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Moving Ahead Amidst Challenges

by | May 21, 2020 | Disciple SELF

When I was a kid my Mom and my Sister would read me “The Little Train that Could.” It’s a book about a little train trying to get up over

There’s a long way to go up these steps! What will get us going?
Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash

a big hill. The train was lacking confidence in the daunting task of hill before him. The turning point was the little phrase he was taught to say, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” And then he does! The mountain was conquered.

It’s a good story about facing something you do not think you can do. The phrase, “I think I can,” is easily remembered. No doubt positive thoughts are important and for this train it is how he accomplished his challenge.

Life is full of pesky obstacles. Life can be just plain hard. Yet as followers of Christ how do face the difficulties before us? Do we simply think positively? “I know I can!” What are we supposed to do? There are right ways to think biblically. We are told in Romans 12:2 that the renewal of our mind is what transforms. What we think is important and necessary.

Here’s a few of smart ways to think and words to tell ourselves. I have found these extremely valuable.

  • Psalm 126:5-6 “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” ESV
    • Why this is valuable
      • These verses face honestly pain and challenge by using words like: tears, weeping.
      • There is a great result. There’s a harvest. There’s great joy ahead.
      • This verse tells me there is something to do today. Go out and sow your seed. Do the right things. In other words, keep working, do the little things today, eat right, get your exercise, finish up your tasks, make the tough call.

 

  • Psalm 42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” ESV
    • Why this is valuable
      • This verse speak the very painful unraveling that we can experience.
      • It tell us where to anchor my life. We must hope in God and therefore not in ourselves, not in others, not in organizations, not in methods.
      • It reminds that amidst sorrow there is hope. The Psalmist may not be completely ready to praise, but there will be a day. That’s why he has hope today.

 

  • Colossians 3:23 23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” NIV
    • Why this is valuable
      • Any and all tasks have value.
      • This tells us no matter the job it can be done for the Lord.
      • Any job can be done with enthusiasm and energy.
      • We work for the Lord no matter our bosses. That helps immensely when we’re in a tough work environment.
      • There is a reward down the road for our diligence in the little tasks today.

 

  •  Psalm 18:29 “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” NIV
    • Why this is valuable
      • It is not all up to me. God will help me. He is my strength …not me.
      • He will equip me to fight his battles.
      • He can enable me to get past challenges.

 

  • Philippians 4:12, 13 “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” ESV
    • Why this is valuable
      • We can do all things.
      • We can do it through his strengthening.
      • These “all things” has a wide range of good and tough.
      • Contentment in the circumstances can be learned.

 

  • Live it out
    • Write this verse our on a card or a journal.
    • Review it a few times a day or even better memorize it.
    • Do one thing today to sow the right action, step that could produce something beautiful in the future.
    • One step today in the right direction in itself gives hope. It can energize for even more steps ahead.
    • Now that one of these verses is becoming ingrained into your heart doesn’t mean it is easy sailing. Knowing these truths gives you course directions as you continue to walk in the right direction.