So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude He had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. – 1 Peter 4:1-2 NLT
Most of the time, when we wake up in the morning, we don’t think about how we can get ready for hard times. But if you’ve ever been caught off guard by a hard situation, you know how important it is to feel ready for the unpredictable nature of difficult times.
I can remember when I was a younger athlete preparing for a well-anticipated state track meet. I was ranked second in my age group in the state and wanted to train in a way that made victory not only possible but inevitable. So the training began, and to be honest, the way my coach structured my training felt boring and pointless to me, but I learned that every drill and requirement was helping my body get ready to overcome future problems and do well when it counted most. Our spiritual life is much like this. We must apply ourselves to keep up our spiritual disciplines, which help us stay on track and keep us linked to where Christ is working.
Jesus set the example for us in the way He suffered. Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Hebrews 5:14 talks about people who can handle the strength of solid food and who have grown and trained themselves to know what is right and wrong. They make it a habit to spend time every day in God’s Word and in His presence. They train themselves to learn the voice of the Lord and respond to God in every circumstance, and they learn to put God’s will ahead of their own. Therefore, much like my track coach, here are 5 disciplines to help you prepare for difficult times.
1. Practice gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal. Each morning and evening write at least three things which you are thankful for. Here are some questions to help you get started (Psalm 34:1-4 NLT). What was your favorite part of the day? Verbally thank God for it. What did you learn new today? What made you smile today?
2. Resist the urge to complain. Complaining is a sin, and it will hijack your capacity to face difficulty with the right attitude and strength. When dealing with difficult emotions, take them to the Lord in prayer and let Him intervene. Complaining to one another only makes it worse. (Philippians 2:14-15 NLT)
3. Decide ahead of time to agree with God. When training for the track meet, I had to choose to submit to the coach’s training plan long before the actual race began. I had to do the drills and follow his instruction even when it was hard or didn’t make sense. We must learn to desire God’s plan over our own in all things. Pay close attention to how the Bible fits into your everyday life. Daily time in God’s Word will keep you reminded of God’s faithfulness and strength. (James 4:7 NLT, 2 Corinthians 6:16 NLT)
4. Choose joy and laugh often. Remember laughter is healing, and joy is strength. Surround yourself with uplifting and strength-giving resources. This can be the music you listen to, the people you spend time with, or even the things you entertain yourself with. Avoid unnecessary exposure to things that provoke negative emotions. Make it a point to pursue laughter daily. (Proverbs 17:22 NLT, Hebrews 12:2 NLT)
5. Stay connected to the right people. Take the time now to build strong relationships with other believers and those in your church community. Friends can be an invaluable resource in difficult times. Be cautious of “fair weather friends” who are not mature enough to support you in prayer and presence through difficulty. (Proverbs 17:17 NLT, 18:24 NLT)
Dig Deeper
1. Choose one discipline from the list above that you can start practicing today.
2. Read John 16:33. What three things does Jesus say that help you prepare for suffering?
