Swindoll's Book Shares Biblical Tips for Surviving Tough Times
by Allie Martin
January 24, 2005
(AgapePress) - A noted Bible teacher, speaker and pastor is trying to help Christians cope with life's problems and heartaches. In his new book, Getting Through the Tough Stuff (W Publishing Group, 2004), Dr. Chuck Swindoll covers 14 topics that everyone has in common, dealing with such issues as anxiety, temptation, confrontation, and shame. According to the author, although Christ never promises an easy life for believers, he does promise his presence in the midst of trials.
Swindoll says believers need to address each problem through the eyes of Christ, who "meets us at every crossroad and says, 'I understand. I'm here for you. My presence is not just an empty promise, but I can give you strength you don't have in yourself and hope when all of your hopes have been drowned.'"
The popular Bible teacher says although life may be filled with discouragement, Jesus is able to offer believers strength to go on and can make their dreams greater than their memories of past failures. And while believers are by no means immune from problems in this world, he asserts, they do have the original self-help manual to navigate life's pitfalls.
However, Swindoll points out that people's problems are often compounded by sin. Still, he says, through God's grace and repentance, they can find true solutions. And at the same time, he adds, a person's attitude can play a big role in overcoming life's obstacles.
"I think if a person enters every day determined to take on whatever comes that day with a spirit that says, 'This is not going to defeat me. First, I'm not going to be surprised if it happens; second, I'm not going to give up, no matter how tough it is. I am going to lean on my faith in Christ, knowing he'll get me through this.'"
Swindoll is pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. His ministry extends far beyond the local church body, however, through his Bible-teaching radio ministry, Insight for Living. Currently the 30-minute Insight for Living radio broadcast airs daily on more than 2,000 radio outlets worldwide.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
