When Everything Is Going Wrong

Life comes at us regardless of how well we are doing in our walk with God. This morning as I was reading the headline of a friends blog, I saw the above title in my mind. I know we have all had circumstances turn on us. Because our world falls apart sometimes.

The car is failing. The job is getting more and more difficult. People are mean and cruel. The house is full of drama. And we are just not certain about what God is doing.

As Christians, we are meant to be able to weather the difficulties. But often we don’t do so well.

It could be that we struggle because we are not hearing from the Lord. The fight we may be experiencing that causes so many of those difficulties might not be so much the “things” around us as much as the lack of God’s voice in our lives.

I say that because I know we can overcome any problem if we are hearing from the Guy that made the world and put it to spinning. Because he is the key source to our survival.

That doesn’t mean that everything will be “hunky dory”. It mean that in the face of adversity, we can still thrive and live in joy and peace.

Now if you are in this place, let me say first that you are not a terrible person or that you’re not saved. In truth, you are just human. In our busy, busy, busy way of life, we often find it hard to make the time to grow and come to know God better. But we have to if we expect to survive this world and come to walk the walk and hear, know, and understand God better.

What is the answer?

There are many ways to hear God. And know that hearing from Him will increase us differently. Our faith most especially will grow. But so will our joy. And the Word says the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) In other words, how we get through the tough parts of life.

The number one way we hear from God is through His Word - The Bible. Read. It. Daily!

Then through Prayer. We are to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) That is, to be open to conversation with God always, but especially regular prayer time. Make a point to talk to God as often as you can.

Worship God. The Bible says that God is “enthroned” in the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) So, in a very real way, He comes to us in greater presence when we worship!

There are more ways God speaks to us, but these are the main keys and ways to interact with Him.

How does this solve things when the world is upside down?

Well, that can be a very long and involved answer. The simplest thing to remember is that you will have joy.

Now you might be saying something like, “Yeah, but I still have the issue!”

The connection to God doesn’t always mean that your problems will go away. As you study the men and women of the Bible and their lives, you will discover that they had a list of problems as well. Even Jesus was homeless.

It’s not what happens to our problems in the midst of hearing from God that changes. It’s how we face the problem that changes. And, ultimately, the transformation that happens to us.

Regular (daily...hourly) communication with God will alter the way we face everything. Yes, God will often solve our problems. But many times He will change us to face and know how to walk through the storm rather than take the storm (or issue) away.

Bottom line? Seek God to know Him and hear from Him. You will be forever transformed for the good! When the world is coming apart at the seams, seek Him all the more. The regular practice of connecting with God through the Word, Prayer, and Worship will change you, fill you with joy, and take you through the most intense storms!