Life is Hard

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2nd Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV

Do you ever feel like you’re getting hit from every side? For example, are your finances in disarray, is your health worsening, and is your business in crisis?

Maybe your spouse has abandoned your shared dreams—traded them for a far more superficial, selfish, and materialistic nightmare? Perhaps you’re overwhelmed and wondering why you can’t catch a break.

Well, take comfort in the peace of God and allow Him to use your pain to build your character—invite Him into your despair and let Him bring calm to your circumstances.

Just give God a chance to speak to your heart so He can use you to speak life and hope into the lives of your friends and family.

Life is hard, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. When you allow God to do all the heavy lifting, you will feel less pressure and strain—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Surrendering control to God is the only way to find peace and balance.

Think of the serenity prayer. Popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs in the 1950s, it’s also applicable to everyday life. It’s a prayer worth reciting as soon as you feel the first inkling of anxiety or stress.

However, a better use of the Serenity Prayer is to recite it every time you wake up from a nap, overnight sleep, or two-year coma, ha!

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

It’s an easy prayer to memorize, and when prayed faithfully, it will give you the strength you need to persevere.

Say it 4, 5, or 10 times in a row if you have to, and always remember that if you want God to take charge of your health, finances, and relationships, you must relinquish control and include Him in the healing process.