Struggling? Going through a tough time? Storm raging all around you?
Beloved friend, my heart goes out to you!
Tough times are pure exhausting! But! Here are some secrets that I pray will help you to survive—well, MORE than survive—stand STRONG and very COURAGEOUS in your struggles! I hope that here you will find a way to fill your cup and minister to your heart! Here goes:
- Laugh! Just sit there right now…laugh! Start small…just a little giggle! Then…laugh about laughing! Roll on the floor laughing! Feel better?
- Begin a new Bible Study! Either find a Bible Study guide…or dig out Words to study on your own! For Word Studies, I LOVE my Strong’s Concordance. It helps to find all of the references of a certain word of interest. I also love my Vine’s Dictionary. I use it to look up the meanings of the words AND it also has other references for uses in Scripture. Another great help for Word Studies is my good old faithful Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. I LOVE it as a reference to deepen the studies. Usually it helps me to also find OTHER great studies to dig into also! Dig into the Word! It will feed your heart and soul during this tough time!
- Go for a drive around the city—look at the lights!
- Look at photo albums! Remember the silly stories!
- Watch the sunrise! Or, not an early bird? Watch the sunset!
- Collect jokes and funnies! Barb Johnson…Chonda Pierce…Becky Freeman are just a few of my PERSONAL favorites!
- Chocolate! Chocolate Candy…Chocolate Bars…Chocolate Shakes…Chocolate Latte’s…CHOCOLATE! REALLY! Chocolate helps to release endorphins in the brain—plus! It tastes great to boot!
- Watch an old movie! Curl up under a great big quilt—even if you have to turn the air down COLD! Don’t forget to turn down the lights and turn off the phone!
- Look at your old school albums! Your HAIR! Ha!
- Got a grassy hill nearby? Go to the top and just roll down it! Like a child! (Snowy? Get a sled! And SLIDE!)
- Take the kids to the park—just WATCH them! They are adorable!
- Begin a “Quote Book!” Collect quotes that encourage you to keep on, keeping on! Keep them in a special journal dedicated only to keeping the quotes!
- Memorize your favorite Psalm! Try out Psalm 91…or Psalm 61…or Psalm 35…or Psalm 37…Oh! Enjoy!
- Begin a Tea Ministry! Doing for others ALWAYS lifts even the heaviest spirit! Get a tea basket to keep your goodies in…visit a shut-in…bless them! Then! Watch the blessing boomerang! You won’t be able to leave without a blessing!
- Take the kids to a candy store—sample the Jelly Bellies…or Sweet Tarts…or Sour Gummy Worms!
- Fly a kite!
- Take a ride in the country! Turn up your praise music…roll the windows down…sing to the top of your lungs!
- Watch a funny video! Chonda Pierce is one of my picks! My children LOVE old comedy shows like I Love Lucy or The Three Stooges. Oh, you may want to watch anything! Just find something that will make you laugh hard!
- Scrapbook! Pick photos that you MUST tell the story behind! Kick up your favorite music…spread out your goodies…and Scrap till you drop!
- Read a biography of a GIANT in the faith! My favorites are Corrie ten Boom…Hudson Taylor…George Mueller…Amy Carmichael…Jim and Elisabeth Elliott…etc!
- Get today’s newspaper and read the comics!
- Get a yo-yo! PLAY!
- Make Chocolate Chip Cookies with the kids! On a diet? Take them to someone who blesses you! Include a note of thanks and encouragement for all they do to bless you!
- Go out and sit on your boat—watch the stars! (Oh, watch the sunset or sunrise, if you can too!)
- Dig into the Bible and study what God says about trials…suffering…faith…death…depression…oppression…warfare…battle…
- Read a new book! Normally ready non-fiction/how-to’s? Get a fiction book for a change! Normally read fiction? Get a humorous book! Renew your weary heart and mind!
- Take a break and go for a long ride on a motorcycle! Don’t forget your headset and praise music!
- Take a hike! Really! Find a nice nature trail OR go for the tough stuff!!
- Go to the mall with your teenager! ENJOY!
- Buy a walkman and some great praise music—turn it up! My favorites are Michael W. Smith’s Worship CD’s AND Hillsong’s Praise and Worship! The moment you enter into worship, you will enter into the very presence of God—so, turn it up and devour the presence of our precious Lord!
- Pull out that old sewing machine and make some of those goodies that you have been wanting—new purse/tote…outfit…home decorations…doll clothes…etc!
- Buy a “whoopee” Cushion…or “Bubba” teeth… At least your family will laugh!
- Write out the funny family stories! Reminsce! Enjoy!
- Go skating!
- Try an afternoon of “Laser-Tag” with your teens! Get um!
- Make Homemade Bread—KNEAD yourself!
- Get a pet! My bird, Harley, has ministered to my heart MORE than I could remember! He is just SO funny! HE had the idea to “boogie” for Jesus! I had not danced for years! AND it is decent! Elisabeth’s new puppy, Tooty, is a TOTAL delight! I say all the time that she is JOY in fur! Struggling? Get a pet just for YOU…see that puppy in the window??
- Take the day to go for a flight! Look at the whole world from a different perspective!
- Dance! Turn up your favorite music and dance! Dance your heaviness away! Dance till you laugh! Dance in worship to the Lord! Jump! Lift your hands in praise and worship!
- Clean out your house (only if this is NOT your struggle! Ha!). Attack those closets…cabinets…dusty bookshelves…paper piles!
- Go out for a cup of coffee…tea…or a good old Coca-Cola! Meet your sweetheart! Or…take your Bible and make it a special time with the Lord!
- Find some silly-putty or slime—PLAY!
- Get up earlier (or take regular breaks throughout the day!) for your quiet time! You may feel SO weak that you can barely concentrate—if so, just turn on praise music and lift up your arms in praise and adoration. Watch what happens! Make a list of your heartaches—lift them to the Father (then, hide them in your Prayer Journal—later they will be a praise record!). Dig into the Word for comfort…perspective…and hope for tomorrow! Really tough days? Well, when the Israelites had very HOT days, they had to gather MORE manna—in the heat of your battles and toughest trials gather a surplus! It will help you survive your struggle!
- Make a quilt! You can EVEN cheat by making it on the sewing machine! ENJOY!
- Take an afternoon to go to the movies! Get a big bucket of popcorn…a super-HUGE Coke…sour Gummy Worms (unless you are due a BIG DOSE OF CHOCOLATE!). Take your sweetheart…or a friend if you want to share! Pick a movie that will make you laugh like crazy…OR CRY your eyes out! ENJOY!
- Ride three-wheelers! Get MUDDY!
- Treat yourself to a leisurely afternoon (or a bunch of afternoons!) at the pool…park…or creek!
- Try your hand at BOWLING! Take some friends!
- Take time for tea—each day!
- Exercise! Swim…walk…jog…hike…go skating…aerobics! Relieves stress AND boosts your health to boot!
- Learn a new hobby! What have you been putting off that you have ALWAYS wanted to know? Pottery? Quilting? Flight Training? Smocking? Scrapbooking? Jewelry Making? Sewing? Crochet? Horse-back riding? Go for it! Now is the PERFECT time!
- Treat yourself to a nice looooonnnnnngggg Bubble Bath! Don’t forget to set up your favorite music to play during your Bubble Bath! Also…be sure to fix a nice cup of tea (or a Latte!) or a nice big Coke that will last till the water gets cold! ENJOY!
- Go to the park and just swing—HIGH!
- Go get an ice-cream cone—with a double dip!
- Do a “Promise” hunt in Scripture! Keep in a “Promise Notebook” of your very own! KNOW they are yours!
- Snuggle up for the afternoon to read a great book!
- Don’t let this limit you! Let your brain GO!
