Weekly Encouragement: A way through Crisis: Understanding Crisis

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Crisis is generally the reason behind feelings of wanting to give up. In times of crisis we can be tempted to "chuck it all", "forget it," "give it up." Giving up and giving in during a crisis is one of the most demoralizing decisions we can make. Yet, facing the crisis, then overcoming it, can lead to our greatest success.

Crisis is the natural result of change which is one thing we can always be sure of. The world is in a constant state of flux. People's lives change, the business climate fluctuates, world powers realign, history marches on. The earth and our environment constantly evolve. Crisis results in and from change. Crisis includes such things as job changes, family conflicts, and social pressures. Both change and crisis are normal to life.

The crises we face both individually and corporately can lead us to a better life, or become degenerative. The outcome rests not in the nature of the issue but in what we do with the crisis. The agony of failure and tormenting thoughts of giving up are feelings shared by "winners" and losers" alike. What people do with the situation is what separates the winners from the losers. "Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never quit."

Pop psychologists today preach that people can control the outcome of their crises. "Take charge of your destiny" is their battle cry. In their theories, they give humans the dual responsibility of dealing with the crisis, and controlling the outcome.

They are half right. In reality, God charges each of us with the responsibility to conduct ourselves through times of change and crisis in a manner consistent with His Word and character. But He controls the outcome for us. We do our part; He does His part. The difference between what the world preaches and what God teaches is subtle, yet eternally significant.

Here we will be seeing some powerful tools that balance our responsibility with God's divinity. To help us make it through any change or crisis and also to help us maintain the victory that we obtain. Take these truths, apply them to your life, and instead of just living from crisis to crisis you will begin to live according to God's word, "from glory to glory."

We never know when crisis will come. Someone once said, "You are either in a crisis, or about to be faced with one." Such is the normal ebb and flow of life.

Crisis is common in life.

Crisis is normal to life.

No one can live in this life without crisis.

Now that we understand that, let's see what can be done about it, how to handle it, where we can get help in it, and how we can make it a positive instead of a negative factor in life.

"YOU who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side." Psalm 71: 20,21. Amen!

Be encouraged.

A. Othniel

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