Dealing With The Unexpected Challenges of Life -- part 6
Today we will conclude our discussion of the topic “Dealing with the Unexpected Challenges of Life.” Have you experienced anything challenging and unexpected over the past few weeks? If so, I pray this content has been useful in helping you navigate those challenges. And now, some concluding thoughts on our topic.
One Scripture that reminds us that we are overcomers when unexpected challenges come is found in 1 John 5: 4-5 (ESV). “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
I find that Jesus puts our unexpected struggles into perspective when He states in 1 John 4: 4 (ESV) “…for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
Paul as well assures us in Romans 8: 37 that “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Jesus also tells us that our relationship with Him brings us inner peace. John 17: 27 (ESV) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Many times, unexpected challenges will tempt us to become fearful. Mothers of Nations, this is a normal human response to some of these situations. But we must learn to press in closer to God in faith which then dispels fear and doubt.
The peace that Jesus brings is not the kind of peace the world offers: a peace based on ever-changing circumstances. The peace Jesus gives is deep, lasting, powerful, and enables us to face any kind of unexpected situation that comes our way. Let me close with one final personal example relating to this truth.
The birth of our third grandchild became one of these unexpected events in our family’s life where we learned the depth of the peace that only Jesus can bring to unexpected life challenges.
Our daughter is a nurse and she had a full, natural birth plan all prepared for her first baby’s birth in 2010. But as the baby refused to come and 16 days past the due date, the doctors required our daughter to be induced. Hour by hour pages and more pages of the “natural birth plan” were tossed aside.
More drugs for induction were administered, an epidural was performed, and papers were signed for permission of a C-section if necessary became our unexpected circumstances. As you can imagine, none of these circumstances were part of the “natural birth plan” and tension and anxiety was building steadily about what was happening.
I had been in my daughter’s hospital room (praying and supporting) as all of these phases of delivery were unfolding. Finally she was ready to start pushing and at that time I excused myself and went out into the hallway to talk to my husband and update him about what was happening in our daughter’s room.
In the middle of my explanation of the current status of delivery, he asked me how I was doing. Immediately tears flooded down my cheeks as I admitted this was a “déjà vu” moment of the memories I had of the loss of our own first baby.
He then reminded me of a note that a friend had written in a Christmas card to our daughter just nine months earlier. The contents of that note made no sense to us at that time. But now, in the heat of the unexpected, the words from that card hit my spirit as a rhema Word from the Lord and I knew that I knew everything was going to be all right and unexplainable peace flooded my heart.
I went back into my daughter’s room and between contractions was able to remind her of the words of that Christmas card note. I knew that no matter what happened in the next moments, no matter if all the pages of the birth plan were thrown aside, EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT!
Things turned again and our daughter was rushed down the hallway for an emergency C-section – the final thing she didn’t want to happen. But shortly after we were holding a healthy, strong, beautiful baby girl and our daughter had no other complications.
I thank the Lord that He has trained me through all kinds of life circumstances to hear His voice. That day He brought instant PEACE to an unexpected time of stress, anxiety, and multiple disappointments.
So as Believers, how should we face the unexpected challenges that life brings? Let’s conclude with some Biblical truths and principles that we can cling to as we learn how to deal with the pressure, stress, and alarm of the unexpected.
Principle # 1: Declare that God knows the best place for us in these moments.
Psalm 27: 5 “For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock.” The best place to be when we face challenges is IN His Presence. It is the place of strength and shelter.
Isaiah 40: 31 – They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Principle # 2: Know that God will provide His strength to get us through each situation.
Psalm 46: 1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
Principle # 3: Remember that the Word assures us that God will hear us when we pray to Him.
However simple our prayer may be, in times of crisis we must learn to pray and tell Him our cares and dependence on Him. Psalm 18: 6 “In my distress I called upon the Lord, to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.”
2 Chronicles 16:9a “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” My simple prayer as I experienced having a stroke was: “Help me Jesus.” And He did. His help kept me from many severe symptoms and a steady recovery.
Principle #4: Acknowledge that God has worked wonders in the past for you and He will do it again.
Psalm 77: 11 and 14 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. You are the God Who works wonders; You have made known Your might among the peoples.” We need to realize that God has a track record of turning unexpected trials and challenges into positive and fruitful life and character-building experiences as we trust in Him.
Principle # 5: Affirm the truth that God has a plan for everything that happens in our lives.
Psalm 37: 23 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in His way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds His hand.”
Principle # 6: Allow thankfulness and gratitude to engulf our heart as we walk through unexpected challenges.
Psalm 9: 1 (NAS) “I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.” Unexpected hardships that are embraced with thanksgiving will bring appreciation for what we already have in life. Thanksgiving refocuses our attitude from the negative to the positive.
There’s great power in thanksgiving. It stirs our faith as we recount all the times God has been with us before. This attitude of gratitude opens us to God’s perspective on our current situation, no matter how bleak. Paul says it this way in Colossians 3: 15 (ESV) – “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…and be thankful.”
Mothers of Nations, each of us will walk through multiple unexpected challenges throughout our lifetime. But in each and every challenge, remember this. God is with us! God is for us! God will always cause us to triumph and overcome!
May the Lord bring you peace and rest in your journey with Him,
Rev. Nola Beintema
