Pray consistently:
Set a daily prayer schedule and specifically ask God to strengthen your faith and give you the grace to persevere in the difficult times. James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
You can also ask Him for a mighty turnaround and to use your situation to bring glory to His name. That the end of this trial will usher in a harvest of blessings and testimonies after testimonies, for all to see and praise His name.
Confess the word of God and believe it:
Search for scriptures that speak to your situation and confess it daily or whenever worry or doubt creeps in. Use it whenever the need arises and keep saying it until it takes root in your mind and you start believing it. Here are some great scriptures to get you started:
Jeremiah 29:11~~ “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Psalm 46:1~~ “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 23:4-5 ~~ “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Safeguard your heart:
The company you keep can either fuel your anxiety or give you peace of mind. The steps above will cause a transformation in your mind and beliefs. Now, you don’t want external influences to cause doubt or erase these new beliefs. Therefore, surround yourself with people who encourage you in your faith and limit or avoid interactions with people who speak negatively, cause fear and doubt or are generally pessimistic about your situation.
Focus on God instead:
Remove focus from yourself or the situation and place it on God, who is mighty and able to save. There is nothing too big or no situation too dire that God cannot change. He is able to transform your situation in the twinkle of an eye. Therefore, by removing the focus from yourself or the situation, you are saying that God is bigger and more significant than whatever is going on. You are also looking up to Him, and in essence challenging Him to move mightily over you. The bible says blessed are those who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him (Jer 17:7-8)
Note: You may find yourself still thinking about your situation from time to time, don’t beat yourself up. It’s very normal and human. Just catch yourself when you do and steer your thoughts back to God. It gets easier and comes natural with practice and consistency.
Act out in faith:
Depending on your situation, if it’s possible to take a step of faith, do it! What does this look like? For instance, you may be trusting God for a child, a step of faith can be shopping for baby essentials. When you take a step of faith, you’re saying to God that you have faith and trust in Him that He will do it, even though you have not seen the physical manifestation. Remember, faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Heb 11:1). An act of faith is very powerful. The bible says in Matthew 17:20 that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.
Put on a garment of praise:
Lastly, put on a garment of praise. You don’t have to look like what you’re going through. Not after you have presented your situation to God. Or don’t you trust that He will do it? God is a good and kind Father. So, if you know this and trust in Him, don’t look gloomy but instead put on a joyful appearance knowing your assurance is in Him. Be joyful enough that those around you begin to wonder if you’re still going through the difficult phase.
Tip: Listen to songs of praise and worship. Sing along or even dance to the glory of God. It does a lot in uplifting your spirit that you do not have to force being joyful. It will also do a lot for your mental strength and health during these times.
What have you done in the past to strengthen your faith in difficult times? Was it in line with the steps above or something entirely different? Share your stories in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.
And if you found this helpful, share it with someone who might need it too!
