Unsure Ground

Shaken Confidence

Of all the various kinds of natural disasters which can befall man, few have the same terrifying psychological impact as an earthquake. While a hurricane can be incredibly destructive, the mind can connect the powerful wind with the great storm and modern science can warn those in the storm’s path. Floods can arise quickly and with little warning, but are still at least mentally connected with great rainfall. However, man is accustomed to trusting in terra firma to remain firm and steadfast. When the very ground betrays us and begins to shake, it can destroy not only our property but also our nerves.

The Bravery of Job

A Necessary Choice

When facing great times of crisis or trouble in life, the choice of many is to take the road of the coward. This road can manifest in different ways, such as: self-deprecation and self-blame, blaming others, or avoidance and escape. Each of these ways has one thing in common, a refusal to confront the problem directly. While this may not be possible in every instance, the question of “fight or flight” will separate the brave from the coward in any crisis.

When Everything Goes Wrong

Frustrating Times

There are some times in our lives when it seems that everything goes wrong at the same time. This can be quite frustrating, as one crisis can be dealt with, but multiple crises can make us feel overwhelmed. For example, when you need extra money to pay an unexpected bill, the car will not start. Or when your child needs something special for school, the roof starts to leak. In the world, this has come to be known as Murphy’s Law.

Another Look at the Glass

Personal Outlook

In describing how one approaches the outlook of one’s life, the contrast between optimism and pessimism is the most powerful. These two philosophies embody two distinct ends of perspective toward how to approach problems, either as obstacles or challenges. While there is a degree of over-simplification in this process, as no person tends to be specifically one or the other, optimism vs. pessimism can tell a lot about an individual’s attitude toward life.

Handing Over Control to God

A Universal Truism

One universal truism about the nature of mankind is that men and women make very poor masters of our own lives. Without exception, we at some point fail and fall short of God’s expectation (Rom. 3:23). However, even knowing this, there is a strong temptation to be the master of our lives and to allow a “self”, which those in Christ have spiritually died to (Rom. 6), to once again be an influence over our decisions both great and small.