Coping Skills

By Andrea Merrell

 

Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV

 

My friend brushed away her tears. “I can’t go on like this. I can’t cope with everything that’s going wrong in my life. There’s no peace.”

 

I could relate as I’m sure many of you can. We’ve all felt that way at one time or another. The cares of this life press in until we feel we can’t possibly make it, and our stress meter reaches a critical level. Then the Enemy convinces us that it’s all our fault, God has abandoned us, and we might as well throw in the proverbial towel.

 

The apostle Paul faced more cares than most—including many life-threatening situations—yet he gives us three little coping skills that we tend to forget or overlook:

• Rejoice always.
• Pray without ceasing.
• In everything give thanks.

Why are these three admonitions so important? Because “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” His perfect plan. He didn’t promise it would be easy, but He does promise good results.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. How can we rejoice when life goes haywire? When the finances are depleted. When the medical report is negative. When relationships are strained. When the world comes crashing in around us and there seems to be no hope. 

We can always rejoice because our joy is not dependent on what is going on around us. Our joy—true joy—comes from the Lord and gives us the strength to endure whatever comes our way.

 

How can we pray without ceasing? By keeping our heart and mind focused on the Lord and His goodness. By allowing Him to be part of every moment of every day. The Passion translation says, “make your life a prayer.”

 

And how do we give thanks in every situation? By remembering God’s goodness and faithfulness. By realizing we have been given another opportunity to use our faith—without which it is impossible to please Him. And by developing a grateful heart and placing our hope and trust in the One who loves us and holds our life in His hands. That’s how we walk in peace.

 

When you're stressed out and can no longer cope, it’s time to rejoice, to pray, and to give thanks.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)