7 Steps to Keep Your Faith in Hard Times

Finding Faith in Difficult Times

We all face adverse events and situations in life. You might be going through a season
of hardships in your life at this time. This could be job loss, finances, sickness, loss of a
loved one, relationship with a troubled child, or even divorce. But whatever the
challenge is, you can have the determination to see things through as you find your
strength in God.

 I have found the Apostle Paul's words in Romans 8: 35, 37 to be very encouraging in
times of adversity:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Allow these verses to resonate in your heart, and know that no matter how bad the
situation you are facing is, you can experience God's love, and nothing can separate
you from it. You have reason to shout even in your dark place, for you have the love of
God, and his Word that all things are possible with him.

Consider too, that you do not have to limp through this difficult time, but you can have
the attitude of a victor. In fact, the Apostle Paul says you are "more than conqueror"
Why is this so? Because Jesus Christ won the victory already on your behalf, and all
you need to do now is to accept it by faith.

Take this journey and allow the Lord to speak to your heart, and change you, through
these seven steps in the form of seven short devotions.

Life Is Hard, But God Is Good!

Step 1: Examine Your Heart

In this time of adversity, open your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to show how you
might have been missing God's perfect will for your life.
juana dark via Stock.xchng
Focus Verse: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it
(Proverbs 4:23, NIV)."

When you are experiencing difficulties, the first place to start to deal with the issues, is
with yourself. Your attitude in challenging times could determine the outcome. While you
might not be able to change your circumstances, you can certainly cooperate with God
to change you.

The place to start in this journey of self-examination and growth is your heart. The wise
King Solomon instructs, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows
from it" (Proverbs 4:23). The verse implies that everything starts with your heart, and as
such you need to pay careful attention to what is in it.
 Your life will go in the direction that you heart is set. You might need to ask yourself
these questions. Am I carrying offense and resentment in my heart? Is my heart truly
set on the things of God more than that of the world?

After a time of careful reflections, confess areas of your life where you are off tract, tell
God you want him to guide your life from today. You want to move forward with a heart
that is open to change, and responsive to God's Word and the Holy Spirit

Step 2: Meditate on God's Word

Change will come in you and in your life as you meditate on God's Word.
mariusss via Stock.xchng
Focus Verse: "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be
prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8, NIV).

The context of the verse indicates that Moses was dead and his assistant Joshua was
facing the enormous task of assuming leadership to take the children of Israel into the
Promised Land. Joshua knew it was a difficult undertaking from Moses' experiences
with the Israelites. But Joshua was not alone, he had God's assurance that he would be
with him and would direct his path.

Importantly, God gave Joshua strict instructions, and simply outlined, Joshua was
supposed to:

 Consistently meditate on God's Word, that is, know his Word and keep his heart
on them.
 Carefully obey the instructions of the Word of God, and not just be a hearer of
the Word but a doer.
In your own situation, God is giving you the same instructions. Take time to meditate on
his Word, and especially his promises regarding your circumstances. Find God's
promises that speak to your situation and say then back to yourself day and night.

This is not mere parroting Scriptures, but allowing God's Word to change you. You can
only reap the full benefits of his Words as you apply them to your life. Then there will be
a change in your focus, and you will become more sensitive to what God's Word is
saying about the circumstances you are facing.

Jesus promised, "If you remain in me and my word remain in you, ask whatever you
wish and it shall be given to you" (John 15:7). So meditate on God’s Word, and allow
Jesus’ word to become a reality in your life.

Facing Challenging Situtions

Step 3: Pray with Faith

Focus Verse: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you
have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24, NIV)
 Prayer, first of all, is communication with God, where you fellowship and build
relationship with him. In the course of this relationship, God encourages us to ask for
the things we need. Andrew Murray, nineteenth century pastor, defines prayer as a way
of drawing God's blessings on us and the people around us.

In the face of adversity, spend time in prayer, and ask God to supply specific needs as
he promises in his Word (Philippians 4:19) But there are principles for effective prayer.
The late Kenneth Hagin, outlines the following steps to praying with results.

1. Ask the Father in Jesus' Name (John 16:23).

2. Pray in faith (Mark 11: 24). Believe that what you ask your Father for, based on
the promises in his Word, you have received.
3. Forgive others (Mark 11:25). Unforgiveness can hinder your faith and block you
from receiving what God has for you.
4. Pray in the Spirit (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit helps you in prayer. He is the
Helper, so depend on him to enable you as you pray effectively.
When you ask God in faith to meet specific needs in your situation, there is no need to
keep asking for the same thing. But move to thanking God that he heard and answered
your prayer.

Step 4: Renew Your Mind

Focus Verse: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his
good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2, NIV)

Psychologists tell us that our thinking influences how we feel and behave. In line with
this idea, the verse instructs you to renew your mind. Your mindset could cause your life
to be out of line with God's perfect will for you.

As you face challenging circumstances, you could find that you become very focused on
them. Then these frustrating set of events could begin your shape your thinking. The
result might be thought patterns that are not congruent with God's Word.

Then as the cycle continues, negatives feelings like sadness, resentment, and anger,
could result in poor decisions and actions. So instead of allowing the world to cast you
into its mold, consciously make an effort to focus on what God's Word says about you
and your situation.

As you continue to keep your focus on God's Word, more and more, you will get God's
perspective on the situation you are facing. Then you will find that things are not
hopeless for God is in the situation changing you and ultimately your circumstances.

With your new perspective, you could see God using what was meant for evil to be a
blessing in your life and the lives others. (Read the story of Joseph in Genesis chapters
37 and 39-50). With this perspective, you can be still and know that God is at work.
Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, in his book, The Gift of Adversity, advises, "it is sometimes
wise to remain silent even in the face of injustice."

Step 5: Build Up Your Faith in God

 Focus Verse: “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes”
(Mark 9:23, NIV).

The context of the verse suggests that the issue was not whether Jesus wanted to heal
the boy, for he did. The greater issue was whether the father could believe to receive
the healing.

What about you and the situation you face? You might have prayed and make specific
requests regarding the situation. Maybe you are not seeing any change, and you feel
that God is not willing to answer your prayer and bring you the relief you need.

Can you believe that God wants to intervene? Then take the decision to believe that
God's promise is true, for "everything is possible for one who believes." Then reflect on
the following verse:

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen.
It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it
up ahead" (Hebrews 11: 1, TLB).

Express the confidence of faith by boldly declaring specific promises related to your
situation. As you do, you will find that you have a peace and quiet rest that God is at
work in the situation, even though you might not see any outward change yet.

Coping with Hard Times

Give Thanks!

Step 6: Offer Praise and Thanksgiving

Focus Verse: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV).

God wants you to thank and praise him, not just in good times, but also when things get
difficult. After all, he never changes, and his blessings are available in every situation
you face. When you praise him, you recognize his goodness in all seasons.

Andrew Wommack outlines three benefits when we praise and give thanks in adverse

circumstances. Praise is beneficial because you:

 Encourage yourself. You move from the difficulty of the situation, to see God's
love, power and faithfulness. You no longer see a hopeless situation, but that the power
of God is that is able to change you and the situation. As you praise, you can be like
David, who in hard times encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6). Then you
see, El Shaddai, the God Almighty of blessings, who nourishes, satisfies and sustains.
 Drive out the enemy. The devil is behind much of the adverse situations that
you experience. He is the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He
wants to hinder God's plan for your life. As you give your praise to God, where it
belongs, this drives off the enemy.
 Please God. It delights God's heart to see his child praising him even in difficult
circumstances for this is showing your abiding trust and reliance on him. Praising God in
 difficult situations demonstrates your faith in God for "without faith it is impossible to
please God" (Hebrews 11:6).
 Receive Jesus' gift of peace. Jesus gave his disciples this assurance just
before he was crucified, "My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you ... Don't let
you heart be fearful. neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). This promise is for you today.
So receive his gift of peace and give him praise for it. Then Jesus' peace will surround
you and the fear you are experiencing will disappear.
Spend some time and take an inventory of God's goodness in your life. Call to
remembrance specific things he has done in your life, and start thanking him. Think of
who he is; his divine qualities and start praising him. Let praise and thanksgiving flow
from your heart, for God is good! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Step 7: Nurture Your Spirit, Soul and Body

You can find balance among the important areas of your life, with you faith at the center,
even in times of adversity.
Stuart Miles/FreedigitalPhotos.net
Focus Verse: "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV)

As you pass through adverse circumstances, especially for prolonged periods, your
spirit, soul, and body can be affected. Your spirit is the core of your being, and so the
previous six devotions focused on building you spiritually. But there other important
aspects of your life that you must pay attention to as you pass through hard times.

When you pursue life balance, you nurture all aspects of your life, including the spiritual,
social, emotional, and physical domains. They are all inter-related. So take steps to take
care of your physical health including good nutrition, and getting adequate rest and
exercise.

Socially, building strong connections is essential. Promote healthy, nurturing

relationships with your family and in your church. Why not join a small group ministry in
your church? Here, you can connect, grow in your faith, and experience a sense of
belonging. You also get opportunities to reach out to others.

Nurture your emotional well-being through reducing your stress levels. An important
way to start is to respond to your Father’s invitation to cast all your anxieties and worries
upon him, for he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Change your self-talk (internal
conversations) to positive, self-enhancing ones that are in line with God's promises in
his Word.

With your faith at the center of your pursuit of life balance, you are more flexible to
adapt to challenging situations. You will experience God's peace and spiritual and
personal growth, as you pass through tough times. This leads to balance in the aspects
of your life in differing seasons.

Bible Quotes to Encourage You in Tough Times

 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we
are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8: 35, 37, NIV).
 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs
4:23, NIV).
 "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so
that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful (Joshua 1:8, NIV).
 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do
not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua
1:9, NIV).
 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have
received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24, NIV).
 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good,
pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2, NIV).
 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark
9:23, NIV).
 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1
Thessalonians 5:18, NIV).
 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your
whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1
Thessalonians 5:23, NIV).