1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”
Whether it be driving on ice, snow or silt, the natural response when entering a skid is to slam on the brakes and try to steer out of the skid. But that’s usually the worst thing to do, and you often end up losing control and crashing. Similarly in difficult times we often react like that. However counter-intuitive it might seem, the best thing to do is to steer into the skid, and by so doing to regain control of the wheel and be able to avoid an accident.
As we go about our daily lives, at various points we will hit a skid. This isn’t a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’. And the hard times often come as we’re making progress in our walk with Jesus. Satan likes to scare us off and intimidate us, so we back down and retreat to our safe worlds of low-risk and high comfort. The intuitive thing to do at such times is to back off until it all calms down again – to steer away from the skid; but do that and spiritually you will end up in the hedge. Have the courage and the sense to steer into the skid!
How often are we told in the Bible not to be afraid? Paul was a supreme example of overcoming adversity and not being put off by rapidly deteriorating circumstances. He did it by strengthening himself in the Lord with thanksgiving and praise, and then by not giving up as he pursued what he knew was the right thing to do. And when things went badly for him he dug in even deeper! He increased the prayers and was determined not to be intimidated by life’s circumstances.
Lord, help me to discern whether to steer into the skid or not when the next one comes my way. Either way may I live by faith, not fear. Amen!
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