How to Respond When Life Gets Crappy

by Annie Yorty ©2021

Sorry about the crude title, but I must be real. On top of a mountain of other . . . well . . . stuff, my brand-new toilet leaked on my brand-new floor. That’s what inspired me to write about how to respond when life gets crappy. (*See my special plea at the end of the blog.)

Picture this—

You’re out for a stroll on a warm summer evening. Admiring the fiery sun sinking into the horizon, you sigh as a light breeze lifts your hair. Your eyes drink in the beauty of blooms straining toward waning rays of light. Mind at ease, you bask in the pink glow of dusk.

But wait! Suddenly, a thousand tiny somethings pelt your face. Sputtering, your tongue spits them out. Ugh! It’s a storm of gnats persisting despite your dance of the wildly waving hands.

Those gnats are like the pesky irritants in life that plague us. Things seem to be clicking along well, and then, Bam! Life’s gnats swarm you.

Lord, I’m overwhelmed!

Superstitious people often say bad things come in threes. If that were true, my last month quadrupled down. (For those who don’t like math, that’s twelve.)

Among the casualties were my printer, ice maker, dishwasher, email app, computer, internet, a leaky basement, a nest of bees, two cars, and an insurance denial. The coup de grâce—my new toilet leaking—inspired me to write about how to respond when life gets crappy. Literally.

If ever there were a time to look up and perceive God, it’s now.

My problems are no different than your problems. This is normal life. And I acknowledge we all sometimes endure troubles of a much greater magnitude. But these smaller “bugs” often demoralize us, stealing joy from the abundant life God wants us to experience.

As I lamented (aka whined about) my toilet and all the other gnats of life, God brought several truths to my mind about how to respond when life gets crappy.

1. Take one day, and one problem, at a time.

When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it (Numbers 11:9 ESV)

After God released His people from bondage in Egypt, He provided food for them throughout a long time of wandering in the wilderness. Manna, as it was called, fell daily from heaven in just the right quantity for one day. It was impossible to save it for the next day.

Likewise, we should trust God for just a daily provision to apply to each problem. We don’t need to aggregate all the molehills into a giant mountain.

2. Maybe cry. But then definitely laugh.

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22 NASB).

Develop a sense of humor about life. It truly does help us cope when we can laugh at ourselves and some of the ridiculous situations we encounter.

3. Count your blessings.

Giving thanks when we’re pulling out our hair over pests is counterintuitive. But it is possible to train our minds to look up from ourselves to seek something praiseworthy.

I may not have a printer, but I have a hand capable of writing.

Though my ice maker is kaput, there’s plenty of water.

I have a second toilet in my house.

For all these things and many, many more, I should be thanking God.

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (James 1:2-3 NASB).

We can also thank God for using our problems to develop good character and stronger faith.

4. Immerse yourself in God’s Word.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2a NASB).

God’s Word renews our weary, heavy-laden minds. In it we learn the truth about God, His character, and His ways. The more we see of God, the smaller our problems become. It’s all about perspective.

5. Allow God’s Spirit to lead and control you.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5 ESV, emphasis added).

I recently reread A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23¹ by W. Phillip Keller. It’s packed with wise insights, but one section especially pertains to how to respond when life gets crappy. Keller compares the oil in this psalm to the anointing (application) of God’s Holy Spirit.

Like sheep need to be dipped in an oil/chemical solution to eradicate parasites, we need a daily washing by the Holy Spirit. Only then will our cup overflow with peace instead of worry, joy instead complaining, patience instead of annoyance.

6. Ask God to help you.

God controls everything in this crazy world. Even the gnats. He loves us and promises to show us how to respond when life gets crappy. (Obviously, He puts it far more eloquently than I.)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6 NASB).

The God who created and upholds the universe is on our side. He gives us everything we need to thrive through life’s irritants, whether they hit one at a time or swarm by the dozen.

Join the conversation:

What tips can you add to my list?

Are any swarms buzzing you right now? How can I pray for you?

I welcome your comments.

*Please don’t ever tell Alyssa I used this “naughty” word. She strenuously disapproves. 😊 #downsyndrome

Notes:

¹W. Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), 143-145.