Coping with crises (2)
2021-12-12Philippians 1:9 NLT
When we find ourselves in a crisis, having the right attitude makes the difference between despair and determination. Here are some steps to take: 1) Look for ways to use the experience for something positive. Resilient people use their experience to help others. ‘[God] comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NCV).
2) Check your priorities. ‘Teach us to use wisely all the time we have’ (Psalm 90:12 CEV). How would you like to spend your time differently now? Who would you most like to spend it with? How can you use your strengths in the service of what is important to you? What kind of person would you want to be?
3) Believe you can overcome. A crucial aspect of resilience is faith that God will bring us through the crisis. Even if we have the practical skills to deal with it, we still need to lean on God’s strength to keep us going.
4) Step out of your comfort zone. ‘Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.’ Learning something new, like a foreign language or a sport, or trying a new hobby, can help build our confidence. Embracing the unfamiliar strengthens our capacity to handle new situations. The more we ask of ourselves, the more resilient we’ll become.
5) Clear the weeds that are choking your optimism. When we start thinking pessimistic or cynical thoughts, we need to step back and reframe our perspective. And the best way to do that is to consult God. Talking to Him about the problem helps us gain insights into His perspective and discover the steps we need to take towards the solution.