I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, I will never be shaken.   Psalm 62:1-3  HCSB

You ever feel as though you are just getting through one minute at a time, doing the best you can do to survive? Maybe you feel trapped in a job that you hate. Maybe you are watching a loved one suffer through a terminal illness. Maybe you are suffering from your own illness. Maybe your life has somehow spiraled out of control and you feel clueless and helpless as to how you can restore some sense of peace.

When we suffer through these things, it can cause anxiety and depression which can lead to a whole host of physical maladies. Scripture passages like Jeremiah 29:11 which tell us that God has good plans for us seem incomprehensible. Romans 8:28 which tells us that God is working all things out for our good, may seem impossible.

If you are in this time of life right now, my friend, then let me caution you. It is at these times that we are most vulnerable. When did the devil tempt Jesus? He tempted Him after He had spent 40 days fasting in the desert. He was hungry, lonely, tired, and perhaps a bit angry after the devil began to mess with Him. But you may recall that Jesus always responded to the devil’s temptation with, “It is written”. He responded with scripture.

Jesus knew that He was going to die on the cross to save us from our sins. He tried on several occasions to prepare His disciples for this. If anyone had cause to be discouraged, it was Jesus. If anyone had cause to be frightened and dismayed, it was Jesus. But Jesus understood that although He would endure humiliation and physical pain and suffering, that God would work all this out in the end. He trusted in God. Jesus endured hard times, He set the example for us. We are told in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that no temptation has overtaken us except what is common to humanity. We are told in this scripture that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to withstand and that he will provide a way of escape so that we are able to bear it.  In other words, God’s got this.

When we find ourselves in the midst of trials and tribulations, the devil is right there with a tempting way out. He will try to convince us that if we just give up on doing things God’s way, this will all work out. So, when the going gets tough, we have a decision to make. We can stick with God and trust Him to work all things out for our good or we can trust in the devil and do things his way.

When we are tired or work has become so burdensome and we can’t seem to catch up on the work we have at home, the devil tells us to skip church. When finances get tight, the devil tells us to quit tithing. When someone offends us, the devil tells us to not forgive, but to hold on to anger and bitterness.

If you quit tithing, you are going to see more and more financial difficulties coming your way. If you cease to go to church, you will not have the peace and comfort that is provided by gathering with fellow Christians and studying God’s word. If you hold on to anger and bitterness, it will eat away at you like a cancer. No good can come of this, my friend.

There was a time in my life when I was going through some hard times and the devil began to work on me. He is very crafty and he convinced me that God would not mind if I sinned. God understood what I was going through and He would just make an exception. Just like Eve, I bit and swallowed hook, line, and sinker.

I have since learned that God is a God of righteousness and when we stray He wants us to return to Him, but He will not overlook our sin. The price that we pay for sinning is not worth it my friend. R. Zaccharias is quoted as saying “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” It’s not worth it.

If you are in survival mode today and feel as though you are doing the best you can do to keep your head above water, know that you are vulnerable. Guard against the devil, resist Him. Trust in God. Our rest is found in God alone. When we rest in Him, we will not be shaken. As the storms rage on around you, know that he provides shelter, He is our refuge. Think of God as your lighthouse in the midst of the storm, focus on Him, go to Him and find rest in Him.

The only way to truly survive is to trust in God. We know that the wicked will perish and fade away like smoke (Psalm 37:20). If you want to survive, you must seek refuge in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Once you enter into a close relationship with Him, you will find that you cannot only survive, but you can thrive.

Have a great day!