What To Do When Life is Uncertain and Overwhelming! |

You and I know that life can spiral out of control in a matter of minutes. One minute things are going the way we planned, but the next…

Everything can change.

Life can cause us extreme distress.

In 2005, my 43 year old sister was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Terminal cancer. It was a devastating blow to our whole family. For months, we watched Lori struggle with pain and confusion. In the end, God had prepared her and she was ready to go home to Jesus. She died 7 months after that initial diagnosis.

But her death changed the dynamics of our family.

We all know how uncertain and overwhelming life can be.

Only God knows what tomorrow holds. Everything might change in the blink of an eye.

So, how can we get through those difficulties? How can we come through and survive?

Let me offer you one word…

CLING!

The word cling means to hold tight to.

If we were struggling to stay afloat in the middle of the ocean and someone came and offered us a life raft, without a doubt we would grab on and cling to it with all our strength. We wouldn’t let go because our survival depended on it.

You probably already know this, but let me remind you…

God knew every struggle you would go through. Every difficulty. Every heartache. He wasn’t caught off guard, like we often are.

And because of that, He offered us a life raft. A raft we can cling to. A raft that will help us survive life’s harshest realities.

God has offered us PROMISES!

Peter writes about these promises when he says, “Because of his glory and excellence, he has given to us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires” (2 Peter 1:4).

Peter calls the promises of God precious. Something tells me that when he penned these words, he was clinging to a promise or two as he awaited his death. Perhaps he kept reciting them over and over again.

The Bible is our daily guide, but it’s also filled with promises. Promises that we can cling to when life becomes uncertain and overwhelming. Promises that give us strength in the dark times.

When I was dealing with severe fear and panic, I only had His promises to cling to. I had nothing else.

Here are some important promises that are sure to give you comfort today. You may want to click on each reference and then write down the verse(s).

Strength: Isaiah 40:28-31 / Psalm 28:7 / Habakkuk 3:19
Power: Acts 1:8 / 2 Corinthians 12:9
Help: Isaiah 51:16 / Isaiah 41:9-10
His Presence: Joshua 1:5-9 / John 14:18 / Hebrews 13:5
Protection: Isaiah 43:1-3 / Psalm 121:5-8
Faithfulness: 1 Thessalonians 5:24 / 1 Corinthians 1:9
Peace: John 14:27 / Isaiah 26:3

The promises of God are numerous throughout Scripture. So, this is what I would suggest – find Scriptural promises relating to your circumstances. What is God saying to you? What has He promised?

The above promises I’ve clung to many times. During the really difficult days, I would write them on note cards, place them strategically around my house, and recite them out loud.

Sometimes multiple times a day.

By doing this, it cements the truth into our hearts and also gives us the ability to have a different – a better – perspective.

Sanctus Real sings about God’s promises in their song “Promises:”

Sometimes it’s hard to keep believing in what you can’t see
That everything happens for a reason even the worst life brings
If you’re reaching for an answer and you don’t know what to pray
Just open up the pages, let His Word be your strength

And hold on to the promises (hold tight)
Hold on to the promises (all right)
Jesus is alive, so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

Nothing is stronger and more stable than the promises of God. A perfect life raft! So instead of clinging to something else that doesn’t have the power to reel you in, hold tight to what God has said – His precious promises.

I am doing just that today. Will you join me?

Love and blessings,