When Life Sucks
When life sucks the life out of you, what do you do?
Several weeks ago, I received some potentially devastating news.
At first I thought, “this can’t possibly be true” (it was that bad). Then, I began to think “things will never be the same again”.
But after those initial knee-jerk thoughts, I realized that I had a choice. And when you are in situations like this, you have a choice too.
We all face moments like this in life, whether it is the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the loss of dream.
Life will suck the life out of you at times, so what do you do when you really don’t know what to do?
Reflect. Recite. Renew. (I know, my alliteration definitely tells everyone, “Hey! I am a pastor!”)
Reflect on other times when you thought it was all over, and how God carried you through each situation.
Recite what God’s Word says about this situation and remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing comes through God’s Word.
Renew your vision. Zoom out to see the bigger picture and never lose sight of where you are going.
They tell me that a gazelle only 3 feet tall can jump 10 feet high and 28 feet in distance. However, often at the zoo they are kept within a 4 foot solid fence. Even though the gazelle can jump over it, because they can not see over it, they never jump over it.
What is the most effective thing that you have done to overcome life’s blows?
similar articles
-
Friday Share #101: 3 Principles Behind Making Good Decisionsat May 18, 2012
-
What It Means To Be A Godly Motherat May 16, 2012
-
Why Mick Jagger Was Right!at May 15, 2012
-
-
Friday Share #100: Mistakes We Make While Waiting On Godat May 11, 2012
17 Comments
June 17, 2010 at 10:14 am
I used to HATE it when people would tell me “God never gives us more than we can handle.” That was until I learned something. There is NOTHING that God can’t handle so AS LONG AS we rely on Him there IS NOTHING that we can’t handle cause we aren’t handling it!
When the doctors came in and told me that my baby boy was brain dead, it was devastating. I remember saying “Ok God. You are gonna have to get me through this.” And within a couple hours, my oldest son came into my hospital room and laid my brand new grandson in my arms. God spoke to me and said “Life will go on. I have everything in my arms and don’t worry because my arms ‘can handle it!’
I hold onto that promise every day.
June 17, 2010 at 12:50 pm
“I used to HATE it when people would tell me “God never gives us more than we can handle.” That was until I learned something. There is NOTHING that God can’t handle”-Kim
You can speak from an authority on this topic unlike many people I know.
He is so faithful!
June 17, 2010 at 12:12 pm
The most effective thing that I have done is something I borrowed from LOST.
When Jack would encounter tough situations (he was a surgeon), he would allow fear to be his focus for five seconds. He would count and then get to work, never looking back.
I of course, adapted this as a Christ follower. I take a few minutes (a set time) and rant. Either to my wife or by myself. And then, I give it to God and move forward.
June 17, 2010 at 12:54 pm
We all have to find the key that unlocks new strength, and tenacity, and there is defiantly a time to vent, I have written blog post that I had no intention of publishing in order to rant before, find what ever it takes a press forward
June 17, 2010 at 12:17 pm
In approaching a devastating or unexpected situation it always helps me to sit back and reflect on the things that ARE positive in my life. I tend to make lists in my head of the things that I am blessed with and focus on them. It may seem like the end of the world in my predicament but…Lord thank you for my next breath. Seems simple but it helps me to take the next step through the hard times.
June 17, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I agree! We must count every blessing and positive thing in life! They are numerous, but if we aren’t careful, we miss them for the few negative experiences we are facing.
June 17, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I love the grateful list at any given time there is so much more to be thankful for than to be angry for. Prospective is everything.
June 17, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Aside from the obvious answer of turning to Christ in the midst of life’s pain, I feel we must turn adversity into a learning session.
Some of life’s greatest lessons are born in the midst of adversity, and as much as we would like to avoid pain and suffering, there is no denying that we emerge from the fires of struggle different than when we jumped in.
The only question to be asked is the following: will I emerge with a lesson learned and experience with which to teach others, or will I emerge bitter for having to face adversity at all?
June 17, 2010 at 12:57 pm
me of life’s greatest lessons are born in the midst of adversity,-Josh great truth!
And that is a pro-vital question, will it make me better or will it make me bitter
June 17, 2010 at 12:29 pm
When something undesirable happens in my life, I am first upset. I let myself be mad or sad or frustrated for a few moments. But I can’t let myself linger there. Then I try to find some good in it. I ask myself what I learned, if there were any positive results out of it, if it may have good consequences down the road, if I can do anything to help the situation within my realm of control, etc.
Then I remind myself that others have it way worse, and a lot of times you have to take the bad with the good.
June 17, 2010 at 1:01 pm
“I remind myself that others have it way worse,”- Brittany
This is always a very humbling question, and the answer is always yes others have faced much worse, and stayed positive.
Outlook is everything, the problem is we have to be willing when we are hurting, to look out.
the old saying goes,” two men looked through prison bars one man saw mud, the other saw stars.”
Outlook is everything
June 17, 2010 at 12:58 pm
I sometimes allow what is going on around me to knock me down but sometimes it helps me to know that other people experience the same things.
I think that history is definitely the best teacher and when we look back at our history and what God has done, our faith is can’t help but get stronger.
I agree that when we have a promise from God, even when things don’t look good, we can stand on that promise and know that He can not lie or go back on His promises.
The bible is so full of His promises and so when we are down God has given us this amazing tool to read and remember His promises to us.
I guess I have to remember that nothing ever surprises God.
June 17, 2010 at 7:29 pm
That’s right “did it ever occur to us that nothing ever occurred to God”
June 17, 2010 at 7:18 pm
just thinking… knock a hole in the solid wall so you can see through it… be what a gazelle is meant to be!
June 17, 2010 at 7:32 pm
When we can’t see, we have to seize what we can not see, and know that if we could completely see it then we wouldn’t need faith and if it is not done is faith it is a sin.
I will have to look back at this post and remind myself of this prospective from time to time.;o)
June 18, 2010 at 9:37 am
Prayer/Worship/Word- Those are my remedies. Just getting away with God and getting lost in His presence seems to make my life not suck as much. As I am with Him, he strengthens me, loves on me, carries my burden, holds me and lets me know everything will be okay.
There are a few sayings and scriptures that I cling to when “life sucks”.
“When you can’t see His hands, you can trust His heart”-This reminds me that in any situation God is still working. He loves ME! His heart is only good towards me. How dare I think any other way?!?!
“Look at the situation and say “God you are bigger than this, so be big in me”"- It reminds me that God is bigger than any situation or any problem that I face. He can handle me and my “issues”.
Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give wayand the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (NIV)- To me, the psalmist paints a wonderful picture of “When life sucks”. I am reminded that when I feel like everything is crashing around me that I should have no fear that God is my strength and He is the place that I run and hide.
“This too shall pass” This saying comes from a referenece to Ecclesiates.3:1(KJV) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.- This reminds me that what I am experiencing is only temporary. It helps to put things in perspective with eternity.
“Either I believe God is who He is and that everything in His word is true or I don’t “- Sometimes I’ve had to be honest with myself. If I am going to believe then I must believe wholeheartedly with uninhibited abandonment! Therefore, if I believe , I must know that yes life sucks, God said it would at times, but to “take heart for I have overcome the world” John 16:33….”I will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5….These are just a few. Dig in the WORD and He will show you his promises.
“I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, NO turning back”- I love this song. The words are so powerful yet challenging to proclaim! This reminds me that I, no one else, have decided to follow Jesus and no matter what comes my way my mind is made up. I will endure; giving in to darkness is not an option.
SELAH
June 18, 2010 at 9:38 am
ok sorry that was a really long post!!!
lol