Signora Sheila

At the risk of sounding like a doomsday prophet I’d say that difficult times are upon us and bound to get worse. Financial woes, unstable governments, pandemics, alarming Great Resets, crumbling values. There are also existential threats to health and the environment, according to experts.

Indeed, on our summer treks people everyone everywhere spoke of difficulties. It was a blessing for us to reconnect with friends. But there was nonetheless an underlying air of heaviness and concern.

Surrounded by trouble

Italian society is now dominated by the draconian Covid Green Pass; no one can even work without it. This is causing a lot of problems and divisions (pro and con, vaccinated and not vaccinated).

This virus and the resulting crises have touched all of our lives in some way. Not just illness, but the loss of loved ones, savings, jobs, and freedom. People are wondering how to go on, how to survive.

And it’s not over yet. Hard times are upon us, and they are not likely to end anytime soon.

People are losing hope

But our greatest danger is all the fear and hopelessness. For they lead to discouragement and despair. And they cloud the unshakeble truth that God is always in control.

A young mother who’s expecting her second child, shared how depressed she feels. She questions the wisdom of bringing children into such a world. A world of diminishing freedom and increasing problems. And who can blame her? The world seems to be spinning out of control.

That’s why, more than ever, we need calm and order in our own lives. In fact, we need our own personal reset! Because taking action can make things seem under control and bring hope back into sight.

We need our own Great Reset!

To implement your own personal reset, try these suggestions. They can help you face these, and future hard times, with courage, strength, and God’s wisdom.

1. Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.

The Scriptures tell us that “in the last days, distressing times will come.” But it also says that even though winter is coming, we can prepare!

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”

Proverbs 6:6-8

2. Prepare materially.

Go back to basics, live within your means. And follow the old adage: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

• Live frugually
  Being frugal is still a sensible virtue. And it doesn’t mean being cheap or stingy!
• Reduce debt
  During the Great Depression, people adopted a policy of not buying unless they could pay with cash. Spending money before you have it is unwise!
• Simplify, simplify, simplify
  Not just decluttering, even though it’s a helpful thing to do. There is more to it than that. Plan simple menus, simple schedules, and simple pleasures.
• Cultivate contentment
  Contentment can help you see how much you already have and that enough really is, well, enough.
• Hold on to hard goods
  As prices rise, hold on to tools and other hard goods. You might need them in the future, and then they would probably cost more. Or you could sell them down the road in case you need money.
• Make do or do without
  Instead of buying something new, see if you can adapt or fix something you already own.
• Invent new ways, learn new skills
  Learn to sew, knit, perserve food, and do your own repairs. You could even trade your skills, like exchanging sewing for some home-canned foods. Or trading computer repairs for having your trees trimmed!
• Stick together
  Learn from the pioneer and depression eras and start pooling labor and resources. It can lighten your work load and make life easier.

3. Prepare spiritually

Hard times, shifting values, and crisis situations test faith and families. So work at growing your faith and passing it on to your family.

• Cling to gratitude
  Times are hard, but we still have food to eat. Political and social pressures are overwhelming, but God is still in control!
• Reject fear
  Why waste time worrying about things that may never happen? And even if the worst does happen, God will see us through.
• Feed on the Scriptures
  In it we find peace, joy, love, strength, guidance, and wisdom. It is far more valuable than all the how-to books you could ever own!
• Hide God’s Word in your heart
  In many places it’s illegal to own or even read the Bible. Persecution and other disasters can strike anywhere at any time, sweeping away both our printed and digital forms of Scripture. We could be left with only what’s in our memory.
• Prepare your children
  Discuss the changes that may occur. Assure your children that God will help you get through it together. Build their faith (and your own) so that even the toughest times will not break you down. Remember Joseph, Esther, and Daniel.

4. Cling to hope

You may feel helplessly trapped by circumstances beyond your control. But nothing surprises God. No matter what happens, He is our hope and the rock we can cling to. He will see us through.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 42:11

📷 Image credits: phone; hope; now-later; bank; family