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tough times

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalm 46:1

Posted on August 12, 2024

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

Life can be really tough at times. People let you down, situations let you down. You experience heartache, disappointment and all these difficult things can sometimes make you want to give up on God. When you experience tough times, what do you do? Where do you go? Who do you lean on?

The answers to these questions show you what your life is built upon. If you drown your sorrows in ice cream and Netflix, then you know that there is where you go to get help. God would like to be your help when things get hard.

The Bible tells us that He is our refuge and strength. He wants to be where you go when things are tough. When you don’t know how you’re going to pass your history class, He wants to be your source of wisdom. When things aren’t going the way you expected, He wants to be the one you turn to. God wants to be your help when things get tough.

It’s up to you though, to decide to let Him have that place in your life. You can choose to go to friends, Netflix and ice cream when things are tough. And by all means, those things have their place, but have you gone to God? Have you let Him be your help too?

If you haven’t yet, choose today to do things differently. Choose to let God be your helper. Let Him speak into your life. Look to the Bible for your answers and see the power of letting God be your help in times of need.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Hebrews 13:6

Posted on August 7, 2023

Let us be bold, then, and say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” – Hebrews 13:6 (GNT)

It really hurts when someone betrays you. Maybe you had a friend that you thought was there for you. Then all of a sudden you found out that they had been talking about you behind your back. When things like that happen, it can really be difficult to know what to do. Your natural response might be to get back at them. Perhaps you want to do something to them to hurt them as bad as they hurt you.

The truth is, regardless of what others do to you. You choose your response. You are the one in charge of your emotions. You can choose to let difficult people and situations destroy you or make you better. So if you’re in the middle of a tough time in your life, today determine to choose a positive response.

That isn’t to say that what has been done to you is ok, but rather that you’re not going to let it define you. Instead, choose to think thoughts about the goodness of God. Choose to believe your value to God. Let God be your helper when things are tough and you’ll see that He will take you through.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Isaiah 40:31

Posted on June 10, 2022

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

Can you remember a time when you stayed up all night? I recall one time after a mission trip I stayed up all night before heading home. I wanted to spend every minute I could with all my new friends before we said goodbye to each other. After being up all night I was exhausted. The next day, I consumed every type of caffeine I could find to stay awake.

Caffeinated drinks can help you stay awake when you’ve not gotten enough sleep. However, the problem with these drinks is that their effects don’t last. They wake you up for a while, but their effects eventually fade.

The same is true in life. Often there are situations that can make us weary. And in those situations, it’s easy to focus on our problems so much that we’re ready to give up. But is stopping when we’re weary and tired the best solution?

What if we placed our trust in God? What would happen then? I believe you’d find that the problems of life couldn’t keep you down. So today, choose to trust in God. When you do, you’ll find that you have the strength to face difficulties.

Today’s Truth: You can make it because you’ve got God on your side

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – John 10:10

Posted on December 27, 2021

“The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

Many times when bad stuff happens in life, it can be easy to want to blame God. Its easy to get angry at God when something doesn’t go your way or turn out like you expected. However, God shows us in this verse that He isn’t to blame for the bad stuff that happens in life.

Today’s Truth: Jesus came to give you an abundant life!

Jesus came so that we could have life, and have an abundant life. That means a good life, a full life. So when bad things happen, realize that blaming God doesn’t do any good. Jesus came to give us an abundant life!

Today choose to not get mad at God. Instead realize that He came to bring good things to you and stay hopeful knowing that your situation will turn around.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – James 1:3

Posted on July 13, 2021

If we’re honest, most of us would like to avoid tests and trials in life. No one likes going through hard times. However, this Bible verse shows us something really great about the tests of life. It tells us that those tests produce endurance in our lives.

Many times, athletes will undergo endurance training to help them become better in the sport they play. They train their bodies and their minds to withstand for long periods of time. This produces results like overall feeling better and having more energy.

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. – James 1:3

In the same way, we can grow in endurance training spiritually too. Each difficulty in our life gives us another chance to trust in God and each test can help make us better. If we let them, the tests and trials in life can be a way for us to learn to trust God in new ways, and to learn and grow in endurance. So the next time you’re faced with a test in life, you can be encouraged by what this Bible verse says. Realize that even though the trials can be hard, that they’re producing character in your life and if you let them, these trials can bring you to rely more fully on God.

[Tweet “Each difficulty we face gives us the chance to fully rely on God. – @studentdevos”]

What A Google Home Teaches About Who We Are In Christ

Posted on March 26, 2018

My grandpa got a Google Home for his birthday. When he opened it, he had no idea what it was or what it can do. My cousins, aunts, and uncles immediately sprung into action and got it hooked up and ready to use. Then we all took turns showing my grandpa how to say, “hey Google…” and ask questions or give it a command. Now my grandpa loves it. In fact, if you go over to his house, he’ll entertain you by getting you to ask his Google Home questions. We visited him a few weeks ago, and he told us at supper to think of a really hard question. When we were done eating, he had us ask Google Home our questions.

Once my grandpa understood his gift, he could begin enjoying it and sharing it with others. In the same way, when we begin to see who we are in Christ, we can begin truly enjoying our life and living life to the fullest and begin sharing the love of Christ with others.

[Tweet “When we see who we are in Christ, we can truly enjoy life – @studentdevos”]

In Christ – You Can Do It

I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. – Phil 4:13 (Good News)

Life can be tough. Disappointment can be real. But in the midst of all the difficulty that life can bring, knowing that you can do all things through Christ makes all the difference. If you put your faith and trust in Jesus, you can know that through Christ you can make it.

It’s encouraging to know that you’re not stuck out there in life all by yourself. You’ve got a God who has been through it already and is ready to walk with you through whatever difficulty you face. Knowing that in Christ you can do it makes a huge difference in life. It will keep you going when things get tough.

[Tweet “Knowing that in Christ you can do it keeps you going when things get tough – @studentdevos”]

In Christ – You Matter

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

When God thinks about you, he sees a masterpiece. The great thing about a masterpiece is that it’s one of a kind. There is no other work like it and it’s very special to the person who created it. In the same way, to God, you matter. Your life is important and you’ve been created to do something special for God.

It’s easy to begin to compare yourself to what you see online. You can see what your friends are doing, how they look, what they wear and what they do and feel like you don’t measure up. However, the true measure of worth is what God says about you. When you begin to see yourself the way Jesus sees you, you realize that you matter. You’ve been uniquely designed and your life is important.

[Tweet “When you begin to see yourself the way Jesus sees you, you realize you matter – @studentdevos”]

In Christ – You Find Purpose

For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring. – Acts 17:28 (NLT)

It’s easy as a teenager to feel like you don’t have any idea of your purpose. You might not have yet discovered what you want to do for a career. You might not even quite know what it is that you’re really good at doing. Don’t get discouraged. It’s by spending time with Jesus that you find your purpose.

It’s in Jesus that we live. It’s in Jesus we discover what we’re good at doing and what God has created us to do. Find your purpose by getting close to Jesus. Let Him show you what it is that He wants you to do and let following Him be your sense of purpose.

In Christ – You Belong

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. – Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

God adopted you into His family. That means that you belong. Once you accept Jesus you have a family and a sense of belonging. So regardless of your home life, regardless of whether you fit in with friends at school, in Christ, you belong.

Don’t give into the lie of the enemy that says you don’t belong anywhere or that no one cares. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The truth in Jesus is that you belong. It made God happy to bring you into His family and He wants nothing more than a relationship with you. When those feelings or thoughts come that tell you that you don’t belong, choose to believe what God says instead. Choose to believe that in Christ, you belong.

What I Learned From A Google Home

I realized by watching my grandpa that a Google Home is really great, but we’ve got to spend some time learning how to use it. My grandpa didn’t automatically know how to use his Google Home. He had to spend some time learning about it to use it and get it working.

The same is true for us when it comes to our identity in Christ. We’ve got to spend time in the Bible learning about who God says we are in Jesus. We’ve got to let that identity become more real to us than what we see online or what others say about us. When we put in the effort to see ourselves how God sees us, it will change everything.

You Can Download Discussion Questions to use with this devotion.

Youth Group Discussion Questions – What a Google Home Teaches About Who We Are In Christ
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Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – John 10:10

Posted on March 19, 2018

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. – John 10:10 (NLT)

God wants you to have a rich and satisfying life. This doesn’t mean that your life will be problem free, but it does mean that Jesus will be there to walk with you through the problems.

This verse also shows us that trouble doesn’t come from God. Things that steal and destroy are from the devil. Jesus doesn’t send those types of things to you.

So today, if you’re in the middle of a difficult situation, be encouraged. Jesus came to give us a rich and satisfying life. He’s there to walk with you in the midst of difficulty and is to be where you go in tough times. So decide to get closer to God in tough times and let Him show you how rich and satisfying life in Him can be.

Daily Devotion and Bible Verse – Romans 8:37

Posted on September 6, 2017

Today’s Daily Bible Verse

No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. Romans 8:27 (HCSB)

God showed the greatest love that anyone could give by sending us Jesus. Knowing God loves you is powerful because when things come against you it gives you a new perspective. You know that if God loves you, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. You realize that if God is for me, you can get through any tough time.

You might be going through a rough spot in your life right now. Maybe someone close to you died recently, you’re dealing with a break-up, or in the midst of natural disaster. In these tough times, you can realize that God loves you and He is going to help you get through the difficulty you’re facing. Focus today on how big God’s love is for you. As you begin to put your focus on God, you’ll realize that you can get through anything with God on your side.

[Tweet “You can get through anything with God on your side – @studentdevos”]

Here are a few more devotions to help you build your faith in tough times.

How To Deal – Tips For Dealing With Tough Times

Posted on August 29, 2016

Tough times are hard on us all. Whether a tough time comes from the passing of a loved one, a low grade on your history final, not making the softball team, or some other source, tough times can really weigh on you. Many times, it’s hard to know how to deal with tough times. You might feel like you don’t know how to respond, or want to blame God for the tough time you’re facing.

Where do tough times come from?

Let’s take a look at where tough times come from. Many people try to blame God for tough times. If a person you love dies, often people will say, God took them, or that God needed another angel in heaven. When you’re going through a difficult situation you might have someone tell you that God is using that situation to teach you a lesson. Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about difficult situations.

No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. – James 1:13 (HCSB)

This verse shows us that God isn’t sending a trial or a tough time to you to test you. God isn’t to blame for the difficulty you’re facing. He isn’t testing you or trying to teach you a lesson. God is good.

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. – James 1:17 (NLT)

This verse shows us that God sends us good things. He’s not out there ready to strike down a loved one with cancer. He’s only got good gifts and things to give to you. So when tough times come, realize that God isn’t the source of your trial.

Your outlook is key in tough times

Your attitude and outlook makes a huge difference when you’re faced with a tough time. You can choose how you will respond to difficulties in your life. Your response makes a huge impact on how you handle difficulty. You can choose to be defeated or upbeat about the difficulties that come your way.

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. – Romans 8:37

Paul is an awesome example of this. He faced lots of crazy stuff in his life. He was shipwrecked, beaten, left for dead, and put in prison. Despite all the hard things that happened in his life, he kept a good attitude. He chose to put his trust in God and keep a positive attitude in the midst of tough times.

Paul’s example should challenge us when we face tough times. Regardless of what is going on around us, we can take comfort in the fact that God never leaves us and isn’t the source of tough times. We can go to God in tough times and let Him be our shelter and our refuge.

Choose to look to God for His strength in difficulty. Remember that with God on your side you can’t be defeated. Keep a good attitude and know that God will help you through the difficulty you’re facing!

If you’re a youth leader and you liked this lesson, you can download a youth group lesson outline and powerpoint based on this devotion to share with your youth group in our online resource center.

Youth Group Lesson – Tips for Dealing With Tough Times
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What to Do When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned

Posted on October 5, 2015

It happens at some point in all of our lives. Something unexpected happens. It’s nothing you planned on. Things are no longer the same, and what once felt solid is no more. Life has thrown us a curve ball. It might be the divorce of our parents. It could be something at school. Whatever it is, sometimes its hard to know what to do.

So what do you do when life throws you something unexpected? What do you do when it feels like your family is falling a part around you? Where do you turn when it feels like there is nothing left for you to do? Here’s a few things I learned when going through a really hard time in life a few years ago.

1. Don’t let your relationship with God fall between the cracks. It can be really easy to want to let this happen. You might not understand why this is happening to you. It can be easy in times like these to let go of your relationship with God. You might want to blame God, or just not feel close to him in though times. The thing to remember is that God is not the source of the bad things that happen to you. Don’t let a rough time in life steal your relationship with God.
Your relationship with God is what will get you through the tough times. It can be your foundation when it feels like the world is falling apart around you. Choose to stay close to God and rely on Him in tough times.

2. Don’t Take It Out On Others. It can be easy when you feel upset to want to take it out on other people. Maybe you are hurt and angry and want to yell at everyone who talks to you. However, taking it out on other people is never the answer. You will ultimately drive people who love you and care about you away if you begin to take it out on them. These people can be your support when times are tough.

3. Learn from it. As much as life’s tough times stink, you can use tough times to learn. You may be able to help out someone in the future who is going through what you are facing. You can be an encouragement to others who are going through tough times by learning from those tough times.
Tough times also show you a lot about yourself. You may find that you don’t have the character you thought you did because you came unglued in a tough time. You may learn that you have some areas in your life that you need to work on. Tough times are a good indicator of character.
4. Look up. When life doesn’t go the way you wanted, know that you can look up. Jesus is your answer to life’s problems. He understands what you’re going through completely. He can be your anchor in the midst of life’s storms.

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. – Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)

When life doesn’t go the way you wanted it to, its never easy. The good thing to remember is that you’re not alone. You’ve got Jesus on your side. Don’t forget to lean on him in tough times and in good times!

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