Life can be a fight at times. There are times when things flow and all feels easy, but then there are times when everything feels like a fight. The smooth times cause us to be thrown off by the tough times, however, we must accept that it is all apart of life. I’m reminded of Job: “But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” [Job 2:10]. When we find ourselves knocked down by unexpected events, as quickly as we can, we must turn to God for strength and get back in the fight.
Get Back in the Fight: 5 Tips
1. Anticipate challenges.
One of the things that gets us is that we work so hard to try to exempt ourselves from problems, failing to realize that they are coming anyway. We all have issues. We will always experience challenges and opposition in this life. Yes, we will be blessed with lighter days; yet, we must know that we are not exempted from heavier days. It’s all apart of life.
As we arm ourselves with this mindset, we won’t be so thrown off by challenges when they inevitably come. No matter where we are in life or what we have gained, we must anticipate challenges.
2. Accept them, when they come.
We all have unique ways of responding to challenges. A common response is to avoid or ignore them. Though easy to do, this is dangerous. Whatever is not tended to, will get out of control. Whatever is not handled, only grows. Simply put: If we do not respond to our challenges and face them head on, they will get worse.
When challenges, problems, or difficulties come our way, we must accept them and face them. This is the hard part. More than anything, it is humbling. Accepting our problems, somehow communicates to us that we aren’t as good as we thought we were, we’re no better than others, or something is wrong with us. Guess what?
It’s all true. We aren’t as good as we think we are. We are no better than anyone else. Something is wrong with us. This is one of God’s goals for us in response to our challenges. To humble ourselves.
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
– Peter 5: 5-7
3. Turn to God.
When we find ourselves trying to get back in the fight, we must turn to God in order to fight right. Without turning to God, we will miss the real lesson and find ourselves fighting the wrong things. There are always battles we could be fighting in life, yet, as we turn to God, He gives us His perspective- allowing us to use our energy in the best way possible.
Turning to God gives us a higher, better viewpoint. He pulls us out of the pits of pride, control, blaming, negativity, guilt, self-loathing, pity, and victimization. He also helps us to avoid bitterness, hate, anger, vengeance. Instead of those lower responses, He lifts us to higher ways such as: humility, mercy, love, forgiveness, compassion, prayer.
Whenever we are challenged in life, our most important response is to turn to God.
4. Go back to the basics.
So often, when I experience challenges in life, I’m able to see various things that I can do better. Challenges have a way of disrupting our lives, causing us to reevaluate everything. This is good, as in this reevaluation, we will likely find areas in our life that are out of order. Though humbling, this is necessary.
It’s like challenges have a way of opening our eyes a little wider to our infirmities. Again, though it doesn’t feel good, this is good for us.
When life is going smoothly, it’s easy for us to get caught up without even knowing it. When things are feeling good, we are not prompted to see where we can do better- though there are always areas where we can do better. Challenges have a way of showing us. So though challenges don’t feel good, they have a way of working good in us.
“My brethern, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
– James 1: 2-4
5. Get back in the fight.
When you find yourself hit with an unexpected fight, may these 5 steps provide you with a roadmap on how to respond: (1) Anticipate challenges; (2) Accept them, when they come; (3) Turn to God; (4) Go back to the basics; (5) Get back in the fight.
Life will always have a way of challenging us, to the point where we can sometimes feel a bit disoriented and discouraged. When we are challenged, may we not feel as though something strange is happening to us:
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
I Peter 4: 12-13
No matter what we experience in this life, may we all grow in turning to God quickly, so that He may encourage us in His Word- equipping and empowering us to get back in the fight and fight right.
With love & sincerity,
