​For years, I fussed and fumed over big issues as well as little grumbles and gripes. I lived in a world of “What if . . .?” and “Why didn’t . . .?” Disappointments and discouragement caused my emotions to spiral into depression.
These snags in the fabric of my life got caught on trials and tribulations. These included such things as anxiety, anger, and unforgiveness. The Lord is teaching me how to hold steady against the attacks the enemy brings against me by wearing the armor of God and using my five senses in godly ways. Thank God for His provisions. Stay on board for ultimate victory.

After our Savior’s resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to take us through basic training, to be sure we would win our battles. The Bible is our textbook that teaches us how to live a victorious life.
Jesus left us a cradle of peace for R and R (rest and recuperation). The Holy Spirit came as our Comforter—a blanket of warmth to wrap around our souls. When we’re besieged, we can be as calm as a baby at his mother’s breast.
As we follow in the steps of the Lord, He leads us through our struggles to higher ground. Look up. Help is on its way. Climb on board with Jesus for the ride of your life.

For years, I fussed and fumed over big issues as well as little grumbles and gripes. I lived in a world of “What if . . .?” and “Why didn’t . . .?” My disappointments and discouragement caused my emotions to spiral into depression.
There are snags in the fabric of my life that have gotten caught on trials and tribulations. These include such things as anxiety, anger, and unforgiveness. The Lord began to teach me how to stand against these things the enemy brings into my life by wearing the armor of God and learning to use my five senses in godly ways.

​Prophets of old had their dark nights of the soul. Jeremiah was once so discouraged he said, “I wish I had never been born” (Jeremiah 15:10 CEV). God was his only source of hope to lead him to the light of a new day.
When King David was depressed, he wrote: “I’m slipping down a dark slope, shaken to the core, and helpless” (Psalm 109:23 TPT). However, he added five verses later, “All their efforts to destroy me will fail, but I will succeed and be glad” (vs. 28). Thank God, David continued to lean on the Lord as he struggled through difficult seasons.
Although David bounced from one extreme emotion to another, experiencing highs and lows, he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” (see Acts 13:22). He depended on the Lord to pull him out of the depths of discouragement. I laughed when singer, songwriter, and minister, Mark Lowry, said if Prozac had been available in David’s time, we would have never had the book of Psalms.

We weren’t ushered into the land of Shangri-la when we became Christians. We became prime targets for Satan in an all-out war. The prince of darkness considered nothing too despicable to use as a weapon to destroy our relationship with Jesus, the Prince of Peace. And no doubt, the enemy’s most vicious attacks have been against God’s strongest believers and those with the greatest potential. 

In Arizona in 1991, scientists completed what was known as Biosphere 2, a three-acre enclosed capsule with the major components of a mini-world. Their purpose was to create an environment to see if man could exist in a similar dome in outer space.

The trees inside grew quickly but collapsed before they matured. Scientists discovered the trees failed to survive because there was no wind to develop what they called "stress wood."

The Greek word for "spirit" means "wind" or "breath." At times, the Lord allows the winds of adversity to broadside us. Thankfully, he teaches us how to deal with the stresses that come with those powerful winds. Rather than toppling, our deep roots in God’s Word hold us steady so we can continue to stand tall. It’s likely we’d never know the strength of our faith if we were never tested.