Life will often put us in situations where tough choices have to be made. These aren’t the kind of decisions we can take lightly. If we rush through them or try to figure them out on our own without serious prayer, we might end up with regrets—or worse, stuck in a season of delay. James 1:5 (NLT) reminds us, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” Seeking God’s wisdom makes all the difference in those critical moments of life.
“I knew deep down that I didn’t want to walk away from my relationship, but how could I look at myself in the mirror if I don’t?” Margo’s voice was weary as she spoke, after spending over an hour on the phone, torn about whether to end her three-year marriage.
A ten-month-old daughter, maxed-out credit cards, and a husband who disappears for days at a time without so much as a call. No explanations, no apologies—just silence. The longest he’d ever been gone was a week last summer, leaving her to figure it all out alone. Whenever she confronted him, all he could say was that he “needed a break.” No other reason, just a selfish escape from the life they were supposed to be building together.
Proverbs 15:1(NLT) says, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” When Margo’s anger begins to get the best of her, she says this verse repeatedly in her head so she can keep the peace for their daughter. As single women, many of us have dealt with situations in our relationships that have caused the kind of frustration Margo is going through. Refusing to accept that kind of emotional abandonment, we chose to let that whole thing go. When children and finances are involved, the luxury of leaving isn’t so easy. Many women in this situation cast faith and wisdom to the wind and opt to keep themselves comfortable in a bad situation.
Whether it’s relationship struggles, financial stress, health issues, or emotional pain, the answer is always found in preparing ourselves to build our faith. The first truth we need to hold onto is that God has not abandoned us. Proverbs 15:3 (NLT) tells us, “The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.” Even when frustration and heartache make us feel like God isn’t paying attention to the wrongs we’ve suffered, that’s never the case. He sees it all—good, bad, and everything in between. But God wants us to understand that it’s not about what others are doing. It’s about us and our faith in Him. He calls us to trust Him and stay committed to growing in faith, confident that He’s always present, working things out even when we don’t yet see the outcome.
In spiritual battles, especially in our relationships, clinging to the Word of God and filling our minds with it constantly and fiercely must become a habit. This shows our commitment to obeying God and putting Him first in every part of our lives. Jesus commands us in Matthew 6:33 (NLT), “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Life teaches us that not all surprises are good, and things don’t always turn out the way we expect. But these setbacks shouldn’t steal our hope in Christ. Even when the enemy throws situations at us to break us down, God can turn it around and give us a fresh start.
We can’t change the past, but we can change what we do now by choosing to deepen our faith and hold onto the truth God has spoken. He’s already given us everything we need to live a victoriously– it’s up to us to believe His Word. Even when we find ourselves in the middle of a storm, make no mistake—in Christ, we will come out the other side victorious! God promises this in His Word! First and foremost, the key is keeping our focus on Him; this must be our stance. If we don’t make God the center of our attention, our minds won’t be renewed, and fear will easily creep in where faith should be. We can guard against this by trusting our Heavenly Father and choosing to fix our thoughts on His goodness.
In the end, the choice is always ours. We can either let life’s storms shake us or allow them to push us closer to God. The strength we need to endure, the wisdom to navigate challenges, and the peace we long for are all found in Him. By building our faith and keeping our eyes fixed on His promises, we can face anything that comes our way with confidence. As we trust in His plan and stand firm in His Word, we’ll find that no matter the struggle, we are more than conquerors through Christ. It’s through this faith that we can truly live the victorious life God has called us to. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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