Facing Daily Struggles

The little things in life add up at the end of the day. After all, when you get right down to it, your life is a series of daily events tied together over a finite period of time. Let’s take a look at how negative, destructive thoughts can enter into your mind during the course of the day.

TV, News & the Internet
Like you, I’ve been exposed to daily doses of bad news. Having been without cable for a number of years, I get all of my “world updates” via the Internet. News outlets magnify the evil taking place in the world virtually non-stop. Is it any wonder so many people are living in discouragement and depression. Even Christian people feel powerless and ineffective. The truth is, whatever you dwell upon will eventually fill your mind until it works its way down into your heart. Once that happens, your personal reality becomes skewed by the evil reports.

You may be familiar with the story of Joshua and Caleb? In the Old Testament (The Book of Numbers), Joshua and Caleb were among the twelve spies sent spy out the Promised Land and report back about the inhabitants and the details of the land. The land was filled with everything God had promised, but it was also filled with fierce, giant warriors. Although they acknowledged the presence of a fierce enemy, Joshua and Caleb told the Israelites they would certainly be able to overcome them because the Lord was with them.

The other ten spies, however, brought back what the Bible called an “evil report.” This report magnified the enemy in the minds of the children of Israel. In their report, the God was probably little more than an asterisk leading to a footnote. They believed God couldn’t, wouldn’t or at least – couldn’t be counted on, in this particular situation. As a result… an entire generation of “believers” were left on the outside of God’s promises looking in. Only Joshua and Caleb entered into the Promised Land – forty years later!

This shows us two things. First, the company you keep can hold you back whether you want to be held back or not. And secondly, unless you magnify God, the evil forces at work around you can eventually overwhelm your mind with images of defeat, despair and death.

It’s up to you. You can take today’s news in whatever sized dose you want. I recommend the smallest dose possible. Especially if you’re currently struggling with tests and trials within your own home. Don’t get caught up in what might or might not happen tomorrow. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 6:34.

Jesus said His burden was easy and His yoke was light (Matthew 11:30). Your soul (or your mind and emotions) need rest. God has a rest available for His people right in the midst of the storm.

Mark 4:37-39 AKJV (American King James Version)
(37)  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
(38)  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say to him, Master, care you not that we perish?
(39)  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Hebrews 4:9-11 AKJV
(9) There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.
(10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
(11) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Faith, not fear, is the only foundation you can can really build upon.

If you are facing a storm in your life right now and you feel like you’re losing hope, go back to the Bible and let its words renew your hope in what tomorrow will bring. You can take it a step further and write scriptures down that encourage you and change your attitude toward the challenges you’re facing.

Romans 15:4 AKJV
(4)  For whatever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Hope is called the “anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19). Faith is the substance or assurance of things hoped for. Without hope, without the vision of positive future outcome, faith has nothing to grow its roots into. Does that make sense?

The evil report magnifies the problems. The good report magnifies God. That’s the difference.

Make no mistake about it – there is an addictive element within the evil report. That’s why so many people are drawn to it and succumb to it. In Joshua and Caleb’s time, an entire nation and generation of people succumbed to it. And keep in mind, these were people who saw the might miracles of God firsthand. They didn’t just read about them – they lived it.

Only the truth can set people free. If you’re not free yet and you’re still fighting the good fight of faith in the midst of a test or trial, just know that you can trust God. You can trust the Lord Jesus Christ to bring you out the other end whole and entire, not lacking in any area.

Whether bad news comes to you through your TV, mailbox, computer or somewhere else, be ready for it and anticipate it before it strikes out at you. Find the promises in God’s Word that cover your situation and keep those promises in your heart and in your mouth. Keep reinforcing the truth instead of the lies and remember – God watches over His Word to perform it in your life.

Jeremiah 1:12 AKJV
(12)  Then said the LORD to me, You have well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.