It most certainly has been an interesting few months, to say the least.

The spring brought us into a place of fear with Covid19. We saw civil unrest here in the U.S. throughout the summer with racial tensions and now we are entering into the fall where we will more than likely see the most difficult presidential campaign and election of our time.

I don’t mean to bring everyone down, I’m just stating facts.

I have a group of friends and we like to think of ourselves as “Hope Dealers”. Our strengths are encouragement, inspiration and motivation through Biblical foundational principles. One principle that I've learned is - there is an enemy of our souls that does not want to see us succeed in any area of our lives.

Yet, no matter what the circumstance is, God has a way of working all things together for good. It's important to know that we also have responsibility in this. We can’t just sit back and rely on God to do everything for us.

James 1:21-25 says, “Be doers of the word, not hearers only.”

It's important that we build our lives on the word of God. Satan tries to hijack our understanding of the word if we don’t allow it to get deep down into our spirit. If we don’t obey the word, then it won't change our thinking. We become like a person that looks at ourselves in a mirror and walks away, immediately forgetting what we look like!

Let me give you an example. This was a tough week. What should have been a week to celebrate some family milestones became a knock-down, drag-out argument between my husband, son and myself. Just because we are pastors does not mean we are perfect. No one is.

We all struggle. We all have our issues. I have a strong bond with my son but there are times when the enemy just wants to rip our family apart through him. The enemy will use every circumstance in your life to throw you off track in your walk with Christ.

I’m here to tell you, I’m not about to let that happen. I don’t take a passive stance. I always show love but when the rubber meets the road, you don’t want to poke the bear, so to speak. Yes, I’m the mama bear!

I needed to take a stand with my son. He knew he had made some bad decisions. After our argument, I let him go blow off steam alone while I did the greatest thing I could do. I got on my knees and prayed.

It may seem silly. Prayer in a moment when it seems like your world is falling apart sounds foolish. But let me tell you, it’s what sets things right. We have the ability to change the atmosphere in our homes as moms.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 says, “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

So when all hell breaks loose, I get in prayer. Sometimes, it’s the best and only thing you can do. There are lies that we may believe that don’t align with God’s word. It’s only through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit that can break through wrong thinking and actions.

So here are some things you can do to not only cope with tough situations but stand firm and turn it around:

1. Of course, pray. Get on your knees. Get some warrior friends to stand with you in prayer. I preached a sermon on the essentials of effective prayer. (Link is in my Instagram bio.)

2. Don’t allow the situation to dictate your feelings. At first, I was upset but you cannot solve-problems and come to a greater resolution in anger. Take a minute, take a breather and use self-control. It’s a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). Redirect the negativity into positive productivity.

3. Tackle the biggest problem first. Although I had to redirect time and energy to problem-solving and had to leave other things on my to-do list unfinished, I took the time and got down to the bottom of it. If you leave situations hanging, they just sit on your shoulders and distract you. Get the important things out of the way. Then get back to your to-do’s. This is an important tool I learned to break through procrastination.

4. Speak the name of Jesus and know the power of the atoning work of the cross and His blood that was shed for you, backs up that name and all of heaven comes to your defense. Though the enemy may try to build a matrix of evil around us, we can call upon the name and blood of Jesus so that no weapon that is formed against us will prosper!

Oh and yes, everything is working out with my son. He's getting back on track. We are all a work in progress.