“When the going gets tough, the tough get going” is a phrase often quoted when difficulties arise and was even used in the lyrics of a popular song in the 1980’s. It suggests that when life becomes unpredictable and full of insurmountable problems, that strong people take action and somehow muddle through and become overcomers.
But what is the reality in most of our lives? In the current circumstances in which we find ourselves a great many of us feel very weak, anxious, worried, fearful of the future and at ‘the end of our tether’.
So, in our weakness and fearfulness do we sit back and allow these distressing times and circumstances to flood over us like the unstoppable incoming tide rushing up the rocky beach, or like the hurricane wind destructively whipping up the debris of our life into a whirlwind of trouble and death?
No, we can take action, whatever we feel … we can pray.
The Lord God Almighty encourages us to talk to Him whatever our situation and He has promised to hear us when we cry to Him.
In the Bible, there are so many encouraging words that our loving God speaks to us. Here are a few:
‘Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you’ 1 Peter 5:7
‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you’ Psalm 50:15
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight’ Proverbs 3:5-6
The Lord Jesus came into this world to die in our place on the cross, to take the punishment for our sin so we might know forgiveness and find peace with God and assurance of our future eternity with Him.
So, in our fear and weakness, action can be taken: we must …
… cast our anxieties on Him
… call upon Him in our distress
… trust in the Lord for His care and protection, in this life and in the next.
Are you doing that?
I pray, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face towards you and give you His peace.”
Ron Brickman