During one of the most emotionally difficult periods of my life, I (Nelson) was facing some circumstances that had me completely on the defensive. I felt as if I was being attacked from all sides and wanted nothing more than to give up and run. During that time, God kept bringing this passage to my mind:

In my distress I prayed to the LORD,
and the LORD answered me and set me free.
The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in people. (Ps. 118:5–8)

Reminding myself of this passage helped me recenter my mind on truth. Think about the words “What can mere people do to me? The LORD is for me.” When you are able to keep that perspective and lean into your reliance on God, hurtful situations with those around you lose much of their sting. God gives you the strength to stand and face whatever you are going through, deal with it as it should be dealt with, and move on with a clear, healthy mind and heart.

As part of this, remember that nothing gets resolved without humility. As you rely on God in painful situations, it is important to have a high degree of humility. Whenever there is strife, our natural tendency is to blow up with pride and defend ourselves, try to prove that we are right, and insinuate that our perspective is the one most aligned with the way God thinks. What arrogance.

To keep bitterness from taking root in your heart, make humble a verb. Actively choose to let go of your need to be right. Be intentional about trying to see and understand things from the other person’s point of view. Decide to love, in spite of the circumstances. For God to be able to work in the situation and stop bitterness from seeping into your heart, you must be willing to humble yourself, rely deeply on him, and stay the course in the relationship.

– Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson

The above excerpt is from p. 142-143 of The New You: A Guide to Better Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Wellness.

With your copy of The New You, you will come away with specific strategies on how to lose weight, get more sleep, lower stress, nurture better relationships, connect with God and much more! Anyone who wants to trade in the frustration of average living and less-than health for the hallmarks of the new life God promises will find The New You an effective personal guide for the journey.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.