We all come to a point in life that causes us to hit rock bottom. Some of us still haven’t landed in the black hole we’ve been sucked into and there’s nothing we can do to change that.
So, what exactly can we do? Well, usually we’re caught up in a swirl of devastating emotional pain, relieving memories, and traumas that push us to form conclusions about everything and everyone. But the more we bring these conclusions to God and release our judgment and confusion to HIm, the more grace we are able to receive from Him in our crisis.

When you feel like you just cannot keep going, it’s devastating! No amount of “just do this and this to live a better life” is helpful. It is an insurmountable mountain to climb, an ocean too wide to cross, and a parched and barren desert that’s difficult to survive. There are many things that may need to change, heal, or be restored. But there is only so much that is within our control. So, we choose to keep on faithing-it as we wait on God to move the walls pinning us in.

Here are 5-Rs that will breathe life into our hearts and keep us going:

1. Recommit to basics. Whenever there are extraordinary things happening in life that are overwhelming or when we are dealing with a physical crisis, it’s vital that we get into a safe position to ride it out. This is not the time to overextend energy or time on nonessentials. Time and energy are two commodities that cost us something, so it becomes important to use them wisely. Sometimes we can get away with overcommitting, but not while navigating a major life storm. We must go back to basics.

Focus on physical needs, like eating for health, hydrating, sleeping, and exercise.
Interact with God, forgive (the whole world if necessary), yield afresh to the Lord, and ask Him to mend you. Remain open to receive His love and grace along the new terrain you find yourself in.
Do only the most important things that need to be done each day.

2. Remember the big picture of your story. Think of how you started life, where you have been, and how far you’ve come. Taking time to think about the whole story of who you are, and what God has done in you from early on until now gives you a broader view. Looking at your life through a wide-view lens adds the needed perspective to the intensity of the moment you are living through.

Think back to the goodness that has shaped you.
Are there relationships that were used as guideposts in your life? Remember the details of how these came about and were God’s provision for you at the time.
Focus on how far you’ve come, the joy-filled memories you have, and how they have contributed to your growth and identity.

3. Review previous victories. If you have lived life by following God then you surely have come through earlier trials by His grace and guidance. During these other times of crisis, review the lessons learned, the revelation received, and the scriptures God used in your life previously.

Bring to memory the big leaps of faith you took as you trusted God, and how you experienced His miraculous goodness through it.
Replace the harsh reality and trauma that is on auto-play in your mind by focusing on these memories of God’s grace that was poured out to you, and let them be what replays in your mind.
If you cannot think of many of your own memories of God stepping into your life because you have recently come to the Lord or you are just drawing a blank, seek out true stories of what God has done in other people’s lives or in scripture. Because if He’s done it before, He will do it again!

4. Respond by faith. Get back to what you know is your core motivation, the bedrock of your faith. It will have something to do with your salvation experience and the first memory of your response to God’s personal love for you.

Think back to times God’s love sought you out. Respond to His love afresh today.
Put expressive words of gratitude for all the memories of victory you have experienced, and the victories you are still standing in faith and believing for.
Thank Father God that His loving hand has moved on your behalf in the past, and will again. And if you haven’t experienced many of your own victories yet, thank Him for what He is about to do.

5. Rejoice in the small things. We can recreate moments of gratitude for previous blessings by giving ourselves permission to celebrate. It may sound impossible or extravagant when we are feeling less than in every way. It’s not that we will ourselves to feel happiness. But we can find moments to partake in calm delight and gladness (that’s what joy is) even in the depth of grief. Here’s how…

Seize any good memory that you have drift across your mind, and turn it into a celebratory thought. Even doing a symbolic act through a faith-action can reposition you from victimhood to victory. It did for me, when I chose to celebrate the gift I’d been blessed with by wearing the winter scarf my husband’s mom made him to wear on his trip to Idaho to meet my parents.
Make a choice to be proactive, believing Father God didn’t forget about you, but still has good plans prepared for your future. He can use this mindset to shift you from being on the defensive in your life to the powerful position of offense.
Release everything within you to God and yield every trauma to Him. Purposing in your heart to leave the trauma and sorrow at His feet, turn and hold tightly to the Lord who is carrying you to a better place. Set your face on the Son of God, like a sunflower’s face turns and follows the sunshine.

Has this helped me?

Absolutely yes! After my husband’s death, these were the only things that kept my mind focused and my heart able to keep going. The shock and trauma were earth-shattering. And as much as I wanted to stop and get off the ride I was on, or fast-forward ahead to the end, the only option was to stay the course and continue the long journey through it.

Yesterday, as I was reflecting on my life since my world turned upside down and backward, I could see how God’s grace has been my steady companion. I automatically worked through these 5 things with the Lord, and now I understand how they kept my broken heart open and my grief healthy. By refusing to let myself form natural conclusions and judgments about everything that was happening to me, I kept myself open to receive God’s comfort and His conclusions. Eventually, He guided and framed my thoughts to His. This was life-giving, as He gently turned my devastation into hope.