Disciplining Our Minds in Difficult Times

With this unprecedented pandemic, we need more than ever the art of disciplining our minds in difficult times. Thoughts have consequences. They affect our mental and emotional health.  Not only our current thoughts but also our belief systems play a crucial role in our well-being and stability.  When the crisis hit, it exposes and challenges our beliefs. Is our house built on sand or on a Rock?

17 Helpful Reads for Disciplining Our Minds in Difficult Times

Difficult times attack us with fears, anxiety, discouragement, and hopelessness. God’s instruction for difficult times is to gird up the loins of our mind, to exercise self-control over our intimate thoughts, and to be alert and fully sober.

^“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace…” (1 Peter 1:13).

Here is a wrap-up of 17 articles helpful for disciplining our minds in difficult times, and for preparing them for action and hope to the end. 

God’s instruction for difficult times is to gird up the loins of our mind, to exercise self-control over our intimate thoughts and to be alert and fully sober. #selfcontrol #mentalhealth #Bible Share on X

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Dealing with the Fear of the Future and Fear of the Unknown

One of the main reasons is that the fear of the unknown has its origin in our basic need for safety and security. Somehow, we have adopted the wrong idea that security equals comfort and predictability, and a lack of uncertainty. To achieve this, we try to control people and circumstances, which only leads to anxiety and increases fear.

However, our need for security and safety can be fully met only in Christ. When we make God our refuge and acknowledge Him as our safe dwelling place now and forever, we are breaking free from the false security.

Overcome the Fear of the Unknown 

Fighting the Fear of the Unknown

Click here for a printable of selected Bible verses to help you find the fear of the unknown.

When we make God our refuge and acknowledge Him as our safe dwelling place, we are breaking free from the false security of comfort and predictability. #safety #encouragement #Christianliving Share on X

Dealing with Anxiety

The main cause of anxiety is our desire to control things, people, and circumstances fueled by our pride and ego. Control is our path to security and safety, the basic need of all human beings. It has been proven that the more controlling and manipulating a person is, the more uncertain and fearful he is.

We have no control over what happens to us, on circumstances and events beyond our control. We have control and responsibility for what is our property – thoughts, emotions, reactions, decisions, actions. When confronted with a problem such as suffering, loss, illness, betrayal, lie, it is our choice and responsibility on how to respond. What God expects of us is always to respond with a faith rooted in God’s love. Walking by faith is always a choice. In Christ, we are free to choose how to respond because we are no longer subject to the power of the flesh, sin, and law.

It is important to know that God’s will and desire are to deliver us from all our fears in which the anxiety is rooted.  He wants to build and strengthen us in the fear of the Lord and in faith and trust in Him.

Steps to Living Here and Now

3 Powerful Strategies to Overcome Anxiety

How to Respond with Faith Instead of Fear

Can’t Stop Worrying? Try God’s Anti-Anxiety Therapy

How to Live in the Rhythm of God’s Love

Keys to Apply God’s Anti-Stress Therapy

5 Biblical Steps to Keep the Joy

God’s will and desire are to deliver us from all our fears in which the anxiety is rooted. #anxietyrelief #worry #encouragement Share on X

Struggling with Panic Attacks – an Encouraging Testimony

Have you struggled with panic attacks? I did. The journey to freedom from panic attacks has been a long one. It takes time, patience and putting faith into practice.

When I experienced panic attacks for the first time, I felt I was dying because of the complete loss of control over my reactions. The fear of death, the terror from losing control and the fear of the next panic attack are the deadly companions of this queen of terrors – the panic attack. How can you gain freedom from panic attacks? In Christ, God gives us hope and a path to freedom and healing.

My Journey to Freedom from Panic Attacks

Dealing with Discouragement and Disappointment

We struggle with a problem or a situation for a long time, and we still don’t have a solution. It seems we are going in circles, and we don’t see the progress we want so much. We struggle with regrets and disappointment about how things have developed in a certain area. And we have difficulties to see our path ahead. We feel stuck, discouraged and unable to make the next step. Worse yet, we feel reluctant to come to God again with the same issue, especially when we have prayed many times about it. So how can we get unstuck and start walking again?

The way to overcome disappointment and discouragement begins with choosing to recognize our feelings as well as their source. We should not suppress and ignore pain. The best way to confront the pain is to weep it out in the arms of God as our Father and friend, acknowledging His love and kindness.

How to Get Unstuck and Start Walking Again – 3 Steps

Disappointment and Discouragement – 6 Steps to Overcome

7 Ways to End the Disappointment with God

How to Live Not Depending on Our Expectations

Disciplining Our Minds When We Struggle with Hopelessness

The delusion of hopelessness is mainly a consequence of false beliefs. When we adopt an attitude of mistrust, suspicion, and despair, and it becomes a firm mindset, then the delusion of hopelessness takes control.

The state of hopelessness is a process of dying slowly. When the hope dies, everything else dies. Our motivation dwindles, we stop setting goals, we stop to see any meaning. We slowly resign and give up life. The way back from the delusion of hopelessness involves recognizing and rejecting false beliefs and accepting the truth that properly reflects the physical and spiritual reality.

How to Overcome the Delusion of Hopelessness

Finding Strength amidst Suffering and Struggle

How often do we pray that God saves us from a particular struggle and suffering only to find out that we go exactly through this what we want to avoid? We plead and pray that we do not need to go through this struggle, that we preserve our job, and that our loved one does not get ill. No, we do not want to struggle with infertility, illness, rejection, betrayal, disappointment, loss and sorrow after sorrow. We crave and long that God saves us from all this. Sometimes he does but more often, He does not.

We should let go of the idea that God saves us from something only by preventing it from happening. Instead, let’s embrace His ways and the recurring pattern in the Bible that more often God saves is through our suffering and struggles.

The Role of Struggle and Suffering in God’s Design for Transformation

God’s Love is Greater Than Life – 4 Reasons Why

17 helpful articles for disciplining our minds in difficult times, and for preparing them for action and hope to the end.  #standfirm #mentalhealth #BibleTeaching Share on X

A Helpful Book on How to Interpret Our Suffering Biblically

You can learn more about why and how God uses pain and hardships to shape us and bless us in my book, “Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings.”

Do you want to draw near to God when you are tempted to pull away amidst painful and traumatic experiences? Do you long for the transformation of your painful story into a story of preparation, empowerment, fruitfulness, and growth?

Let me take you on a journey through 13 painful experiences, showing the precious blessings in each of them.

Your Turn

How is your thought life? What is the top problem area you struggle with in difficult times? Come share your experiences and helpful tips in the comments. Thanks!

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