21 Days of Prayer - Persevereनमुना

When You’ve Experienced Hard Things

Should Christians prepare for the worst in life?

Wow, that doesn’t sound very pleasant! We don’t want to go through the worst of anything, right? Just keep our rose-colored glasses on and hope for the best? No!

God makes it clear in His Word that we live in a fallen world and will face trials. The Apostle Paul walked through things that most of us would not even contemplate having to endure.

Many of today’s trials equate to what Paul went through, and the Bible tells us how to respond and prepare for the worst. While the scenery that Paul existed in was different, there is no new trial under the sun.

Paul wasn’t a stranger to anxiety. He knew the message God was trying to send to the churches, but very few were carrying out that message. He wanted so much good for them because he understood the light Jesus brought them.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul prayed! He cast his cares on the Lord by letting go of those cares and trusting God with them.

Paul experienced three shipwrecks and once floated at sea for a day and a night! Have you ever had a flight delay, a car breakdown, gotten lost while traveling, or lost a house in a tornado, hurricane, or fire? There are a multitude of current-day catastrophes that compare to the disasters that Paul endured.

He faced many cold days and nights with no sleep. He went hungry and thirsty. Maybe you have an illness that makes it difficult to sleep. Perhaps your paychecks are small, and you run short on food. Paul wore rags at different times. He was attacked, beaten, and flogged. Jews, Gentiles, false Christians, and robbers persecuted Paul. His friends left him. He was ridiculed by false apostles trying to push him down to elevate themselves. Some churches rejected him.

How did Paul cope? What was his strategy to get through life?

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Paul understood the power of the presence of God and the Holy Spirit in his life. He understood that he would have to renew his thought process lest he be swallowed up by despair. Paul overcame problems because he had a mind shift that enabled him to see all of these hardships as opportunities.

Above all, Paul trusted God, and you can trust Him, too. You can fall back and know He will catch you. Renew your thoughts, leave the past behind, and walk forward to a life of freedom, knowing that the God who created the universe and all things loves you more than you can imagine. Rest in that, and don’t lean on your own understanding. Then, be sure to give Him the glory for all He does in your life!

Cathy Anderson

Prayer Point: What difficult things are you experiencing right now? Pray about these things and ask God to bring you comfort.