How to Thrive During Frightening Times

With all the chaos going on right now, how are you holding up?

My prayer for you is that you would not just survive this season, but thrive spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

In Philippians 4 the Apostle Paul lays out 6 practices that can transform your trials into opportunities for growth and greater effectiveness.

(1) Learn to rejoice Always – “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (4).

No matter what happens around you, there is always cause for rejoicing.

If you know Christ as your Savior, you can always rejoice that He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

If you know Christ, you can always rejoice in your freedom in Christ (John 8:36).

All that you have in Christ cannot be taken from you, so don’t give up your joy!

(2) Expect the Lord to return at any moment – Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand” (5).

You make a great mistake if you live this life as if it’s all there is.

For the Christian, this life is just the beginning.

You must constantly remind yourself that Christ could return today.

The only thing we can take with you when you leave this earth is others that you’ve introduced to Jesus.

Don’t let the chaos around you distract you from making all of life serve Christ’s mission (Matthew 28:19-20).

(3) Learn to replace worry with prayer and gratitude – “Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (6-7).

Don’t waste your time worrying about what might be; possible outcomes are infinite.

When you are tempted to worry, turn your worry into a prayer request coupled with something you can thank God for.

Gratitude focuses on the good you already have, whereas worry focuses on the bad that might or might not happen.

When you choose gratitude over worry, God gives you His peace!

(4) Focus your mind – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (8).

You must learn to control your thoughts.

Success in the Christian life and in life in general is won first in the mind.

This world is screaming for your attention.

You have the power and the responsibility to discern what is true, honest, righteous, pure, beautiful, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy; think upon those things.

(5) Follow good examples – “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (9).

Spend more time with people who are living out these principles, and spend less time with those who don’t.

You are the average of the people you spend the most of your time with.

One of the best places to find good role models is in the local church.

Do you have a peer group that is pulling you up, or pulling you down?

What effect do you have on those around you?  Do you pull people up, or do you weigh them down?

Find good examples, and become a good example!

(6) Share what God has given you and enjoy God’s bountiful provision – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (19).

Overcome evil by doing good to those around you.

Not only does generosity minister to others, but God has promised to provide for those who use what they have to further His mission.

Difficult times always provide new opportunities to serve others.

One of the best ways to develop a thankful, peaceful heart is to start by focusing on someone else’s need.

Generosity fuels gratitude, and gratitude fuels greater generosity.

This world needs a lot more of both.