Don't Just Survive, Thrive

Difficult times can be overwhelming, and these can definitely be described as difficult times. Writing at a time of a pandemic, at times there can seem like there is no escape. The monotony of life confined to your home can defeat us, physically, mentally & emotionally.

Yet even in the midst of such peculiar season like this, I believe we can come out the other side stronger. We don't have to live defeated, discouraged or disappointed. Instead we can live victorious, full of faith and full of hope.

We can be people who thrive, not just survive. We can be people who live a faith over fear kind of life. We can be people who bring the light of God into these dark times. We can be the right kind of Kingdom people, standing strong and not giving up.

The Bible puts it like this in Romans 5:3-5

"....we glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Ways we can all thrive in this season...

Lead yourself well. The hardest person you will ever have to lead is you. For some of us we are the only person we need to lead. So put some energy into it and do it the very best you can.

Choose to become a better person through this season, not a bitter person. Remind yourself every day. Take a moment and speak the truth of God's Word over your life. In Christ I am....

...a child of God

...free

...made complete

...saved

...God's co-worker

...seated with Christ in the heavenly realm

...His workmanship

Go for growth. Read a book. Take an online course. Do some study. Be intentional about growing yourself in some way before everything gets back to normal.

Get up. Make your bed. Have a shower. Clean your teeth. Get dressed. Assume the position for a productive day. Be focused on completing one or two tasks each day - whatever they might be, either the work you normally do or stuff around the house.

Create a space to work from. Somewhere to 'go to work' to. Work like its a work day. Take breaks. Have coffee. Eat lunch. Call someone. And have a finish time too.

Enjoy a lazy day. It's ok to not be ok all the time. It's ok to not be 'on it' all the time. We all need a 'day off' from the routine. Just guard against every day being a day off. You'll get stir crazy without something to do which adds value to your life beyond knowing you completed 'that' boxset.

Hang out with friends. Online of course. Or arrange to join the queue at the supermarket so you can chat 2 metres apart.

Is this time a strange time? Yes. Is it a difficult time with challenges? Yes. Can we survive it? Definitely. It will pass. We will come out the other side of this. And more than that, we can come out the other side, bigger, stronger, closer to God, having grown in God and in other ways too. Can we thrive? Absolutely!!