Solid Rock: How to Stand Strong in a Storm

I have a client who has been hearing some pretty tough things lately. She is a very successful CEO but lately she has been hearing some very negative feedback about herself from her team members. It is not easy to hear others say bad things about, make fun of, or belittle you. And thanks to social media we have millions of talking heads who often have bad things to say about anyone at any given time. Everyone has an opinion on everything, and they are not afraid to express it—even if it has no factual basis. However, sometimes the harshest words we hear come from our own minds.

Our forward movement in life is often stopped because we hold ourselves back, paralyzed. We compare our journeys, our businesses, and our hopes and dreams with everyone else’s. And in our minds, in some way, what’s ours never matches up. We think we fall short; telling ourselves, "I am doing something wrong," "I’m not enough" or "That person has it easier than I do." The trail that leads from these negative thoughts usually leads down the rabbit hole.

Scripture tells us to take every thought captive. Brain science today says the same thing; replace those thoughts as soon as they come into your mind. It tells us that when toxicity sweeps into our minds and tries to settle in that space, we need to be strong and set our minds to things that are positive, good, pure, and true.

There's a game that involves blindfolding a guest and having them identify, by touch alone, certain pieces of food or other common items. Two words characterize the game: darkness and deception. It is really easy to be deceived when we find ourselves blindfolded in darkness. At times, it appears that we live in a world growing increasingly dark. A philosopher once said we are not here to commune with darkness but to conquer it. So how do we conquer it? The only way to avoid deception is to live in the light. We need to be the light and help others to see God’s truth. And that starts by us getting our minds set in the right direction.

When I was young, one of my mother’s common sayings was, “Good things come to those who wait.” There is some truth in these words, although it is probably more applicable for a youngster looking to eat an ice cream before dinner than it is to a grown-up committed to living a great life. We are not promised tomorrow. We are not even guaranteed next week. I was with my brother-in-law today and he said that same thing. He has stage four lung cancer and that certainly is true for him. But as he said, we do have this moment—the time we are given when we wake up each day. God gives us today as a gift. He wants us to pursue today, using the time we are gifted to grow, and to love others well. He wants us to help others and to pursue a dream that He has placed in our hearts. Each day is our day to live without fear of the unknown. To live without being chained to our failures and what if’s. Whatever today holds we can choose to say yes to the opportunities of today. But it starts in our minds.

It is your posture, not your strength, that enables you to withstand attacks. It doesn’t matter how muscular you are. If you are standing on one foot or are off balance anyone can knock you over. But if you are braced and have your feet spread for good balance it is much harder for the enemy to knock you down.

In life, to be braced means that you are prepared for whatever comes your way. You are always ready and on high-alert knowing that as you live out your purpose-driven life, you will face attacks. Even as you live God’s purpose for you, you will not be immune to criticism and harsh words from the world and sometimes from the people that you trust and love most. You cannot predict or control the opposition you will face, but you can anchor yourself to receive it gracefully. You can get into the right posture to steady yourself in the midst of the struggle. Scripture tells us to be on the alert, stand firm in the faith and be strong. We simply need to brace ourselves in God and remain steadfast in the unshakable foundations of the truth. When we meditate on God’s word consistently and pray without ceasing, we will stand tall in God’s strength. From that stance of quiet trust, you will withstand the offenses that come your way. This is what my client realized after our discussion this week. This is what my brother-in-law told me during our time together today. So, brace yourself, it is a rough world out there—but our God is bigger that any of our problems. Stay strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.