Out of the Frying Pan

Out of the Frying Pan dan skognes insurance investments finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur telemedicine cadr teledoc (259x194)

 
You have probably heard the saying “He jumped out of the frying pan in to the fire.” It means making a bad decision when you are under stress. It means making a bad situation even worse. How do we keep from jumping into the fire when the heat is getting turned up on us?

First of all, you have to expect to be in the frying pan from time to time. That is a part of life for all of us. It may be a financial situation, a health situation, or a relationship gone sideways…but it happens to everyone at various points of our lives. How do you prepare for news that you now have cancer and are not expected to live? How do you handle news your spouse has been unfaithful and is leaving you? How do you handle that realization that you are in debt so deep that it will take a miracle to keep from going under?

Here is the simple truth. Everything that happens to you is not your fault. Much of it may be your fault, but bad things happen to good people too. The problem is that it is still your problem regardless of whose fault it is! That makes you responsible whether you like it or not. You are responsible for how you react to it. How do you play the cards you have been dealt?

Suicide has become epidemic among young and old alike. How tragic is that? Young people who have everything to live for are so despondent with life that they can’t bear to face one more day. Or maybe just as tragic is the older person who has been so beat up with life that they just can’t take any more of it. The true tragedy here is that the problems we face most of the time are not fatal. They are not the end of the world even though we may have convinced ourselves that it is ending. The truth is, tomorrow is another day, and what a difference a day makes!

When you are emotionally drained and just feel like you can’t take anymore, do this:

1. Get some rest. Never make a major decision when you are exhausted.
2. Get some wise counsel. Talk to your spouse, a trusted friend, a Pastor….someone who is not emotionally engaged that can speak truth to you and help you look at the big picture. Just make sure the counsel you get is from someone who is emotionally and spiritually mature.
3. Get grounded in God’s Word. I have found the Bible to be such a great source of comfort when the heat is turned up.
4. Get the right perspective. Most of the time, “this too shall pass” is true. Even people that have been diagnosed with a terminal disease have been healed before. It can happen to you too.
5. Get hold of your hope and don’t let go. Faith in God and faith in yourself go a long way in helping you face another day.
6. Get out of the mindset that this is the way it is always going to be. Things change, and they can change dramatically in a positive way. Start looking at the glass as half full. Be thankful for the blessings that you do have.
7. Pray. Prayer does change things. Don’t wait till the wheels come off to pray. God is there 24/7, 365 days a year. You will never get a busy signal or an answering machine. He cares about you and the problems you are facing.

When silver is made, it is heated up to get rid of the impurities. The silversmith knows the silver is ready when he can see his reflection in it. Perhaps what you are going through is God getting ready to use you for something beautiful…something that will reflect Him.

It is never fun to be in the frying pan, but keep it in perspective and don’t lose hope. What you are becoming through this can be not only something good for you, but also something to encourage others that are going through the same thing. Reflecting Christ is worth the process.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes
l06.ce7.myftpupload.com

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