I’ve lived through several economic recessions, personal upheavals and family
challenges in the last 30 years of marriage and ministry. These experiences
have taught me several key lessons about living through hard times.

Lesson #1 – Always Wait on God
When calamity strikes, the temptation is to do something. Governments have
to have action plans and we’re always ready to make something happen when
there is a crisis. But I’ve learned that the best “first response” to a hard time is
to practice waiting for God’s lead.
This doesn’t mean we do nothing. It simply means that when we do have to
act, it is in response to and guided by God’s lead and not our own.

Lesson #2 – The Lord Always Provides
The great fear in hard times is that we won’t have enough. Enough
money, enough strength, enough time, wisdom – whatever! This fear
pushes us to do many foolish and even sinful things at times.
Thankfully, God reminds us over and over again in His Word that He
will always provide whatever we need – in good times or bad. Looking
back over the last three decades of ministry and family life I cannot think
of a single instance where God failed to provide for the church or myself
in every circumstance. I don’t see why it should be any different today.
Lesson #3 – It’s Always About Faith
People look for reasons to explain the economic collapse so they can
avoid similar chaos in the future.
This, of course, is the best that unbelievers can do when facing crisis –
learn from it so it doesn’t happen again. But the child of God gains more
than financial wisdom from such events. He sees God working in his life
to develop a stronger faith and trust in Christ.
The Christian realizes that even if the world is in turmoil, because of
faith he is at peace and nothing, not even this world wide recession that
poses a financial threat to his well being, can take away his hope for
eternal life that rests in Jesus.
Things change, the scope and nature of the hard times that worry us are
different from year to year, but these lessons remain the same for every
generation until He comes.
Mike