Baptist City Blog

Surviving Tough Times

Isaiah 33:15-16

"He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure."

Tough times come and go, but tough people who survive those times are hard to find. The reason they are hard to find is because tough times cause many to quit. The difference between those who survive the tough times and those who don't is determined by several actions. The verses above show us what actions it takes to survive tough times.

First, living right helps you to survive the tough times. Tough times are not an excuse to stop living right, but they are the times when we need to be sure that what we're doing is right. Righteous living is not just for the times when everything is going well, but is for the tough times as well. You will find that it is easier to survive tough times if you will do what is right all the time.

Second, speaking the truth will help you survive tough times. Telling lies will always make tough times tougher. This is why you need to be a person who tells the truth all the time. When you speak the truth at all times, then you don't have to wonder what you said so that you can cover your tracks. If you will speak the truth at all times, then you will lighten the load that you must carry so that your focus can be upon the tough times.

Third, earning right will help you survive tough times. Learning how to gain in life is very important. Everyone should work for what they get. We should not try to get gain through handouts, but we should strive to get gain by working hard. When you work for what you get, then you will learn to make it through tough times. Those who live by handouts will never make it through tough times.

Fourth, gaining possession in a right way will help you survive tough times. You will notice above that God talks about taking bribes. Christian, if you can't get a possession the right way, then you don't need it. Many people try to cut corners to get their possessions and it always comes back to bite them. Be sure that you don't gain possessions in an illegal manner.

Fifth, listening right will help you survive tough times. Be careful that you don't listen to conversations that would not be glorifying to the LORD. Don't allow gossip to enter your ears. Run from it! It will hurt you in the tough times. Be sure to listen to the right music. The right music can lift your spirit while you are going through tough times. If you listen to the wrong things you can destroy your spirit. Don't let what you listen to make your times tougher because it destroys your spirit. Only listen to what God would want you to listen.

Last, treating people right will help you survive tough times. I have learned in life that you need to treat people right when things are going well so that they will be there for you when you go through tough times. Be careful about being short and mean to people. Always remember that you might need their presence somewhere down the road to encourage you. If you treat people right, then you will find they will help you when going through tough times.

You will have tough times in life. These six things that God shows us in these verses will be your "defence" when you face tough times. Live by these things every day, for you never know when your tough time will come.