HOW DO YOU COPE WITH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you
may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious
inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us
who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted
when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand
in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and
dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age
but also in the one to come.
(Ephesians 1:18-21)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever been in a place in your life where everything is going good for
you and suddenly you are blindsided by something unexpected and unpleasant.
In the blink of an eye, your priorities changed and things that seemed important
to you, have become less important now.

This new ‘thing’ has turned your world upside down and created concern,
worry, fear, and despair. You recall how your relationship with the Lord has
sustained you in the past, but you wonder if you can resurrect that fellowship
when you are in a state of despondency?

How can you cope with what has created this turmoil for you now? Do you
rely on your own resources, or depend on friends to come to your rescue?

Your mind may be running in several directions at once and making it hard
to focus, but the scriptures give us a reminder of the One who is in charge.
God is the One we not only need to have, but we must turn to for Him if we
expect to find consolation. Friends and family can provide a lot of support,
but we must remember that God is the One who can help us cope, and He
has the ability and power to rectify our situation.

When Paul spoke to the Ephesians about the “eyes of their heart”, he was
reminding them to always look to the Lord, and especially when they are
faced with unexpected problems. Why? Because He is the One who can
give us hope and the ability to cope that we can’t get from any other source.

Paul also reminded them that God can provide the type of riches that
cannot be found in the world. His riches include peace in the midst of
a storm, and a promise of an eternity with Him.

Lastly, Paul reminded them of the power of God to change things. But
His power is much greater than we could ever fathom. His power is
constant, forever, and stronger than any power, authority, or dominion
on earth. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated
Him at His right hand.

Pause and think for a moment about the magnitude of that kind of power.
He determined the fate of Jesus and He can determine our fate as well.
When we are alarmed, He should be the first One we seek, because He is
the One with the power to change our circumstances and/or change us.

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Am I going through a difficult time right now?
    – Have I exhausted my own resources when trying to cope?

We need to remember what Paul told the Ephesians. We might not have
the ability to change things, but our omnipotent Heavenly Father does.

Some say that God ‘will not change His Will’, but that doesn’t mean He
will not ‘Will a change’. We need to pour our heart out to God honestly
and ask Him to draw close to us so He can comfort and console us when
are having a trial or crisis. We need to tell Him that we have faith that
He can change things for the better, and our prayer is that He will.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your awesome power to change things.
You know my situation and how devastating it can be for me. But You also
know how to comfort me and help me to cope. I pray that You will intervene
in my circumstance and draw me near to You. I trust You as my Heavenly
Father who provides me with what I need at this moment. Surround me
with family and friends who can encourage me as well. Without You, I
remain downhearted, but with You I am filled with hope. Thank You for
how You have sustained me in the past and for the hope You give to me
now. I love You and praise You for all things, even when they hurt, and
when I struggle to understand them.”

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