Key 1: Develop a Vibrant Prayer Life
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
A vibrant prayer life is the single most important facet to surviving during difficult times. The upsetting realities of our lives become so much easier to bear when we spend time with God each day. We may not come away from our prayer times having all the answers, but we definitely come away with peace, joy, and strength to continue the journey. As we pour out our hearts to the Lord He brings a clarity and perspective that could never be gained from our own understanding and reasoning abilities.
Key 2: Pursue Peace
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
Rising grocery costs, sky rocketing gas prices, unaffordable medical insurance… it’s enough to make even Pollyanna squirm. I’m a “glass half full” kind of gal, but in this day and age it can be challenging to stay peaceful and positive when the glass appears to be draining quickly. It’s at those times that the Lord gently reminds me that I have only one source of true peace during anxious times…Christ Jesus himself.
Key 3: Nurture Fulfilling Friendships
A friend loves at all times… Proverbs 17:17
One of the greatest sources of comfort during dark times is the soothing reassurance that comes from sharing our troubles with a close friend. Faithful friends have a wonderful way of offering a listening ear and a sympathetic hug. When our lives are feeling chaotic, anxious, or out of control, it’s easy to isolate ourselves. But it’s at that time especially that we need our friends! Resist the urge to become a hermit when suffering. Instead, make that call, reach out, and share your troubles with your friend.
Key 4: Cultivate a Quiet Life
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life… 1 Thessalonians 4:11
Some people’s lives are crammed so full of noise and entertainment that they’re seldom alone with their own thoughts. Our culture offers us a plethora of stimulating activities and amusing diversions. And unless you happen live in an Amish farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, you’ve been inundated with sensory overload: televisions blaring, video games blasting, cell phones ringing, car stereos booming, and iPods rockin’. As a society we’ve lost our appreciation for a quiet life. Yet, the very thing we need when suffering through upsetting times is quiet. Quiet to feel our feelings and think our thoughts…solitude in which God can speak to us and comfort us. But if every moment is filled with some kind of entertainment or communication, we’ll never have the time or space to process our emotions. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Quietude, which some men cannot abide because it reveals their inward poverty, is as a palace of cedar to the wise, for along its hallowed courts the King in his beauty deigns to walk.”
Key 5: Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. 1 Corinthians 6:19
When weathering a crisis, the first thing to go is usually our healthful eating and exercise habits. Anxiety has a way of making even the most health-conscience person shove large quantities of chips and chocolate in their mouth. Yet, our healthy lifestyle can be an island of sanity and normalcy amidst the roaring waves of calamity. When going through upsetting times it’s important to continue to nurture yourself with good food, consistent exercise, and plenty of rest.
Key 6: Release Your Need for Control
It’s human nature to want to control and “manage” the people and circumstances in our lives—but most of the upsetting realities of our day are beyond our control. Yet, as we allow God’s transforming Word to enter our hearts and minds, we’ll find it easier to trust His plan for our lives….even in anxious times. Letting go of the perceived control we have over our lives and submitting to God’s plan involves trust. Just as we drop down wearily onto a sturdy chair—trusting that it will hold our weight and give us rest… We can come to God with our anxieties, weariness, and worries and collapse into His loving arms. He is sturdy and reliable, and His strength will never fail. God is more then able to soothe our anxieties and give us direction and guidance. If we choose to rest in His care we will leave His presence refreshed, filled with new perspective, and with our faith renewed.
Paula Friedrichsen is a member of Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org
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