Hanging On

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

─ Psalm 34:19

Carla had reached the end of her rope, and the knot at the end was fraying thin. A job loss had been followed by a car accident. Although she was not at fault, it had left her daughter with a broken wrist and Carla without a car. The accident had happened when they were on the way to the hospital because her mother’s chemotherapy was not going well. Carla wasn’t sure how much more she could handle.

And Carla is not alone. Many believers struggle—with finances, with family, with any number of crises—most of their lives. Being a Christian doesn’t stop the trials in our lives. Our faith is not a remedy or an easy cure for the difficulties that plague us. It doesn’t give us the ability to dodge trouble.

Instead, our faith provides ammunition for perseverance and hope through the hard times in our lives. Scripture reminds us that if we ask, God will give us the strength we need. Being in a faith community will give us friends to call on and talk to. Prayer will help calm us, bring us peace and bring us close to God. If we call upon Him, the end of the rope won’t feel quite so hopeless.

Today’s One Thing

Ask God for one thing that you need to face your current struggles—strength, patience or a reminder of His presence.

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