When Family Life Is A Struggle

What do you do when family life is a struggle?

So often I hear of people that are facing relational struggles, whether it be parents and teens or between spouses. One thing I can tell you, these struggles have the potential to debilitate every area of a persons life. But it doesn't have to be that way. Can I give you some practical steps that you can take to help when facing these kinds of struggles.

1. Pray Do not underestimate the power of prayer. The strength found in prayer is what will get you through. The need to fall before God admitting you total dependence on Him should not be underestimated. You see, we must put God as #1 in our situation before we can see His power evident. Prayer does just that, it removes our dependence on everything and puts it on God. Keep praying even when you think it's not making any difference.
2. Reach Out To Friends You can't do this on your own. You need to surround yourself with people that care for you, support you and point you in the right direction. Avoid people that are negative or critical of your family, church or the good steps you need to take.
   
3. Serve Out Of Your Hurt Find others you can encourage in the very area you are struggling. Don't find someone to wallow in self pity with, but find someone to encourage and help grow in this very area.
   
4. Find A Counselor You need someone that can speak truth into you life about your current struggle. So often we wait till it's too late to seek help. After all, only "desperate people" go to counselors. Not TRUE, healthy people make the healthy choice to seek help for the challenging areas of life. Do you go to the doctor when you are basically healthy, sure you do. You go to deal with a problem area. Do the same with counseling. I can recommend some great counselors.
5. Read The Bible Fill you mind with God's truth to counter the lies that flood your mind.Don't run on empty.
   
6. Confront The Problem I am surprised at how many couples or families try to sweep the problem under the rug only to end up with catastrophe.
   

My heart goes out to those of you that are facing relational struggles. I'm praying for you. Please understand this list is not a step by step fix, but some advice to point you in the right direction.

Galatians 6:9 NLT "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." This verse has kept me going when times have been hard. Keep doing the right thing.