Stand Strong In Tough Times
The most trying situations we face have to do with sickness, injury, financial problems, marital strife, relational difficulties, work-related challenges, and, the worst, the passing of someone you love or facing your own impending death. We need to know that God is with us during these terribly upsetting times. We have to be sure that we can stand strong, no matter what is happening.
In my book Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On, I talk about how we must learn to walk with God in total trust—even in the darkest times of our lives. God requires that the first step be ours toward Him. We must reach up to Him and say, “Lord, I depend on You. Lead me in the way I should go.” When we do that, He will set us on the correct path, point us in the right direction, and smooth out the crooked places. He will get us moving and keep us from going around in circles so that we don’t come back again and again to the same problems. Then, as we take one step at a time, holding on to God’s hand, He leads us where we need to go.
The problem is that we often forget to hold on to God’s hand and depend on Him for every step we take. We think that if God will just get us over this hump, we can handle it from here. But one of the reasons God allows us to go through difficult situations is so that we will learn to depend on Him. When we do, we are better able to stand strong in tough times.
We tend to think that if we depend on God, it’s a sign of weakness on our part. And that’s true! But that’s the good news. When we recognize that we don’t have what it takes to get where we need to go, but God does, then we are beginning to understand true freedom. When we walk with God, He will get us through anything.
The most amazing thing is that when we walk close to God, even our most difficult times have an aspect of good. Some situations may be so horrendous that the only good we see are the moments we cling to God and we have a deep sense of His presence. But those are precious moments. The key is to look for God in the situation. No matter how dark things get, God will give us the light we need for the step we’re on. He will supply what we must have for the moment we’re in.
How To Stand Strong In Tough Times
God teaches us how to walk with Him—depending on Him for every step. He also teaches us how to stand strong when challenges arise that threaten to blow us away. Here are some reliable ways to stand strong in tough times.
Stand in what you know is true of the Lord. “We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).
Stand on God’s Word. “Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word” (Psalm 119:161).
Stand in obedience to God. “The righteous will come through trouble” (Proverbs 12:13).
Stand knowing you could fall. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Stand by being in God’s will. “Epaphras, who is one of you…
greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).
Stand by giving yourself away. “A generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand” (Isaiah 32:8).
Stand away from evil. “When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever” (Proverbs 10:25 NIV).
Stand in the traditions you know are of the Lord. “Stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
Stand courageous in your faith. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
Stand making sure your house is not divided. “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25).
Stand in the counsel of God and what He has spoken to your heart. “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10).
Conquering The Storms Of Life
When you find yourself in the middle of a storm, ask God, “Am I in this storm because I have done something wrong?” “Is this an attack of the enemy?” Or, “Is it because I am in Your will and You are using this for Your purpose?” The answer you discern in your heart will help you to gain a clearer picture of what is really happening.
If a storm is raging in your life, pray and read the Bible more. Stand strong in your faith. Look around for others who are suffering too and pray for them. Don’t become discouraged when it seems there is no hope. God can make a way in the wilderness.
God opened up the Red Sea and made a way for the Israelites to
cross over it on dry land. He led them in the daytime by a cloud—
even in the desert there was a cloud for shade—and at night there
was fire for light. When they had no water, He “brought streams out
of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers” (Psalm
78:12-16). He provided what they needed when it seemed there was
no way to get it. He brought them abundance in the wilderness where
When God brought water from the rocks for the people to drink, I am sure it was better, purer, and more refreshing than any water they had ever had. He also caused manna to miraculously appear so they would have food to eat. It was so perfect that it sustained those people for 40 years in good health.
God can provide for you too. In the dry, parched areas of your life— even the parts that are wilting and wasting and where there seems to be no hope—God can split the hard areas open and bring forth streams of pure refreshment in the wasteland. You will see how the wilderness can be a place of blessing for you if you don’t rebel against God when He allows you to go through it.
Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t do that. They turned against God and complained instead of thanking Him for their provision. “They sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness” (Psalm 78:17). They weren’t grateful. They didn’t see the blessings that were in front of them. They spoke against God by questioning whether He would ever provide for them well enough (Psalm 78:18-20). They insolently said something to the effect of, “Yes, God brought water out of a rock, but can He feed us what we want?” We insult God when we doubt that He can meet our needs. Instead of questioning God in the wilderness, we must thank Him for His provision there. Blaming Him for things that happened is an exercise in futility. He is the only one who can walk us through it or lift us out of it. And He is the only one who can provide what we need while we’re in it.
We all have times of doubt just as the Israelites did. Perhaps we don’t doubt that God can, but we doubt that He will. Or we doubt that He wants to. Or we doubt that He cares. Or we doubt we are worthy of His help. But doubt means we are doubting who He is and what His Word says.
In life there is suffering. We all suffer at times. Jesus went through more suffering than any of us will ever know. He was beaten, tortured, nailed to a cross, separated from God, descended into hell, and bore all sin of the world on Himself. And He had the scars to prove it. Through it all, He obeyed God perfectly.
I would never compare our suffering to that of Jesus, but having scars to prove you’ve suffered can give you credibility with people. Because of what you have come through, you have a more penetrating voice into the life of someone going through the same situation. Your suffering can be the very thing that saves someone else from the brink of destruction.
What helped me to have greater peace about my own suffering is that it has been a help to others. If I can help someone get through their pain and suffering, then that is redemption for both of us. I am not saying that God brings suffering on us deliberately. I am saying that He uses the difficult things that happen to us for His glory. He will do all that for you in your time of suffering too. In the Lord, there is a great purpose in hard times, even when you cannot yet see it.
When going through hard times, take your eyes off your circumstances and put them on the Lord and His Word. Believe His truth above whatever you are experiencing. That does not mean denying your circumstances; it means believing that God’s Word triumphs over all. Don’t focus on what you see; focus on God’s promises. Remember that Jesus said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).
We are fragile and breakable—but that is the point. In our weak state, we are the instrument God uses for His purposes. That way, when we stand strong in tough times, we know it is because of His power and not our own doing. We cannot take credit, but must give all the glory to God.
Lord, I pray You would help me to stand strong in all I know of You. Teach me to stand on Your Word, no matter what is happening in my life. Enable me to stand away from sin and evil, and be strong in obedience to Your ways. I acknowledge that I am weak, but I rejoice that You are strong in me—especially during times of trial and difficulty. Help me to learn what I need to know from each challenge I face. Lead me on the path You have for me. I don’t want to take a single step without You.
Help me in the situation I am facing now. Lift me out of any hopelessness, fear, doubt, or frustration. Enable me to be firm in faith and always in Your will. Thank You for helping me stand strong in the face of enemy opposition. I am grateful You have armed me with strength for the battle (Psalm 18:39).
So many times “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). Enable me to see Your truth in every situation (Psalm 119:18) . Help me to become so strong in You that I can stand without wavering, no matter what happens. Teach me to rest in You, knowing that You will give me what I need for the moment I am in. I am determined to “count it all joy” when I go through trials, because of the perfecting work You will do for me (James 1:2-4). “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me” (Psalm 138:7).
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:12-13
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly
I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
