When You Feel Adrift

In today's topsy-turvy world many Christians feel like shipwreck survivors who are clinging to the wreckage of the ship. They keep hearing they're going to be raptured very soon, that things are going to get better, and they are doing everything they can to survive until Jesus comes. But many people fear they can't hold on much longer. They feel like a piece of wood set adrift on a raging river just hoping for a safe place to land.

I'm a naturally optimistic person. But seeing what I've been through in the last year sometimes I feel both the light and dark side of life. When I'm feeling the dark side, I can see why people might feel like they're holding on for dear life. I have dealt with some issues this past year that have had me fighting depression, doubt, frustration, and fear.

But when I'm feeling the light, I know it's so important to actively take steps to keep your spirits up. I realize that I cannot allow the dark side to destroy me, so my best path is to follow Biblical principles that will work to see me through.

Here's what I found works best for me:

-Talk to somebody you trust. Too many Christians try to shoulder their burdens alone. That "I can tough it out attitude" is just not sustainable, particularly when we live in such challenging times. The Bible instructs us to "bear one another's burdens" and to lift up one another in prayer. That's why it's so good to have a church family. You can create a support network of people that you can talk to and count on.  When you feel adrift there should be one or more in that group that you  can trust to listen to you and give you honest feedback and advice.

-Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Relying on one situation or prospect to change your circumstances has never been a smart strategy. In fact in this world it's spiritually suicidal. You need to diversify your efforts as much as possible to keep the stress and weariness of life from overtaking you. Don't just look or trust in things by surface value. Put your trust in the Lord. He knows what you need before you need it and is able to sustain you until you receive it. Even when some of the things you hoped will change inevitably don't pan out, God is still there to keep you attached to the body rather than floating away in unbelief.

-Take some time out for yourself. Time is the scarcest commodity today for believers, but sometimes it's what you need most to get back on track. If there is something good that will refresh your spirit, do it. The Bible  instructs us again to think on "good things". Maybe sometimes you just need to take a personal time out to reflect on all of God's blessings in your life.

Consider Julia Child's perseverance after her book Mastering the Art of French Cooking was rejected by several publishers, despite years of work and several rewrites. Child overcame so many obstacles to write her groundbreaking cookbook, but she never let them get to her. When problems set in, she just picked up the pieces and went on.

You don't have to feel adrift in today's world. You can make it as an overcomer through Jesus Christ the Lord. Believe this and live.