Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

Do you find it’s harder to love others deeply in times like these? When things just don’t feel right. When it’s hard to find the food you want and when school is not how you’re used to it.

How do you deal with your brother driving you crazy? Your mom stressed out about not working and missing all your friends and everything that is normal.

It’s hard to be nice and love others when things seem really hard right now.

However, God doesn’t ask us to do something we can’t do. And when it’s hard to love and forgive others, sometimes it’s helpful to remember all the things you’ve been forgiven of.

Remind yourself of how you didn’t deserve God’s love, and yet He freely gave it to you. He forgave you, loved you and rescued you.

So because you’ve been forgiven and loved when you didn’t deserve it, you can begin to forgive and love others around you when they don’t deserve it.

Today choose to love the people in your life. Yes, they might drive you crazy at times, but choose to love them and forgive them. You’ll be glad you did!

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, – Luke 4:18

Jesus came to preach the good news. He didn’t have a message of defeat and discouragement, rather He preached the good news. What was this good news that He preached? It was a message of freedom. He told those who were captive they could be free.

This is good news. This means that no matter what you’re facing, Jesus has a message of freedom for you. If you are discouraged, Jesus has your answer. If you’re fearful, Jesus has what you need. If you struggle with low self-esteem, Jesus tells you that you have worth. Whatever you struggle with, Jesus is your freedom.

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This is the good news of the gospel. It’s that Jesus is the answer to what you’re searching for. He’s the answer to your problems, and if you’ll let Him into your life, He’ll be the peace you need and solution for any situation you face.

Pray: Jesus, I thank you that you have the answer to everything I’m facing. I ask you to bring me peace and help me through these uncertain times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

With everything going on right now from the pandemic to social distancing, to economic struggles, it can be really easy to let your heart get troubled.

You might even just have a hard time loving your family because you’re with them now more than ever before.

The times we’re living in aren’t easy at all. The truth is, however, that even in these times, we still have to choose to guard our hearts.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. – Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

We need to guard our hearts against worry, anxiety and bitterness just to name a few. It’s easy to let your heart be upset and worried and when we do, it can cause us to get off course.

So today, choose to not let anything take you off the course God has for your life. Instead, guard your heart. When bitterness, worry or anxiety come, choose to not let them rule your heart.

Instead, look to Jesus. Lean on His peace and love to help you get through these times.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled – Matthew 5:6

When you’re really hungry or thirsty, you’ll do anything you can to get food or drink. In fact, it’s almost all you can think about. When you’re in need of a drink, you don’t want to chat with a friend for two hours about your history class project. Instead, you want to do whatever you can to quench your thirst.

This is a lot like what today’s Bible verse is challenging us with. It’s telling us that we should be hungry and thirsty for righteousness. It should be something that we’re going after and wanting.

Challenge yourself today to go after righteousness. Don’t become so used to your friends and what’s going on around you that you forget that you should be wanting to get to know God better and to become more like Him. Determine to hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. – 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Do you like sharing your faith with others? Or does it feel really strange and maybe a little bit scary?

If you’re honest, sharing your faith with someone probably doesn’t feel like the easiest thing to do. You might be scared that others will think you’re weird if you share your faith or maybe that someone will stop liking you if you do.

Regardless of our fears, today’s verse shows us that we should be ready to share our faith with others. We never know when a friend might need encouragement. Or when a neighbor might need prayer. We should always be ready to explain why we believe in Jesus and why there is hope in Jesus.

One of the best ways to do this is to begin thinking about your experience with Jesus. What is one amazing thing that Jesus has done in your life? How has he changed your life and when did you really make that step to believe in Him?

These stories can become part of your explanation of faith. When sharing your faith with others, don’t be concerned about knowing all the right answers from the Bible. Rather, focus on what you know and your own experiences with God. These are things others can’t refute.

Don’t be afraid to share your faith with others. You don’t have to know all the answers, but share what Jesus has done for you. Share the difference that knowing Him has made in your life. You’ll be surprised that people usually respond well if you share your faith with love.

It’s easy with everything going on right now, to want to question God’s love for you. You might wonder why a parent has lost a job, why people are sick, and maybe why your life is so far from normal.

One thing the enemy always tries to do is to get us to question whether God really loves us. When things get tough and times get hard, it’s easy to question God’s love.

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. – Psalm 36:7 (NLT)

Here is the truth. God loves you. He’s always loved you and He will never stop loving you.

The love that God has for you isn’t based on whether you deserve it or not. He just loves you. And that’s so freeing to know. That love empowers you to go out and love others and to serve God with your whole heart.

God really does love you and really cares what you’re going through.

The enemy wants nothing more than to distract you from God’s plan for your life. In times like these, it’s easy to lose focus on God.

Your life isn’t normal. Your schooling isn’t normal. Nothing is exactly right. During times like these, it’s easy to start to be distracted or distanced from God’s plan for your life.

It’s easy to lose focus, and begin to look at your circumstances and trials rather than to look to God.

Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. – Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

So today, challenge yourself to have an undivided heart before God. Determine to not let your circumstances sway you from the things God has for you.

Instead, look to Him. Get close to Him and let Him direct your path and your future. With God, your future is good!

Pray: Dear God, I give you my whole heart. Thank you for helping me, leading me, and guiding me. I purpose to put you first in the things I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you’d like some help discovering purpose, we’ve created the purpose planner to help. It’s 10 devotions to help guide you on your path to discovering God’s purpose for your life.

Youth Devotional – The Purpose Planner EBook

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