Have you ever been in a situation when you have felt… enough is enough. You find yourself in a season when nothing seems to be going right, work, relationships, finances, and your dog just peed on the carpet. I mean, really???

On such a day or season I have found this passage of Scripture to be helpful. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:58:

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Paul encourages us to apply three concrete steps to difficult situations so that we can come out victoriously.

During difficult situations:

Stand firm. Paul encourages us to be steadfast and firm in our relationship with God and our faith walk with Jesus. The second thing,

Let nothing move you. Paul is encouraging us to stay focused, faithful and prayerful to God, and the assignment to which we are called.

Life happens to all of us but Paul is saying let none of those things move you away from your relationship with God.

Give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.

And here is where it gets tough, in the middle of a difficult situation the last thing we want to do is continue to serve. Wouldn’t we rather go back to bed and crawl under the covers? “Serve? At a time like this, Lord?”

Paul is saying…Yes! We need to continue on being and doing what God has called us to do, even in difficult seasons.

Now you may ask, WHY? Well, Paul says because you know your labour in the Lord is not in vain. In good times it is easy to trust God, but in bad times it is easy to lose faith in God. God knows what you are going through and where you are in life.

In tough times, stay faithful and focus on what God is doing with you and not what life is doing to you.

Stay steadfast. Let nothing move you away from your assignment because you know your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Be encouraged!