IT’S BEEN SAID there are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. I believe that “trouble” can also be added to this list. Trouble is something that visits everyone—young and old, rich and poor. Regardless of your background or where you reside. If you live very long on this earth, one day trouble will knock on your door.
You must address trouble both naturally and spiritually. Let’s start with the natural approaches.
1.Get Rid of All of Your Excuses
It’s easy to blame others. You’ve probably heard someone say, “It’s not my fault; it’s So-and-so’s fault.” But if you decide to do or not do something, then the blame should rest squarely on your shoulders. Stop making excuses for why you can’t succeed. Start putting action to your dreams. If God is for you, who can be against you? You and God make an unbeatable team!
2.Don’t Look Back; Your Answer Is Not Behind You
You cannot change the past; it’s history. If the answers were behind you, you wouldn’t be where you are now. You can’t change your yesterdays. But you can change your future. Your tomorrows are open because your answer is in front of you.
3.Quit Comparing Yourself to Others
Comparing yourself to others will consume you. God gave you dreams and plans for the future, knowing exactly who you are. He knew your shortcomings and where you could excel. Quit comparing yourself to others. It only hinders your dreams from becoming reality.
4.Don’t Second-Guess Yourself; Make a Decision and Live With It
Years ago, I received good advice: “When making a decision, look at all of the issues and then make a decision you can live with.” People often make decisions based on emotions, then regret them. Take the necessary time to analyze a situation. Once you decide, stick with it.
5.Learn to Say ‘I Don’t Know’
You can’t know everything or be everything to everyone. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” Don’t be intimidated if you don’t have an answer to someone’s question. If you don’t know something, just say so. Then tell the person you will find out and get back to them.
6.Know Your Own Limits
Honestly assess your abilities. Many overestimate what they can do. You can’t expect more out of yourself than you have the ability to achieve.
The library and the Internet offer knowledge on any subject. After studying a specific area, you will have the ability and confidence to achieve what once seemed beyond your capabilities.
7.Give Clear Communication
No matter who you are talking to, clear communication is essential. We get into a lot of trouble—in relationships and on the job—just from a lack of clear communication. People aren’t mind readers, and a lot of misunderstandings can be avoided by making sure the other person understands what you are saying.
When God gave you dreams and plans for the future, He knew exactly who you are.
We’ve looked at seven ways to deal with trouble in the natural realm. Now, we’ll take a look at how we can tackle trouble through the spiritual realm. I have often said, “When the natural and the supernatural come together, they make an explosive force for God.” When we come at a situation from both sides, we are sure to see changes.
1.Remember That God Is With You and Wants to Help You
Psalm 91:15 says, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” God isn’t just with you in the good times. No. He will be with you in trouble—and He will deliver you!
2.Resist Fear
Fear is never liberating. It is only incapacitating. Fear hinders the supernatural from working for you. No matter how impossible things look, you never have to fear when God is on your side. Find scriptures about peace and freedom from fear. Meditate on them and confess them aloud whenever fear arises.
3.Realize That God Always Has a Way Out
First Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape. . . .”
Paul assures us God won’t let us face more than we can bear. And when you experience tests and trials, God will always provide a way out. Instead of focusing on the problem, train your eyes to look for the way out!
4.Always Maintain a Good Attitude
James admonishes Christians to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2). By doing this, you maintain a proper spiritual attitude. Too many people have what I call “stinking attitudes.” That is because they only complain and cry about the adversity they are facing instead of doing something about it.
Saying, “I don’t understand why I’m going through this,” won’t change your situation. But when you “count it all joy” despite what you are experiencing, you are maintaining the necessary attitude of faith. And faith is what will change your situation.
5.Walk in Love
The only commandment Jesus gave to believers was the commandment of love (John 13:34). And First Corinthians chapter 13 outlines how. If you will be a faithful doer of the verses in First Corinthians 13, you will automatically eliminate a lot of adversity in your life.
6.Use Your Faith
Use your faith to move mountain-sized trouble from your life (Mark 11:23). To move any kind of mountain, you must believe in your heart that God’s Word is able to change what looks unchangeable. Do this by believing the Word instead of what you see or feel. Scripture must be the highest and final authority in your life.
7.Maintain the Proper Confession
Some people constantly talk about their troubles. But doing this does not strengthen your faith. In fact, a negative tongue can cause problems for you. We’re told to “. . . hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (Heb. 10:23). When we remember that the One Who promised is faithful to bring those promises to pass, we are better able to watch our tongue and to speak more about the promises than we do about the problems.
As you follow the steps, realize people may pressure you. They may try to distract you from God’s Word. But you must be strong and stand your ground.
Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” This is God’s promise to you. He is faithful to perform His Word, and He is faithful to perform His Word in your life.
Author
Kenneth W. Hagin
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