written by: Carissa Waggoner
Have you ever faced a challenging situation or found yourself in an impossible circumstance? Do you remember thinking you didn’t know how to navigate through it? Did you have feelings of fear and dismay? Did you dread the inevitable? Did you question your strength to persevere?
I think we all have had those moments or seasons. Times when our hope was only in the life everlasting and not in today. It’s the place where our faith and trust waivered. When we face trials of every kind, we simply don’t know how to manifest the strength to persevere.
An encouraging word from a friend helps at the moment, but we quickly fall back into despair over what we are facing. Reality sets in, and the situation is what it is.
So, how do we find strength?
Nehemiah 8:10
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
You may ask How do I find joy in these circumstances? Joy is a gift from God. It is the fruit of the Spirit and manifests in our soul when we keep our focus on God’s promises, when we come into His presence in prayer, and we remember His gift of salvation, not only in the eternal but in the here and now.
Psalm 121:1-2
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
There is joy in knowing that we are not alone. Joy in knowing that God is with us and our ever-present help in time of trouble. When we face times of trouble, we can trust that God will be there to help. He will be our strength, our refuge, and our protector.
Psalm 46:1
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 28:7
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
We find confidence and courage as we have joy in hope of God’s love and help. This joy despite our situations makes us strong to face any giant. We can joyfully praise God in the storm as we rejoice in His goodness.
Philippians 4:4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
James 1:2
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
So, when you are facing trials, your faith and trust in God’s love and His work in you will bring joy, the fruit of the Spirit, abounding. You will find strength. You will overcome.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
John 16:24
24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Romans 15:13-14
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer – Nehemiah 1:5-7
God, our Father, “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” We ask to be filled with joy and peace as we put our trust in you. May we overflow with hope by the power of your Holy Spirit. May our joy be complete. May we sing praises to you in the storms of life. We want to be joyful beyond understanding in all our challenges, so that others who don’t know you will come to have a desire for you, Lord. May all we do glorify you. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen!
Becoming His 
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