Tag Archives: faith during difficult times

Dec29

Anchored in Hope: Trusting the Power of God’s Word

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Everything written in the past was written to teach us. 
The Scriptures give us strength to go on.
They encourage us and give us hope.
Romans 15:4 NIRV

Finding Strength and Hope Through God’s Word

Life can sometimes feel like a storm — chaotic, uncertain, and overwhelming. In those moments, it’s easy to feel lost and unsure where to turn. But the good news is, we don’t have to face these struggles alone. Romans 15:4 reminds us that God’s Word is a lifeline, offering strength, encouragement, and hope. “Everything written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us strength to go on. They encourage us and give us hope.” When life’s challenges feel too heavy to bear, the timeless wisdom found in God’s Word is there to guide us through it all.

The Bible is more than a collection of ancient stories or moral guidelines—it is a living source of strength, encouragement, and hope we can turn to at any moment. The experiences, lessons, and promises written in the Scriptures can help us through our most challenging moments. They are God’s way of reminding us that we are never alone, and we can always rely on His presence and guidance.

~ Guidance for Every Step

In times of confusion or doubt, it’s easy to feel like we’re wandering without direction. But God’s Word provides the clarity we need. Through the stories of the past, we see examples of God leading His people through impossible circumstances. Whether it was Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, David facing giants, Paul enduring hardship and persecution, …and countless others, each story reveals how God guides those who trust Him.

When we’re unsure of what steps to take next, we can turn to the Bible for guidance. Its words are filled with wisdom for everyday life, helping us to navigate difficult decisions, relationships, and challenges.

~ Strength to Keep Going

Life can be exhausting, especially when we feel burdened by the weight of our struggles. But as this verse in Romans reminds us, the Scriptures provide the strength we need to carry on. When we’re weary, the promises of God give us the endurance to keep going. Verses like Isaiah 40:31 remind us, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

By spending time in God’s Word, we are reminded that our strength doesn’t come from our own abilities—it comes from God. His Word fills us with the power to persevere, even when the road ahead seems impossible.

~ Encouragement in Every Season

We all face seasons of discouragement, where it feels like everything is against us. But the Bible offers words of encouragement that can lift our spirits in the darkest times. In its pages, we see the faithfulness of God to His people and the assurance that He is still faithful to us today.

The Psalms, in particular, are filled with heartfelt prayers of people who struggled with fear, grief, and doubt, yet found comfort in God’s presence. When we’re feeling discouraged, we can take comfort in knowing that the same God who was faithful to them is faithful to us.

~ Hope That Anchors Us

Hope allows us to see beyond our current circumstances and trust that God is working everything for our good. The Bible is full of promises that give us hope for the future. Romans 8:28 tells us, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Even when we don’t understand what’s happening in our lives, we can hold onto the hope that God is in control and has a plan for us.

Turn to God’s Word

When life feels overwhelming, open your Bible. Let the words of Scripture remind you that God is with you, guiding you, strengthening you, and giving you hope for the future.

A Prayer for Today:

“Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Help us to turn to You for guidance, strength, and hope, trusting in Your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Related Verses:

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Nov28

God’s Will for You: Giving Thanks in All Circumstances

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“For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

What is God’s will for your life? Scripture makes it clear: give thanks in all circumstances. This is His will for you—whether life is good or difficult.

It’s easy to be thankful when life is flowing smoothly and when blessings are abundant. A grateful heart comes naturally when things are going well. But what about when life is hard? When we face hardship, heartbreak, loss, or suffering, God’s will for us remains the same—to continually give thanks. It may feel counterintuitive, but even in our darkest moments, His call is for us to give thanks because He is always with us in the storm.

By giving thanks, even in pain, we invite God’s presence into our circumstances. Psalm 22:3 reminds us, “God inhabits the praises of His people.” When we praise Him, especially in our hardest times, we make room for His power and comfort to fill our hearts.

Remember, just because something difficult happens doesn’t mean it’s God’s will. We live in a broken world, and bad things happen that aren’t directly caused by God. But as believers, we hold onto Romans 8:28, which assures us, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God doesn’t cause the bad, but He can use even the worst situations for our good.

In times of trial, we can trust that He is with us, working behind the scenes, even when we don’t understand how.

No matter what you’re facing today—whether it’s a long-awaited breakthrough or a sudden storm—choosing to give thanks, even in the midst of it all, becomes a declaration that God is sovereign, that He is good, and that His love and faithfulness will carry us through.

We can always choose to thank God, trusting that His goodness will sustain us.

A Prayer for Today:

"Dear Lord, Remind us of Your constant presence and faithfulness, no matter what we face in life. Teach us to give thanks in all circumstances, trusting that You are working for our good. May our hearts be filled with praise, even in the storm, and may Your peace and comfort surround us. Thank You for Your love that never fails. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Related Verses:

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100: 4 - 5
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 34:1
Sep13

Trust the God of Limitless Possibilities

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All I have seen Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

“Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.”
Isaiah 40:28
 

Our finite human minds cannot begin to comprehend the infinite wisdom of God. We try to understand and explain God using our limited knowledge and language based on our earthly experiences, but the scope of God’s almighty and all-powerful attributes is beyond human comprehension. And probably the most difficult thing for us to grasp is that the Creator of all the earth ~ Who never grows weak or weary ~ cares for each of us personally. He is readily available 24/7 to hear our prayers and provide help, healing, comfort, provision, strength, courage or safety for His children.

Is there something you are dealing with that seems overwhelming – like you don’t have the power or wisdom to face it on your own? Turn to the God of Limitless Possibilities and ask Him for help.  He cares about every intimate detail of your life. Nothing is impossible ~ or too wonderful ~ for Him.

 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

“And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27
 
“Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard or too wonderful for You— ” Jeremiah 32:17 (AMP)
Jul9

Inexpressible Joy

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IMG_3950

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;
and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him
and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
2 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
 

Imagine the feeling of inexpressible joy! There are many joyous moments in life that bring about such a feeling:  the birth of a precious baby, finding the love of your life, landing your dream job, …even good news from an oncology report.  Of course all of these wonderful events would naturally elicit the feeling of indescribable joy, but for the child of God, joy can be experienced even in the darkest moments of life.

Here’s the astonishing truth:  Joy is not the absence of sorrow, disappointments, struggles, or suffering.  Joy is God’s presence in all things.

Joy is an aspect of God’s nature and character, and so to draw near to God is to draw near to joy.  As a child of God, you can tap into inexpressible and glorious joy continually.  When waves of difficulty crash over your life, the burden is greatest if you feel a sense of isolation in the midst of your suffering.  Yet when God is there, all your difficulties are infused with His mysterious and glorious joy. Spend time in His presence and be filled you with His inexpressible joy, no matter what you are facing in life.

    • “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5b (AMP)
    • “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b (NIV)
    • “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a (NKJV)
    • “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
Dec30

Yet I Will Rejoice

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Cardinal in snow crop“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce not food,

 though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

YET I WILL REJOICE IN GOD MY SAVIOR.  

 The sovereign Lord is my strength;

He makes my feet like the feet of the deer, He enables me to go on the heights.”  

Habakkuk 3:17 – 19 (NIV)

The verse above describes some very bleak circumstances:  starvation, desolation and loss.  Perhaps you are experiencing difficult times in your life:  Job loss? Financial struggles? Illness? Heartache? Or the loss of a loved one?  When everything around you is going wrong and the burdens you face seem to be more than you can bear ~ even when all is lost ~ God is still there!

What should our response be when we experience hardship or trials?  Some of us might begin to question why a just God would allow bad things to happen to His children.  Why does an all-powerful God ~ who can do anything ~ not prevent tragic events from impacting our lives? We might begin to doubt Him, and our faith might waiver during difficult times. Yet Habakkuk proclaims that even during devastating circumstances, he will still rejoice in his Savior and have faith in God’s ability to strengthen him.

At some point in time, we all experience difficulties in life.  Jesus Himself told us, “…In this world you will have trouble…” (John 16:33 NIV)  He knew that our lives would not always be easy.  But the conclusion of that verse gives up great hope, “…But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  So even though the world will bring us trouble, our Savior has overcome the world!   

If the circumstances of your life seem to be constantly churning with tumultuous changes, “take heart” and place your hope firmly in the unchanging Lord of your life. Rejoice in this truth:  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)  Trust in the eternal love, mercy, grace, and goodness of God, and realize that your “faith muscle” is being strengthened during times of adversity.  Don’t allow your attitude to be dictated by your circumstances, but rather find joy ~ and your strength to keep going ~ in Jesus Christ. Perhaps God has a better opportunity for you on the other side of this hardship, but you have to have faith in Him to see you through the dark valley.  So when your life appears to be crumbling to pieces all around you, rejoice in the fact that Christ is your firm and solid foundation.  “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.”  (Psalm 62:2 NIV)