Difficulty is a fact of life. Terrible stuff happens and we’d be foolish to pretend otherwise. So what do we do? How should we respond? Is there any way to simply survive? Yes. Where there is life, there is hope. Sometimes all we can do is live in this moment and believe that the next moment might offer a step forward, a chance to try one of these 7 ways to survive something terrible.
Table of Contents
1. Count your blessings.
We’re not talking denial here, but a realistic appraisal that takes note of what’s right as well as what’s gone wrong.
2. Talk with someone.
We were created to live in community. Isolation is contrary to our design. A wise Proverb says “a three-fold cord is not easily broken.” We become exponentially stronger when we have the support of friends.
3. Be honest.
Speaking truth about trouble can take away a lot of its power. Being honest about it helps us face what’s in front of us and builds our character, which is necessary to overcome any problem.
4. Work on it.
Once the terrible thing is out in the open, commit to resolving it. The house may be gone, but you can work on rebuilding. Relationships may be shattered, but you can work on reconciling. A tragedy may have happened, but you can mourn with others who feel the loss, cherish the memories, and work toward moving on.
5. Remember that light is stronger than darkness.
Just a small amount of light can illuminate a huge dark space. Goodness, honesty, love, honor, courage, patience, kindness—all these virtues overcome darkness.
6. Have patience.
Time can heal. There will be a new day. It may take a while, but if you are patient and persevere, the sun will rise for you again.
7. Trust in God.
Sometimes, after something terrible happens, we simply can’t see the next step in the road or even the possibility of the next moment. That’s when we have to trust that God is good and that He has a great plan for our lives.
