May 2, 2011

 Challenges!

Challenges come in all shapes and sizes. Some of our challenges are emotional, physical, spiritual and even financial. The question is not whether challenges will come or not, the question is how will we deal with them when they come.

Challenges that fall into either of the categories listed can also have an adverse affect on other areas if we do not handle them correctly. If you try to handle an emotional challenge by eating it could result in the physical challenge of weight gain. If you try to handle an emotional challenge by shopping it could result in a new financial challenge, because you spent money that was designated for something else-a bill and now that bill is not being paid or, you create additional credit card debt. We have to learn how to find healthy responses that have positive results in every area of our lives. Find healthy responses.

What is your challenge today? Where are you struggling?

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 the bible says that No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. That means that there is a way out, we just have to seek God to find it. Ask Him to reveal it to us and then take the way of escape. We have to make an effort not to fall into the trap that has been set for us and somebody has already gone through the same thing so there is no need for us to have a pity party.

Every temptation I have ever experienced had a way of escape. The real question is not whether there is a way out, but whether or not you or I will take the out. Many times we skip right past the out options because we are so excited about the sin or temptation. We need to study the Word to know right and wrong and then watch for the roadblocks that God puts in our way to stop us from tripping down the slippery slope of sin.

Temptation is no time for trying to run the hurdles. Stop running around and jumping over the stuff that is in your way, because it may have been put there for a reason, to slow you down or to stop you. Many times we tell you to go around stuff, but if it was placed there to slow you down in a positive way, if it was placed there by God recognize that and stop, before your test or challenge takes you some where that you really did not and do not want to go. See it for what it is no matter how good it might look to you, it is something that is trying to get you off track.

Turn and go the other way.
 
In James 1:2-4, the bible says to consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. That is a word. Consider a challenge joy. Now it does not say it will be fun or that you will enjoy it so read the scripture carefully. It is not fun when there is not enough money to pay the bills or some medical challenge arises that causes us to be unable to do what we would normally do. It is not fun when we experience a financial setback or relational challenge like the break up of a marriage or loss of a child. It is not fun when someone you love is diagnosed with cancer or some other life threatening disease.

It is not fun when something you counted on is taken away. The scripture is not saying the challenge is joy, it is talking about the end result of that test or challenge if you allow it to do what it was intended to do.

Challenges will come but how we respond to those challenges is what really matters. Will we allow the challenge to break us or make us worse or will we use it as a building block or stepping stone and grow from it. Personally, I want to use mine as stepping stones and building blocks. I want to grow stronger and more powerful than I have ever been before, I want to be stabile and mature, not moved by ever wind that blows and that is what challenges do for us if we allow them to.

Challenges grow me emotionally so I don’t have to go off or become emotionally upset every time something happens. The truth is that challenges cause me not to ever see things that I once saw and got upset about. Some stuff I am now able to laugh about, because it is just not that serious. It is not worth my time or energy. Amen. If I handle my challenges well, I will be a better person because of them and be able to smile when I look back on them. Just for the record, I want you to know I am doing a lot more smiling these days and I feel a lot lighter, because I am allowing my challenges to do their perfect work in me, helping me to be better on the inside, so the outside represents what is really going on.

James 1:12 says, Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. All that says to me is that if I can just get through the challenge there is a blessing on the other side of it. Amen and Amen.

Here are some positive responses to challenges you might try:

• Prayer
• Setting aside some quiet time for yourself. This does not have to be expensive. It could be something a simple as going to the park with a friend to chat. We always think when we spend time with friends it has to cost money, but the truth is that it does not. A romantic evening in Phoenix could be a trip to the top of South Mountain to cuddle with you spouse and look out over the valley. Take a bath or do your nails. Do something you enjoy-but put yourself first.
• Exercise-Take a walk. Walking is free. There is no gym membership required to take a walk and no monthly fees. God’s space and air are both free. Many schools have tracks that you can walk around and many of them are open to the public at certain times if not all of the time. This will help you to clear your head and remove stress. Pray while you walk or take a friend. You will be amazed at the results you can get from just walking spiritually, emotionally, relationally and physically.
• Learn how to handle the challenge areas better by studying that particular challenge. If it is a financial challenge learning to budget better could be a great help. If you have an emotional problem study the scriptures related to emotions or get some counseling.
• Don't just sit around talking about the issue or challenge, do something. We will spend a lot of time telling everyone that will listen what we are going through and they can’t do anything to help our situation. Get into the word of God for some answers. Pray for God to reveal places for you to get the help you need. There may even be people and in the course of your conversations and talking ask for help, don’t just talk about it. But trust and believe that God can and will deliver you if you will turn it over to Him. He is waiting to be your Superhero.
• Find Support

1. A relationship with God is greatly encouraged because a good spiritual foundation will affect every area of your life. Going to church is not enough. There are many people that go to church Sunday after Sunday and still have no idea, not the slightest clue how to deal with problems when they come. They will have a great time on Sunday morning and will tell you that, but have no idea what scripture was preached or how to apply that scriptural foundation to their lives. You have to take the next step, by gaining an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ and growing that relationship through personal bible study and communion with other like-minded believers that are going in the same direction you are. That does not mean they have the same destiny or purpose, but that they are purposed to be better people and to use the Word of God as their foundation for growth. You will be amazed at where you can find like-minded people. I have found them in my workout classes and at my job. Don’t make the mistake of judging a book by it’s cover because like-minded Christians come in all shapes, colors and economic backgrounds. Church is not the only place that like minded people reside open your eyes and ears to hear and see them, because God has stationed us every where.
2. Find people that have experienced success in your area of challenge to be your accountability partners and to provide mentoring for you. We choose people that we are comfortable with, but the truth is that an accountability person needs to be someone that will tell us the truth. We will even choose people that are struggling in the same ways that we are and wonder why we make no progress. I really cannot help you get out of hole that I have not figured out how to get out of myself. If you want to be a CEO watch a CEO not a janitor.
3. Find a support group for your area of challenge-if you struggle with your eating check out Weight Watchers or one of the other options. If you struggle with working out find a workout group.
4. If your challenge is a physical one dealing with weight remember that there are no bad foods, only bad habits. You can have anything you want if you learn to do it in moderation. Be sure to include these two new habits to overcome your bad ones.
   
   
   • Portion Control
   • Regular Exercise

What you are going through may be new to you, but it is not new, somebody else has already gone through it-press through your challenges using some of the responses we have listed above-God will not let you down. They may be unpleasant, it may cost you some tears, but you can press through to victory.

 Scripture References:

James 1:2-4:
 2 -4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:12:
 12Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.