IN TIMES LIKE THESE...

On the first day of January 2012, millions of Nigerians woke up to a stunning reality: the much hyped-about fuel subsidy removal has come into effect when nobody, most especially ordinary Nigerians, was in any way prepared for it! And to add salt to injury, opponents of this policy were hounded, rounded up, beaten ruthlessly, wounded, and even killed while trying to vent their frustration and anger in peaceful protests!

Whether you support or oppose this policy, I want you to know this: tough times like these have been predicted long ago, and are happening everywhere. The Bible said in 2 Timothy 3.1, "Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days" (GNB). In other words, critical times like these cannot but happen at this point in our national or personal life journey. Economic crises, credit crunch, soaring prices, insensitive government policies, and many more are just some of these negative indices that are meant to jolt and rattle us to the realities of life!

Should we then lose our sanity or sense of belonging? Not at all! Apostle Paul reiterated in 2 Corinthians 4.17 that problems like these are "small, temporal, and purposeful." That is to say, there's purpose in pain! According to King David, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all" (Psalms 34.19 RSV).

It is normal to feel personal or corporate pain when there are national or global upheavals like these, when we experience economic, social, psychological and monetary distortions. Trust me, these are really tough times, when the going gets really tough!

How then, do we respond in times like these? Try the following principles and see how effective they can be in helping us deal with adversities:

P- pray for divine intervention;

E- expect positive resolution;

A- advocate for peaceful solutions;

C- consider alternate solutions; and

E- empower yourself positively for situations like these.

Remember these golden words:

"In the world you have tribulations and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer! For I have overcome the world" (John 16.33 AMP).

"Peace I leave with you... Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let it them be afraid" (John 14.27 AMP).

"Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loved us" (Romans 8.37).

Dear friend, in times like these when the going gets tough, the only solution is to trust in God, and see beyond the situation through the eyes of faith.

Behind every cloud, there is always a silver lining. And at the end of every tunnel, there is always a comforting light!

You will succeed!

Stephen Obasun