There is not one person who goes through life without struggles. Stress, anxiety and fear are common occurrences and something to be expected with the trials we face in our lives. Confusion, illness or death, questions of why God would let this happen to you- we all face struggles and we cannot defeat them without the help of God. When I face struggles, serious ones or i have a billion things to do struggles, these verses helped to encourage and give hope in the midst of a storm.
Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Knowing that what we deal with on this Earth is nothing compared to God's glory is incredible. It helps to put things in perspective and get you through tough times.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
What a beautiful verse to show us that what is temporary is just that, just momentary compared to even the daily renewal of our souls.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
The image of a fruitful tree is one that I strive to mimic. Never failing to bear fruit, and not worrying about disaster are qualities we should all want.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Struggling in its most basic form helps those who face it to grow.
Psalm 9:9-10 “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”The Lord will not forsake us. He is our stronghold, or fortress and place of refuge and he will prevail.
Romans 8:37-39"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The promise here of God's powerful love midst deep waters and anything life throws at us is one that can be used to encourage always. We can never fully understand God's love, but we also can't stop being reminded of it.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
We should try to be content in our weaknesses, knowing that we are growing stronger through our trials.
Isaiah 40:31"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
To not grow weary is something we aren't often familiar with, but the idea of it with God's help is so refreshing to know.
