Colleen’s fall! What a delight to hear how God is ministering to you even during the trial of recovery. Praise him for his attentiveness!
Wise and wonderful post! God is with us moment to moment, and the more we focus on His love and grace, the stronger we are in the storm!
Thank you, Linda. You’ve given us a great summary-statement to keep us focused!
Nancy, a beautiful reminder to keep our eyes on Him and cultivate hope or we’ll fall prey to sinking because of all the winds and waves surrounding us that are seeking to distract us from Him. I appreciate the H.E.A.R.T. acronym.
Thank you, Lisa. I appreciate you allusion to Peter, when he became distracted and fell prey to fear of the wind and waves (Matthew 14:22-33). To focus on Christ IS our best strategy during the storms of life!
Choices we need to make, yes. To take heart. To wait. To do it in the strength God provides. Please help us, Lord, not to rely on our own strength.
Amen, Linda. My own strength is so pitifully inadequate. I don’t know where I’d be or what I’d do without Christ in my life!
Something told me to come and read your blog today–and now I know that that something was the Holy Spirit. I certainly needed to be reminded of these truths–and the HEART acrostic–genius!! I found out today that my beloved sister has cancer in her left lung. I ask anyone who reads this to pray for her. Thank you so much!
Praying right now, dear Katie, that God brings healing to your sister! So glad the acrostic ministered to you in this time of uncertainty. Praise God for his timing!
Thank you so much Nancy!! God bless you.
How full of hope your blog is to me today! So often when I am very low, I feel drawn to God’s Word. I open it and find such promise and peace! And you are so right in reminding us that gratitude is also key to our joy and peace, especially during the hard times. I say thank you so often but I do want you to know how thankful I am to you for sharing so much of God’s Word with us – with ME!
Oh yes–the treasure of God’s Word NEVER fails to reveal precious gems of truth that encourage and instruct! Praise God these posts minister to you, dear Patty. Your blog does the same for me. You’ve faced trials I’ve never known, yet your faith has remained strong. We lift each other up!