Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud – 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT)

There’s nothing harder sometimes than having to wait for something. Maybe you have a friend that takes forever to do her homework. And it drives you crazy working with her because she takes forever to get it done. Or perhaps you’ve got stuck behind a bunch of people walking slowly in the halls of your school. You want more than anything to shove them out of your way so that you don’t show up late to class.

Have you ever been so frustrated with someone going slow that you said or did something that was unkind out of frustration? Being patient with others can be extremely challenging at times.

So what are some ways you can be patient with the people who drive you crazy? First of all, begin to speak life-giving words over yourself. If you struggle with being impatient, and you’d like to change that, begin speaking daily to yourself that you’re patient. Changing your talk can greatly help you on your path to becoming a person of patience.

Today’s Truth: To change your habits, change what you speak. There’s power in positive words.

Also, take an honest look at your life. Some of the moments I’m the most impatient are those that I’ve overscheduled myself or overcommitted. If you’ve overscheduled your day, and are stressed, you’re more likely to be impatient.

Choose today to practice patience in your dealings with others. Choose to show others the love of God by being a person who is patient with others.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time. – Proverbs 17:17 (HCSB)

Have you ever needed a friend when you were going through a difficult time? Maybe your grandparent passed away, or you’re dealing with low self-esteem, or maybe you’ve just got a bad case of the Mondays. Whatever the case may be, there are times when we just need a good friend.

Good friends are sometimes hard to come by. Many people don’t really stick by you when things get tough. At the first sign of difficulty, friends often leave. However, when you find a true friend, you know you’ve found a special thing.

Even if you feel like you don’t have a good friend, you can practice being a good friend to others. Go out of your way to do something nice for someone that might be having a bad day. Buy some candy for the student who failed his algebra test. Practice kindness and be a true friend to the people God has placed in your life.

Today’s Truth: Practice kindness and be a true friend to the people God has placed in your life.

As you give to others, you’ll be blessed as well. So choose today to be a good friend to the people in your life. Choose to be there for them when they’re going through difficult situations. Pray for them when they don’t know what to do. Ask God how you can make a difference to them. He’ll show you lots of great ways you can help those around you if you’re open to it.

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, – Psalm 91:9

Where do you go when you’re upset? Do you have a place you like? When I was a little kid, I loved going into my closet where it was dark to hide when I was upset. It helped me calm down and it was nice to just have a place where I felt no one could find me.

In this Bible verse, we are encouraged to think of God as a refuge. We are to think of Him as a safe place, where we can get away from our problems and find peace. Its interesting though how often we forget about God’s ability to be our shelter in tough times. We often turn to friends, our room, a TV show, or even over eat when we’re upset. The best place we can turn in tough times is to God.

God is willing to be your refuge from the troubles of life. Will you make Him your safe place? The next time you experience trouble, take a moment to think about God. Give Him a chance to be your safe place, your refuge from your trouble.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. – Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

What are you struggling with right now? Are the subjects at school difficult and you’re finding it’s hard to keep up without being distracted? What is it that you struggle with?

God wants to be the answer to every struggle you face. He wants to be your refuge when things are hard. Life is hard, but God wants to help you stay encouraged through life’s challenges.

So today, determine to spend some time in God’s word. Stop scrolling through endless videos and start spending some time in prayer. Talk to God about what you struggle with. Dare to ask Him to help when things are tough. He desires to be your help and refuge in every situation you face.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:8 (NLT)

I was unnoticed in school. I was insecure and rather than saying the wrong thing and getting made fun of, I chose not to talk. Day after day, I hoped that someone would talk to me and want to be my friend. Day after day, I stressed out because again and again I’d have to sit at a lunch table with no one that wanted me to be there.

After awhile, I began to believe there was something wrong with me. No one talked to me. No one even acted like I existed. I began to think my life didn’t really matter.

And then one day, I began to realize my value to God. I realized that what others thought of me wasn’t the opinion that really mattered. What mattered was my value to God.

I was worth so much to God. He loved me and knew everything about me. I began to develop a deep relationship with God. I realized that my worth was found in Him, not in what others thought about me.

The same is true for you. You matter. Your life has purpose and value. Don’t be lied to that because of how your friends treat you, you’re not important. Friends can be fickle, but God is always faithful.

Reach out to God and spend time letting Him show you your true value and worth.