Isiah 43:2-3

"When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through the rivers of difficulty you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy one of Israel, Your Savior."

The fact that we encounter adversity is not nearly as important as the way we choose to deal with it. When tough times arrive we have a clear choice: we can lay down and let desperation drag us down or we can begin the difficult work of tackling our troubles. when we summon the courage to look trouble in the eye and amazing thing usually happens: it blinks, we overcome, and we are stronger for it.

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light"

We all bear some burdens in this life but when we choose to take up and share the "yoke" of Jesus, we can find rest. for the burdens of this lifehave already been overcome, the battles already won. He bore the weight of the world on His shoulder and it came in the shape of a cross. He bore that weight, and continues to do so today, so that we don't have to.

Hebrews 13:15

"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name"

What would happen if we took up a practice of praise for all that we have been given. It would change our perspective, it would change our lives. So today may we take nothing for granted, may we send up our praises and our thanks to the give of all things.

Proverbs 16:9

"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps"

Control of the world is not our duty. It is through giving up control of what's outside of us and instead control ourselves when peace is found. It's through deep connection with our Father and focusing just on the next step when we gain clarity and direction. That is when God's plan is often revealed to us and we can accept, begin to understand, and live according to His plan.

John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world"

There are fewer sad sights in this world than someone who has lost hope. But as Jesus tells us in John 16, in Him we may find peace. This world is indeed a place of trials and tribulations, but as believers, we are secure. Our Jesus has conquered all our worldly fears, and Our Heavenly Father has promised us peace, joy, and eternal life. And of course,He always keeps His promises.

John 8:7

"When they continued to ask Jesus their question, He raised up and said "anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her"

Perfection is only found in Our Heavenly Father and in Our Risen Christ. May we reserve judgement to those who have no faults and instead look inward at our hearts and our own acts for when we judge others it speaks more to our hearts than the other's. May we avoid the temptations of this world and walk in the loving footsteps of Jesus.

Psalms 94:19

"When my anxieties multiply, your comforting calms me down"

Jesus faced many fears in His life. He encountered a great number of people that had anxieties. But throughout His life He calmed troubled waters. He brought hope. He accomplished this by bringing them communion with His Father

Romans 12:4-5

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other"

We each are created with a purpose to contribute in some way. As individuals in the unity of Christ may we adhere to the "what I can't dos" in this moment but may we seek out and act on the "what I can do" of this moment.

Luke 22:42

"Father, if it is your will, take this cup from Me; nevertheless no My will, but yours be done"

As human beings, with limited understanding, we can never fully understand the will of Our Father. But as believers in a loving Father, we always trust His will. When we entrust our lives to Him completely and without reservation, He gives us strength to meet any challenge, the courage to face any fear, and the wisdom to live in His goodness.

John 15:9

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love"

Our Heavenly Father loves us as if we there are only one of us. But sometimes we are satisfied to keep Him at a safe distance. But we should seek Him and His love, looking to build an intimate relationship. He is with us if we are open to Him. He is everywhere we have ever been and will be everywhere we will ever go. We just need to seek him. You see He does not love us because we are valuable, we are valuable because He loves us. His intimate love is unconditional.