How to Deal with Life’s Messes and Blessings

Jennifer Landis offers 4 ways to survive and thrive, no matter what life throws at you.

Your life can go from good to great in a matter of seconds. However, it can also go from bad to worse just as quickly. Whether you’re experiencing life’s messes or its many blessings, it’s important to remember that God is above them all. He has given you life and can show you how to deal with its ups and downs. You simply have to let Him. 

Here are a few actionable ways to survive and thrive, no matter what life throws at you.

1. Be Confident in Christ

Do you know how much God loves you? When life gets tough, do you trust that He has your best interests at heart? If you don’t understand who God is, answering these questions may be difficult. 

Rather than having a reverent fear for the King of Kings, you live in fear of Him because you don’t know Him. Your past experiences shape your perception of Christ — for better or worse. In your eyes, He may be unpredictable, a being that makes decisions on a whim. 

However, if you study God’s word, you’ll soon realize that He is good. As you read the Bible and writings from early Church Fathers, the Lord’s character will become more clear to you. You’ll learn about His infinite love for His people and that His will is good, pleasing, and perfect, even when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

2. Plan and Trust

Knowing who God is will ultimately help you trust Him more. However, laying your life in His hands is often more challenging than giving lip service. Even after many messes and blessings, you may still struggle to practice trust in action. 

In those moments, cry out to God and ask Him to help you let go of everything else and cling solely to Him. You might also keep a journal to remind yourself of all the times He’s fulfilled His promises to you. His faithfulness will be more evident and you’ll begin to see His blessings even during trials. 

Of course, trusting God doesn’t mean you can’t plan ahead. After all, there can be some pretty severe consequences if you don’t purchase life insurance, open a savings account, or fill up your gas tank before a long road trip. To survive and thrive on this earth, you must plan. Just remember that plans change, so it’s best to remain flexible and continuously seek God first before making any major decisions.

3. Fill Your Cup

When struggles come your way, you must take care of your mental and physical body just as much as your spiritual one. Therefore, prioritizing self-care is essential. Spend time doing things you enjoy. Revisit an old hobby, get busy in the kitchen, or snuggle up with a good book. Remember to nourish your body with whole foods and lots of water. These things may seem trivial when you’re in the middle of a mess, but they do matter. 

Of course, you can also fill your cup by leaning into Christ and fellowshipping with other Catholics. Attend that Bible study, go to Mass, have lunch with an uplifting friend. Find a community of believers that can support you in your walk and remind you that you’re not alone. Spending time with those who love God and know Him to be faithful will encourage you to press on, especially when life gets hard. 

In the same way, you can encourage and be a blessing to others by pouring into them when they’re going through tough times. Share how God has been faithful to you to remind both you and them that God is great and loves them more than they could possibly imagine.

4. Give Thanks

God’s will for you is to give thanks in all circumstances, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18. So, whether you’re dealing with life’s messes or blessings, you should find a reason to praise the Lord. Of course, practicing gratitude is much easier when you’re receiving blessings. Maybe you keep a gratitude journal and like to jot down everything God has given you. Do you still put pen to paper on days when everything seems to go wrong? 

An inward incessant joy and spirit of gratitude is your responsibility as a believer. You don’t have to be happy to give thanks, either. In fact, you can be sad, angry and confused and still count your blessings. When even that seems impossible, fake it until you make it. Name one blessing each day, even if you don’t feel thankful. Eventually, you will begin to recognize more benedictions and your heart will grow more and joyous, even in painful situations. 

As you experience and realize more blessings in your life, continue to attend Mass and receive the Eucharist. These spiritual practices are ways to thank the Lord for everything He has done for you. Plus, they’ll establish some routine in the midst of chaos and help you get through the day.

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Whether you’re experiencing messes, blessings or both, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. #catholicmom

You’re Not Alone

Whether you’re experiencing messes, blessings or both, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Others have walked a similar path as you and you can count on them to share in both your joys and sorrows. More importantly, God is with you. He is your biggest fan, your source of strength and the one who has given you life — the biggest blessing of all. Lean on Him and He’ll never let you down.

Copyright 2021 Jennifer Landis
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