Category Archives: Perspective in Hardships

a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention; an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending; especially: one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome (Merriam Webster)

In the midst of crisis, is it possible to rise above?

Enemies would come against them, distress and hardships — a result of the Lord’s wrath. Habakkuk, an Old Testament prophet, knew they would face a national crisis.

Assessment:

Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. (Hab. 1:3-4)

Assault:

In wrath you (the Lord) strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. (Hab. 3:12)

Affect:

I (Habakkuk) heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. (Hab. 3:16)

We too could face national, world, personal, or even church crises. Whether brought on by our own choices or from outside of our control, we could find ourselves at “an unstable or crucial time” in our lives. We can let ourselves be overcome by fear and anxiety or we can rise above.

In the midst of crisis, this is how you rise above:

Habakkuk did not candy coat his reaction to the national crisis they faced. He was scared. However, he had an answer. He knew how to rise above even though God did not take away the problems and pressure.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. (Hab. 3:17-19)

Answer:

• Focus on the Lord, not the circumstances. – “yet I will rejoice in the LORD”
• Find your joy in God, not in the things that you have/had. – “I will be joyful in God my Savior”
• Look to the Lord for strength, not to yourself. – “The Sovereign LORD is my strength”

When we apply this solution in times of crisis, we will be able to move about like a deer, swiftly and gracefully, almost like skipping across the ground. We will be in a place of triumph, like treading on the high places.

Circumstances might change but God does not. Resources may get depleted but God remains strong. In Him we have what we need to rise above!

Resources to Help Others Dealing with Crisis:

• Crisis Intervention Training
• Resources for Natural Disasters, Crime, School Violence Crises
• Resources for Terrorism, War Crises
• Crisis Strikes! Teacher Training Worksheet

I’m sure you would agree that in today’s world we need a healthy perspective if we are going to not only survive but thrive.  The comfort and encouragement of others will only take us so far.  We need to make some semblance of sense of our world.

Encarta’s World English Dictionary defines perspective as:

1) a particular evaluation of something

2) a measured or objective assessment of a situation

The most reliable source for perspective is God’s Word.

So often we struggle in life because we are viewing life from a skewed perspective. The most reliable source of objectivity is God’s Word. The Bible is the basis upon which our situations must be measured or evaluated.

Sometimes, however, we can know the truth in our heads but it doesn’t always sink deep into our hearts and manifest itself in our reactions and decisions.

What will help get truth from our heads to our hearts during times of crisis?

repeated exposure to truth

God tells us to meditate on Him and His Word so that with repeated exposure, through His Spirit, the truth begins to take root not only in our heads but also in our hearts. 40 Day Challenges are usually rooted in this understanding of what it takes to drive truth home.

deliberate choices regardless of feelings

Sometimes it comes down to making a deliberate, conscientious choice to pattern what we do after the Lord regardless of our feelings or personal bents.  Perspective requires assessment against an objective standard, not simply going with the flow or with what “feels” right.  At no time should we hide behind our personalities or conditioning as an excuse to stay where we are or sin.  Healthy perspective is rooted in God and His Word, not in us.  When our perspective is patterned after Him, He doesn’t eradicate what is uniquely us.  Rather, He transforms it into something even better.  When we act on what we know to be true, regardless of feelings, we see God’s faithfulness which helps to generate a heart response.

If you need help gaining perspective, perhaps some of the books listed below will help.  Clicking on a title will take you to our affiliate store where you can learn more about the book.

• A Grace Disguised by Gerald Sittser
• Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey
• If God Is Good . . . Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil by Randy Alcorn
• Looking Up When Life is Looking Down by Beth Moore
• Second Guessing God: Hanging On When You Can’t See His Plan by Brian Jones
• Shattered Dreams: God’s Unexpected Path to Joy by Larry Crabb
• Where is God When It Hurts? by Philip Yancey
• Why? Trusting God When You Don’t Understand by Anne Graham Lotz

If you are a Bible Teacher, help your students gain perspective. The worksheet, Crisis Strikes, gives you a few tips on how to help students turn to the Lord with their anxieties.  You can be instrumental in helping them not only survive but thrive.

If you struggle with objectively assessing situations, download the free 40 Day Challenge to Maintaining a Healthy Perspective.

The apostle Paul described himself as “harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears within” (2 Cor. 7:5).  His life was in crisis.  Notice what God used to provide the comfort and renewal he needed . . . other believers.

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. (2 Cor. 7:6-7)

To thrive and not just survive takes perspective but usually there must first come the realization of presence … the presence of God Himself and other believers ministering to our souls, being there for and with us.

How We Can Provide Presence in People’s Lives Who are in Crisis

We are at a place in our lives of being able to comfort others when we ourselves have known God’s comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-4). We don’t have to go through an identical situation to be there for others.  And, we don’t need an official position (i.e., pastor, teacher, counselor, etc.) to be able to help people who are struggling or are in crisis.  We simply need to obey the one another commands of Scripture.

Bear one another’s burdens

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)

Bear with one another

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Eph. 4:2)

Care for one another

. . . so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (1 Cor. 12:25)

Comfort one another

Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thess. 4:18)

Encourage one another

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)

Be Kind to one another

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph. 4:32)

Love one another

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. (Rom. 13:8)

Pray for one another

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Serve one another

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13)

Spur one another on

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Heb. 10:24)

Keep in mind that people don’t have to personally experience a crisis to be affected by it.  That point is brought home in a teacher training worksheet called, Crisis Strikes.  Let’s be there for one another whether the threat is real or perceived so we learn to thrive and not just survive.

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. (2 Thess. 3:16)

Peace Comes Through the Right Pursuit

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Ps. 34:14)

God’s Word does encourage us to pursue peace because it is so essential to walking through the difficulties of life.  However, we must make sure the the pursuit we take truly leads to peace.  Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (Jn. 14:26).  Seeking peace according to the world’s standard actually makes you more anxious.  Peace will escape us when we pursue it from the wrong perspective.  Here is the perspective we need:

1. Peace comes from a Person not from accomplishment, success, status, circumstances, money, marriage, etc. (Isa. 26:3; 1 Thess. 5:23)

2. Peace results from turning to that Person in Prayer not from trying to fix what is wrong in our lives or world.  (Phil. 4:6-7)

3. Peace necessitates experiencing hard times in life not having a problem-free existence. (Heb. 12:11)

4. Peace is reaped from sowing good and yielding to the Spirit not in living as you please. (Ps. 34:14; Gal. 5:22; 6:7-9; James 3:18)

Unlike a pursuit of peace as the world gives it, the peace of God is not dependent on circumstances, what you have or do not have, people’s opinions or treatment of you, having things go your way, etc.  The peace of God faces the realities of life head on and enables you to rise above.  “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).  You have peace when it doesn’t make sense to have peace!

Pursuing peace as the world gives it never quite fills that vacuum in our souls.  The peace of God brings an inner contentment and wholeness that reflects a satisfaction and sense of adequacy in Him that leads to positive attitudes and gratitude in the midst of trials (Isa. 26:3; Phil. 4:13).