If you are anything like me, your first response to unexpected tragedy, turmoil, and pain isn’t always praise and faith. Sometimes I find myself in the depths of despair hoping someone might come pull me out. I want to have faith and pursue God in every situation, but hard circumstances march into my life and get it wrong. 

I’m learning there is a better way. Rather than sinking deep beneath my covers and not letting the light of day in, God gives us fresh awareness of His presence through His Word. 

If you are walking through a rough patch and just need a little extra encouragement to stay focused in the right direction, here are 5 ways to respond in difficult times. 

5 Ways to Respond in Difficult Times

1. Practice confident obedience to God in both the good times and the bad times. Give Him praise even when you don’t feel like it. Offer blessing to God even when life is devastating. This is where we will find God’s goodness even when life doesn’t feel good.

“I will bless the Lord at all times.” Psalm 34:1a

2. Practice continual praise. Sing and speak about God’s goodness when life is good, but even more when life is bad. Your voice is powerful. It proves what is in the depths of your heart and reminds you why you keep going. It gives you and those around you a reality check into how your heart feels. When we speak and sing of God’s goodness even in the valleys, our faith is reminded to keep going.

“His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1b

3. Declare it again what God has done. Boast in God things. He works in the good and the bad. Tell someone how He has pulled you from the pit. Declare what He did for you in the dark. Don’t stop speaking of His goodness.

“My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” Psalm 34:2

4. Get together with others who exalt God and praise Him! This might be church, a Bible study group, or just a couple friends who are not ashamed to speak about what God has done and is doing. 

“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3

5. Receive the calm assurance God offers when we seek Him. Anxiety is often the first response in difficult times. But we have a choice to let God calm our uneasy, unsettled soul. He gives us peace. He offers deliverance.

“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

Love & Blessings,