Life will challenge us at times. Things will not always be as we’d prefer and people will not always do what we want. Recently, God put it on my heart to do what’s necessary. I may not like the circumstances, but when I realize it’s what I have to do, I want to grow in just being able to do it.
Do What’s Necessary: 3 Steps to Overcome
1. Accept your reality.
This can be tough, but it is so necessary. This is where we come face to face with our reality and accept things for what they are. As the saying goes: It is what it is. So often, we create additional stress for ourselves because we refuse to accept our realities. Instead of accepting, we resist, fight, or try to force. This is not the best response.
We must realize and accept that we are not in control. Again, I repeat: We are not in control.
As we realize and fully accept that we are not in control, but God is, we can accept our current reality. Now, I’m not saying lay down and be a victim or a doormat to life. I am saying accept what is, so you can adjust how you respond. This is key. Though we are not in control of what comes, we are in control of how we respond. It may not be easy to respond the right way, but therein lies our opportunity for growth and victory.
Having a growth mindset has been gaining a lot of momentum nowadays, and we can find many scriptural references that will also provoke us to show up and grow- regardless of what we face.
Consider:
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings:“
– Philippians 2:14
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
– Romans 8:28
Lastly,
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:”
– I Peter 1:6
When we accept our reality, we are not laying down as a victim to our life’s circumstances; instead, we are submitting ourselves to God knowing that we are always in His hands and that He works all things together for our good. Also, as I Peter tells us, there are times when we are in need of testings.
2. Resist fighting.
When tested or challenged, our natural response is to lash out and fight back. This is wrong. When we are challenged or provoked to anger, we must take a step back and resist fighting. We must never forget that we have an enemy who constantly seeks to steal, kill, and destroy [John 10:10]. As we keep this in mind, we are able to identify that oftentimes, certain circumstances are attempts to do just that. When we are feeling attacked, instead of fighting back, we must consider James 4:7:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
We resist fighting by submitting ourselves to God.
No matter the motive or source of the attack, instead of fighting, we must lean in to God. Even with discernment, we are not perfect, so we won’t always get it right. For that reason, as we draw near to God, He has a way of protecting, settling, and giving us His perspective on the situation. This takes time, and this time is a perfect opportunity for us to settle down and not give way to our emotions.
In order to resist fighting, we cannot be controlled by our emotions. We must allow the Spirit of God to lead us.
3. Trust. Obey. Love.
When we are are challenged, oumr aim must be to do what’s necessary. Even in tough times, we must maintain our integrity. In order to do this, we must trust God, obey His Word, and love others. Our trust in God is what enables us to endure hard circumstances. I’m reminded of Job 13:15a:
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:”
How is this possible?
By knowing that God is good and He is always after our good.
We cannot allow our tough situations, to distort our view of God. God is good, light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [I John 1:5]. When we understand this, our faith in God is not shaken by our tough seasons. On the contrary, our faith and relationship with Him should grow when we are challenged. Our response must be: Even though I’m challenged right now, I’m running to You, for You are my hiding place, my shelter from the storm, my comfort from all harm.
This response is born out of knowing who God is.
So, when we are challenged and are aiming to do what’s necessary, we must grow in learning and reminding ourselves of who God is. As we do this, we’ll gain a better perspective. As we behold Him, we become like him. He changes us. So, instead of fighting back out of our own natural inclinations, we must trust God, obey His Word, and love others. Thus, we begin to take on His nature- as opposed to growing in our own.
They say, challenges have a way of showing us what’s in us. I believe that challenges do have a way of provoking what’s in us, however, for the Christian, we don’t have to react to the provoking. Instead, we can see the challenge for what it is and then turn to the Lord for a better way to respond and do what’s necessary. God always offers us a better way than our own way.
As I close, I’m reminded of I Peter 5:10-11:
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
With love,
Read Overcome Challenges, Tests & Attacks: 3 Tips
