3 Encouraging Truths to Remember When Life Gets Hard…

Think about the disciples hanging out with Jesus on a boat when a life-threatening storm erupts on the water. They’re unprepared to face it and, panicking, realize they might die. The entire time this is happening, Jesus is sleeping peacefully.

Instead of looking at Jesus’ reaction to their situation, the disciples allowed their situation to dictate their reactions.

After begging Jesus to do something, He calms the storm… But not before asking them, “Why are you afraid?”

His gentle rebuke over their lack of faith wasn’t because they didn’t believe Jesus could save them from the storm, but because they struggled to believe He would see them through it.

When we find ourselves in storms we can’t control, how do we respond with faith? Here are three encouraging truths to remember:

1. God has power over every storm.

If the wind and waves don’t concern Him, then they shouldn’t frighten you. You might not be able to change your situation, but you can choose to faithfully trust God in the middle of it.

2. Fixing your eyes on Jesus leads to peace.

Are you looking at the size of the storm, or turning towards the One who can calm it? It’s only by focusing on God, who knows every outcome, that you can navigate any situation with His wisdom and peace.

3. Jesus is always in your boat.

It’s easy to focus on your fears when you can’t control your future. But thankfully, Jesus knows your future, and He’s always by your side. And, He calls you to live by faith, not by sight.

Whenever you find yourself overwhelmed by life, you always have two choices: you can focus on your circumstances, or fix your eyes on Jesus.

If you choose to look to Jesus above everything else, you will begin to see that the storms you face are not nearly as powerful as the Savior choosing to walk through the storm alongside you.

Reflect on God’s Word

Psalm 91 – Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty

1  
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2  
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3  
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

4  
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5  
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day

6  
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7  
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8  
You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9  
If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling

10  
no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

11  
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways

12  
they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13  
You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14  
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15  
He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16  
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91 NKJV

Psalm 91 NIV

Psalm 91 KJV

Psalm 91 NLT

Join us in Prayer today.

Don’t worry about anything…

Pray about everything - Philippians 4:6

No matter what we face, we don’t have to live in fear. In uncertain times, we can seek our unchanging God. One of the ways we can seek God is through prayer—which is simply an ongoing, honest conversation with God.

Prayer can absolutely change our circumstances, but most of all, it changes us. No matter what happens around us, God is always with us.

Not sure where to start? Pray with us:

Lord, thank You that You promise to deliver us from all our fears. Thank You for promising to never leave us or forsake us. We seek You above everything else, and praise You for who You are. Fill us with Your peace, Lord.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invite Friends to pray with you, and seek God together in community. Look for the Prayer feature in the Home feed of your Bible App:

Add a Prayer

New: Challenges on Bible App for Kids

Bible App for Kids Challenges

Challenge… Accepted!

Want to teach your kids about the Biblical big picture… in a fun way? Meet the newest Bible App for Kids feature: Challenges!

When your kids open the app, now they can enter a Challenge, and if they complete a set of stories in the proper sequence, they’ll earn a badge! Every time they get a new badge, they unlock another Challenge.

Every Challenge helps your kids see how different Bible stories connect into the bigger story God’s Word is telling. And collecting badges encourages your kids to continue exploring the Bible for themselves.

And now, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to start completing Challenges with your kids.

You unlocked a new Profile Badge and color for completing all of the Challenges. Congratulations!

Start a Challenge

Anxious or afraid? Here’s what God says:

What are you anxious about?

Look around and you’ll quickly see that our world is filled with instability and uncertainty. Every day seems to bring with it another disheartening news headline or unanswered question. In the midst of life’s struggles, how do we hold onto hope?

We fix our eyes on Jesus.

God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us. As we seek His heart, we find hope for our souls and strength to face whatever is in front of us. Our situation may not change, but when we spend time in God’s Word, our perspective shifts.

When you call on me,
when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.

Jeremiah 29:12

If you’re looking for more encouragement, try one of these Plans about anxiety and fear. Allow God to comfort you and fill you with His peace.

Find a Plan


Mountain lake with praying hands icon

A Prayer for Peace…

Lord God, life is hard and uncertain, but we know that You are in control and that nothing is impossible for You. Thank You for promising to never leave or forsake us. And thank You for promising to complete the good work that You started within us.

Nothing we go through ever surprises You. Please give us Your strength so that we can endure the situations we can’t control. Help us to trust You when we don’t understand. Fill us with the confident hope that You will see us through life’s storms, even if You don’t immediately rescue us from them.

God, You have said, “Seek my face.” And we are seeking Your face, God. We want to worship You, Jesus. Please answer us quickly as we call to You. Heal our land, and fill us with Your peace.

In Jesus’ name.