3 Ways to Survive the Messes and Missteps

Some days the hits just keep coming and there isn’t a thing you can do about it. Before you know it the negatives creep in and you find yourself in a downward spiral. If you’re not careful feelings of fatigue, frustration, and defeat set in, only to make the situation worse.

Often it’s during these low points that we let our thinking spin out of control.

You know we will always have ups and downs, hills and valleys, and messes and messy situations to deal with. But it’s how we handle them that makes the difference.

This is where the rubber meets the road so to speak. This is where our grit and determination come into play. This is where we dive deep into God’s word and get our marching orders to keep moving forward.

| You see, it doesn’t matter how messy life gets, or how out of control things become, we can always depend on God to see us through.

You see, it doesn’t matter how messy life gets, we can always depend on God to see us through.

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After experiencing almost six weeks of these kinds of situations recently, my girl child’s sweet friend, Nicole, shared these words with me. She said, “The God of your mountain is also the God of your valley. He’s not scared of messy situations or messy people. He’s not intimidated by the situations beyond your control. Wherever you find yourself today, lift your eyes to the hills – your help comes from the LORD.” Psalm 121:1-2

A smile washed over my face and I immediately turned to my Bible. Reading His word over and over always brings me out of the ‘weighed down’ state I am in, and lifts me up to see a much brighter day.

How can we not see the hope and assurance as we stand in His protection both day and night? How can we not sense His watching over us and keeping us safe?

It just goes to show that no matter how challenging our days get, or how many uphill journeys we climb, God is right there with us. His word promises us that over and over again.

| This is not about perfection. Instead it’s about striving to be more like Him in every way, and realizing it’s a process.

Continually growing in our Christian walk requires commitment and conversation with Him. We will all experience some twists and turns and endure some rough patches, but it’s during these times that we build character and grow stronger in Him.

While frustrating, our missteps and stumbles prepare us for how to deal with the next situation. And you know what? There will be a next time and a next situation.

But the beauty of these kinds of frustrations is that they are temporary and for the most part fixable. Maybe not the way we wanted or hoped for, but we are to take the good with the not so good and move on, better equipped for the next round.

As we walk through this daily adventure, here are three ways to deal with the messes and missteps.

1.Look for truth in all situations.

Don’t take everything at face value. Seek out the truth and check the facts. And most importantly, pray to never purposely mislead others from the truth.

2. Extend Grace to Others

We all make mistakes and we are full of imperfection. When things go wrong or when your feelings get hurt, pray for those who hurt you, forgive them, and extend some grace. And pray for some grace to be extended your way when needed. We all can be better served by these actions.

3. Provide kindness and love everywhere you go.

Make this a part of your mantra, no matter what. Bring an attitude of positivity and encouragement. This is where we can be more like Jesus. His kindness and love for us is unfailing and speaks volumes. You know the old saying: actions speak louder than words.

As you start this new week, think about how you deal with the ups and downs and the messes and messy situations. Be strong and don’t let the temporary lows and valleys get you down. And while you’re at it, add a prayer of blessing and thankfulness to your daily agenda. God’s love is unfailing.

I’m praying for you.