Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.”
Crisis – is an English word derive from (2) Chinese symbols which mean danger and opportunity. This may seem contradictory but it is not. Simply, because anytime that a catastrophic, hazardous, or dangerous situation arise in our lives, it places us in a position of opportunity to (either change some things in our life and excel or to retreat and fail). But most of all it creates an opportunity for us who believe God un-waveringly to give God some advance praise. Also, a crises can simply be viewed as a turning point in one’s life, it triggers an internal reaction to external situation.
A crisis consists of four basic elements:
- A hazardous event – a bad ordeal
- A vulnerable state – normally severe stress has set in and depression has taken over
- A precipitating factor – something that results from the initial bad ordeal
- Active crises phase – point where an individual can no longer function
They are plethora things that may trigger or set off a crisis in a individual, such as: stress, depression and/or anxiety, repression – whereby an individual force an idea or impulse in the subconscious of the mind, but it remain vital and a lot times alter one’s behavior), and suppression – to exclude from the conscious, a kept secret, or keep from being known or viewed by others,
death, uncontrollable guilt for past sins, and uncontrollable anger (or rage), that are normally results from un-addressed issues, stress, and/or depression.
Some triggers that cause a crisis in a family – marital issues, child or children having behavioral issues –being out of control, family member incarceration, severe physical injury of some type, domestic violence and abuse (this includes child abuse, spousal abuse, and geriatric or abuse of the elderly, terminal illness or sickness like… cancer, HIV, and etc..,
3 key factors that are normally present during a “Crisis”:
- Anger
- Severe Stress
- Depression
Points to remember when facing a crisis:
- Establish & maintain a strong relationship with Christ
- Explore the issue or crisis you maybe faced with (take a close look at it from God’s perspective) Fully understand what you are being faced with.
- Decide what course of action you should take based upon your circumstance and your resources
- Talk with someone who is a good listener and will give you an unbiased opinion
- Face the situation head-up
- Have the ability to continue to push forward
- Accept your responsibility of what role you may have had in the crisis
- Weigh all of your options for resolution
- Analyze what you have the ability to change and that you can’t
- Surrender the entire situation unto God
- Keep your communication open with other individuals around you
- Take action
- Avert from setting unrealistic goals
- Keep hope alive
- Always rely on God
- Establish and maintain solid self-esteem throughout the crisis
- Initiate and complete those things with your ability
So ask yourself, am I in a crisis? If so am I handling it in a Godly way? Or am I just stuck in a state of confusion and don’t know what to do?
Closing thoughts, watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch you habits they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny!
God Bless – A Note From The Counselor’s Corner,
Dalton Kornegay, PhD
