How to Get Through Tough Times and Make Good Times Better
Bad news seems to be coming at us from every direction and it’s easy to let it overwhelm us. Inflation, war, drug overdoses, crime—the list is endless.
Try one or more of these ten things to help you through tough times and make good times better.
Break bread with others.
There’s something special about eating with others. Think about the feasts, banquets, suppers and family meals that are mentioned in the Bible, about how Jesus used meals for teaching. Share a meal with someone—it doesn’t have to be elaborate, it just needs to be something you do together.
Turn off the news, even for a short time.
The news won’t stop if you stop watching. And if it’s something you absolutely need to know, someone will tell you. Give yourself a break from the pain, misery, and negativity.
Take care of your body.
Exercise, get plenty of rest, eat a healthful diet (most of the time). When you feel good physically it’s easier to feel better emotionally.
Celebrate.
There’s always something to celebrate: birthdays, anniversaries, career achievements, graduations, reaching a personal goal you set for yourself. Throw a party, buy yourself a gift, take a day off—do something to observe a good thing, big or small, in your life.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ (Luke 15:8-9, NIV)
Floss your teeth.
Get that debris out. Yes, it’s good for your practical dental health and will please your hygienist, but there’s a degree of emotional satisfaction from this simple daily activity of removing the leftover gunk from the day and going to bed with a fresh, clean mouth.
Pray for yourself.
We routinely go to God with a long list of requests for others, people we know and people we don’t. As you do that, remember to pray for yourself. Ask God to protect you, guide you, and help you live out His plan for you.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33, NIV)
Take a tech break.
For an hour, a day, or longer if you can, put down your phone, get off social media, turn off the television, step away from the computer. Get in touch with yourself and others in real life.
Spend time with your pet(s)—or get one.
Take the dog for a walk, cuddle the cat, or play with whatever pet you have. Bask in their innocence and unconditional love.
Read a novel.
Get a book that will deliver pure entertainment and escape. Lose yourself in a fantasy world of your choosing—romance, suspense, thriller, action, whatever you prefer. Just stay away from social commentaries and political messages.
Identify and practice your personal stress-relievers.
Be intentional about doing things that relieve stress for you. It might be going for a walk, taking a long bath, cooking, or even cleaning. Figure out what helps you and schedule time to do it.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)
Jacquelyn's latest book is Christian Business Almanac: The Ultimate Daily Guide for Kingdom-Driven Entrepreneurs and Leaders.
She is the author of the nonfiction books Simple Facts About Self-Publishing (Second Edition), Words to Work By: 31 devotions for the workplace based on the Book of Proverbs and Finding Joy in the Morning: You can make it through the night as well as the novel Choices (A Joyful Cup Story). With her husband, she is the co-creator of several coloring books for adults and the novelty My Book About series.
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