What Has Your Crisis Taught You?

2 Kings 6:5 - "As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”
 
·         The Borrowed Crisis
 
I am sure many of us can relate to this crisis. You borrow something from someone and you break or lose it.
 
Can we live in such a way as to prevent a crisis from barging into our lives?
 
I believe the answer is "yes". We can avoid some but not all crises. If you are like me you can think back on some of your past crises and had you listened to the advice you were given from parents, friends or spouse you could have avoided some of them.
 
There is no way we will avoid all crises.
 

• Crisis Meaning

 
A crisis is when you are not able to cope with personal life situations. Some crises are very hard to endure. They last a long time. You may have had to watch a loved one suffer many years with cancer.
 
Then others are over almost as fast as they started: such as you lost your wedding ring, keys or wallet only to find them minutes or hours later.
 
If you are in a crisis right now maybe this Pump Up will help get you through it. If you are not in a crisis odds are pretty good you will encounter one within the next few months.
 

• Facts About A Crisis

 
First, there are no insignificant ones. Our lives rest figuratively speaking on a set of balance scales. When one side gets too far out of balance a crisis is near.
 
As parents, we might say to our children, "Be patient, everything is going to be okay." What we are saying is "Learn to cope with this crisis."
 
The next time you find yourself in a crisis remember this - there are no insignificant ones. Then ask yourself, "How might I cope with this crisis?" Can I figure this out on my own, should I confide in a friend or seek professional help?
 
Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success." NLT
 
Second, they can illuminate us. The crisis we find ourselves in can open our eyes to see things as we've never seen them before. What crisis can you look back on and say honestly, "I am glad I went through it. It has made me a better stronger person."
 
Now not all crises will have this effect but I would say more will than won't. I remember a man telling me one time, "Gary, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger."
 
I didn't want to hear those words at that time, but he was correct.
 
Think About This:
 
See your crisis as liberation, not incarceration.

​Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word