Issuu

Carey Scott

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Introduction If given a choice, most of us would choose easy over hard. We’d choose instant A grades over constant studying, stress-free friendships over ones full of drama, endless summer breaks over a nonstop school schedule, and laidback parents over strict ones. The hard stuff isn’t fun. Challenging relationships are exhausting. Tough times can be overwhelming. Yet these are exactly what God uses to build our character, grow our wisdom, and strengthen our faith. Consider the truth that He Himself does hard things, like let His only Son die on a cross for people who didn’t deserve that kind of love. Because we’re made in God’s image, we have what it takes to work through these messy moments. When we’re weak, He is strong. When we’re at the end, He’s eternal. He will never leave us to do the difficult things alone. Instead, the Lord promises to be right there with us, cheering us on, leading the way, and making us stronger than we thought possible. What hard things are you facing today? Take a deep breath and just hold on to God. Let Him point the way. When you feel like you can’t go on, let Him carry you. Trust the Lord in every situation and all the time. You are safe in His arms.

Help Is on the Way

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. Psalm 121:1–2 msg

The world tells us to be independent. Managing our messes, maintaining our friendships, navigating challenging classes, dealing with family drama, and taking care of our responsibilities are signs of strength and maturity. So it makes sense that when we face something hard, we try to figure it out. Make it work. Fix things. The psalmist knew what many of us struggle to understand. Apart from God, we’re a hot mess. We’re helpless and hopeless. But when we ask Him for help, He lovingly gives it. We aren’t left on our own. We have a helper. And not just any helper! The one who made heaven and earth, who controls the wind and the rain, who set the stars in their place—He loves us. He knows our names. He even knows the number of hairs on our heads. He cares and hears when we cry out in sincere faith. If you feel stuck and don’t know what to do, look up. Help is on the way from the God who loves you more than you’ll ever know. Thank You for loving me, Father. Thank You for being my help when I don’t see a way out. I trust You, and I know You’re working on my behalf.

Do What’s Right

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Genesis 15:1 esvg

War broke out, and eventually Lot and his people were taken captive. When Abram heard about it, he took a group to rescue Lot and his family. Later, the king of Sodom (one of the evil kings who’d captured Lot) tried to make a deal, but Abram was too wise. He refused to take anything from the king, except for the food they’d already eaten. Saying no to such a powerful man must have been frightening. But God told him, “Fear not, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Imagine, the one who created the universe was so pleased with Abram that He personally promised to protect and bless him. Sometimes being a Christian means standing up against evil or foolish people to do what’s right. Other times it means refusing to join the crowd, no matter how strong the desire to belong may be. No doubt it’s hard and can be scary. But God promises us the same thing He promised Abram: “Don’t be afraid. Do what’s right. I will be your shield and your reward.” Father, help me do what’s right even when it’s difficult or scary. I know You’ll take care of me.

Wait

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 tlb

No one likes to wait. We want our food fast, our breakup heartache to end now, our test grades to be posted immediately, the team roster to be solidified in a flash, and the school year to fly by. We want what we want at the push of a button or a snap of our fingers, and we get annoyed when we don’t get it right away. When God tells us that waiting is the key to strength and energy, it’s a struggle. But part of waiting is trusting. When we don’t trust God, we stop waiting and try to do things on our own. We step in front of God and make rash decisions. We take things into our own hands because we think God is too slow. We decide He’s not doing His job. However, faith involves waiting because we believe God is at work. While we wait, we can seek Him. We can do this by reading His Word, praying, recognizing His goodness, and finding ways to serve. All of these things build our faith, making us stronger and giving us energy. One day we’ll be able to look back and say, “Wow. Look what God did. I’m so glad I waited!” Teach me to wait, Lord, knowing You’re working on something amazing.

Listen to Me

O God, listen to me! Hear my prayer! For wherever I am, though far away at the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help. When my heart is faint and overwhelmed, lead me to the mighty, towering Rock of safety. Psalm 61:1–2 tlb

Have you ever said these same words to God when you were desperate for His help? “God, listen to me, please! Hear me. I really need You to pay attention.” David was genuine and authentic in his prayers. He didn’t try to sugarcoat anything. He cried out to God from his worst circumstances because he knew the Lord was his only hope. Can you relate to David? Do you feel like you’re far from where you want to be, far from anything good? Cry out to your Father. He’s right there, and He hears you. Are you overwhelmed and feel like you can’t go on? Reach for Him. Are you sad and worried? Trust God. He will comfort your heart. No matter what you’re going through, our Father hears your call. He doesn’t care whether the problem is of your own making or because of something you can’t control. You can trust Him to rescue you either way. Why? Because He loves His daughters—and that means you. Hear my cry, Lord. I need You to rescue me and put me in a better place. I trust You alone.

Your Source of Comfort

If God hadn’t been there for me, I never would have made it. The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, God, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up. Psalm 94:17–19 msg

Have you ever been so overwhelmed and freaked out by the things going on in your life that you wanted to give up? Maybe you’re there now. Perhaps stress and fear feel too big to manage at the moment. If that’s you, you’re in good company. The psalmist— possibly David—wrote these words from that same desperate place. But he also shared the answer. The source of comfort is the Lord God, as well as God’s Word, which has the power to both calm you down and cheer you up. Hebrews 4:12 says the Bible is alive. That means when you read it, you are interacting with God Himself. Filling your mind with scripture does good things for you. It gives you strength when you’re weak, comfort when you’re sad, and wisdom when you’re not sure. God’s Word brings joy and peace even in the darkest moments. When struggles come, open your Bible and let the Word settle your spirit, giving you hope. Father, I’m overwhelmed by life right now, and I don’t know how to find my way out of this place. Let Your Word calm me down and cheer me up.

The Coach

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1–2 esv

Hebrews 11 is sometimes referred to as the Hall of Faith, listing many Old Testament saints who persevered in faith despite their challenging circumstances. The author of Hebrews paints a picture of these people watching your life and cheering you on. “Let’s go!” they say. “Don’t give up now. We made it, and so can you.” Of course, the coolest member of the Hall of Faith is Jesus. He’s the founder and perfecter of our faith. It’s like going to the Olympics with the coach who has mentored more gold medalists than anyone in history—only better. He ran the hardest race—one that led to the cross—but then ended up seated at His Father’s right hand. Let Jesus be your coach, and be encouraged by the faith of those who have gone before you. They’ve finished the hard race with faith and victory, and you can too. Thank You for being my coach, Jesus. I’ll keep going in faith, trusting You.

Press On

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12–14 esv

Memories are an interesting thing. They can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how we use them. We can look at the past and feel joy at making the team, passing a hard class, or being recognized for a job well done. And we can learn from the past by remembering mistakes so we don’t repeat them. But God doesn’t want us to live in the past. Paul told his readers that he had a long way to go, admitting he wasn’t perfect and was still learning. He had regrets, like ordering the execution of Christians before his conversion. But he didn’t waste time dwelling on what was. Instead, he spent his energy looking ahead. Are you focused on the past? Turn around! Look ahead. Press on toward the amazing, unfathomable plans God has for your life. He loves you and has good things in store. Help me stay focused on You and Your plans for my life, Father.

Trust the Lord Completely

If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:4–6 tlb

This is one of those “easier said than done” proverbs. We can talk a big talk about trusting God, but when faced with hard things, what do we do? We try to figure things out. We work to control people and situations so things will go the way we want them to. Oh, and maybe we pray—as an afterthought. But God’s ways are so much better and more advanced than ours. He has plans that we could never dream up! He can move mountains, open doors, and change hearts in ways that leave us speechless. Have you seen Him do it before? It’s easy to trust when we know what’s going to happen. When we don’t understand what God is doing, it’s more difficult. Although we may not see His plans, we can trust His heart. He is always for us, never against us. What are you facing right now? Trust God with all your heart. Don’t try to figure it out. Just keep your eyes on Him, knowing He’s handling it with more love than you could ever imagine. I know I can trust You, Lord. I’ll leave this problem with You.

Looking Ahead

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18–19 esv

One of the most impossible things for us to do is forget the past. We tend to hold on to guilt over our mistakes or have a pity party when we remember old hurts. We may even replay those painful moments over and over again in our minds. If we’re not careful, we can get so lost in the past that we miss the great things God has in store for our future. Once we’ve lived a moment, we can’t go back and undo it. God wants us to be wise and humble and to learn from our experiences. The whole point of learning is to take that knowledge into the future, where it’s useful. Spinning circles in our thoughts over past actions is fruitless. God wants us to look up and out, not down and in. He points us to the horizon, to the wonderful, unknown future He has in store for us. We may not know the details now, but we can be confident that He has good things waiting ahead. Father, help me leave the past in the past. Help me forgive, let go, and move ahead with Your plans for my life.

Never Alone

Can I go anywhere apart from Your Spirit? Is there anywhere I can go to escape Your watchful presence? If I go up into heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in the realm of the dead, You are there. If I ride on the wings of morning, if I make my home in the most isolated part of the ocean, even then You will be there to guide me; Your right hand will embrace me, for You are always there. Psalm 139:7–10 voice

Have you ever felt alone in a crowd? Sometimes we can be surrounded by family and friends, by the people who are supposed to love us the most, and still feel lonely. Maybe we feel misunderstood or unaccepted for who we are. Or maybe we pretend everything is okay when inside we’re broken. We may feel alone by choice because we push people away. As lonely as we may feel, we are never truly alone. We can’t escape God’s loving presence. He understands who we are. He created us and has no delusions about us being perfect. He knows everything about us, and He loves us anyway. Wherever you are, whatever you’re facing, God sees you. He knows your thoughts and your heart. He knows exactly what you’re going through. He loves you and cares deeply about your circumstances. Father, thank You for this reminder that You will never leave me alone.

On Your Side

So what should we say about all of this? If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear? If He did not spare His own Son, but handed Him over on our account, then don’t you think that He will graciously give us all things with Him? Romans 8:31–32 voice

When we face hard things, it’s easy to think God is against us. We wonder what we’ve done to make Him angry or ask ourselves why He stopped loving us. But those questions reveal our messed-up thinking. God is always on our side. Think about it. If He loved us enough to give up His only Son so we could escape the punishment for our sins, is there anything He wouldn’t do for us? How much more on our side could He be? He already gave us His heart when He sacrificed Christ. Friend, God is for you. He promised many times never to leave or forsake you. When others hurt you, He stands by your side. When you cry, He cries. While He doesn’t prevent all the bad things from happening, He holds you through the storm while working on your behalf. With God on your side, you’re an overcomer no matter who or what you’re up against. Thank You for being for me, Father. I don’t understand what’s happening in my life right now, but I trust Your love.

Sneaky Pride

Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Philippians 2:3 voice

It feels good to be treated like we’re important or special. We may like attention so much that, if we’re not careful, we’ll start to seek it out in sports, at school, or among our friends. We may try to earn a certain status, hoping to stand out, get recognized, or be seen as important. Working hard and having goals are good qualities. This verse doesn’t speak against wanting to do our best. Instead, it’s encouraging us to look at our hearts. It’s not about action so much as it is about motivation. When our motivation is right, godly actions often follow. Do you want to be team captain to gain recognition or to use your leadership skills to encourage? Do you strive for certain friendships to impress others, or do you hope to bring godly influence to your classmates or teammates? Do you volunteer in order to look good on a college application, or has your heart been stirred to serve? Pride is a sneaky thing. Always check your motives and be quick to step aside and give God the glory. Forgive me for my pride and selfishness, Lord. Pride sneaks up when I don’t even know it’s there. Teach me to be humble. Use my gifts to benefit others and glorify You. 15

We love God by loving others well.

Agape Love

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 esv

The English language lacks a rich vocabulary for the concept of love. We can have friendly love and romantic love. We can love humankind, and we can love our family. We can even love pizza or our favorite show. In this passage, the biblical word for love is agape. It best describes the kind of love God has for us, which is the highest form of love, but doesn’t minimize other types of love. Eros, which is romantic love, is given by God as a gift and is reserved for marriage. Philos, or friendship love, is also from God. As believers, we’re to show agape love to those around us by imitating God—loving like today’s verses describe. We love God by loving others well. When we want to be selfish, God’s love is selfless. When we lack patience, God’s love is long-suffering. When we want to brag, God’s love is humble. It may be hard to live out God’s agape love, but He will help us if we ask. Teach me to love like You love, Father. Help me imitate Your love with my friends and family.

In Jesus’ Name

“At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything, for you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will give you what you ask for because you use my name. You haven’t tried this before, but begin now. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow.” John 16:23–24 tlb

This direction by Jesus isn’t a blank check to get whatever we want from God. He’s not a magic genie who grants our every wish. For us to pray in His name and for it to mean something, we truly have to live in Christ. He must be the focal point of our lives. We must seek Him, listen to Him, and obey Him. When we do that, we can be confident that Jesus is sitting next to God, interceding on our behalf. He tells the Father, “Here is a child who genuinely wants to please Us. This one really, really loves Us.” Let’s remember God will answer in the right way and at the right time. In His goodness, He may respond to our prayers in ways we never imagined. God knows it all, while we see only the present. But when we pray about what’s on our hearts—in Jesus’ name—He promises joy that overflows. Teach me more about prayer, Lord. I want my life to please You. Thank You for letting me pray in Jesus’ name.

Sweet Sleep

Tonight I will sleep securely on a bed of peace because I trust You, You alone, O Eternal One, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:8 voice

If anyone had a reason not to sleep, it was David. His enemies had made countless attempts on his life. He hid in caves and used rocks for pillows. He never knew for sure what he’d wake up to—or if he’d wake up at all. Yet he knew the one who guarded his life. The same was true for Peter in Acts 12. He was thrown in prison, and if all had gone as planned, he would have been executed the next morning. Instead of spending the night tossing and turning, Peter fell asleep. In fact, he was in such a deep sleep that the rescuing angel had to strike his side to wake him. When life gets hard, most of us lose sleep. Our minds work overtime trying to fix things. We can’t shut down our thoughts and just rest. But God knows we need sleep. He doesn’t want us exhausted over a situation He already has under control. Trust God. Rest in His love. And know that while you sleep, He is at work on your behalf. Father, You know when I have trouble sleeping. Take my anxiety. I’m giving it to You. Calm my spirit and help me rest in You.

Lord of Peace

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 esv

Notice that Paul didn’t just pray for the church at Thessalonica to have peace. He prayed for the Lord of peace to be with them. Wars have been fought in the name of peace, but the world’s idea of peace isn’t the same as the peace God gives. The world sees peace as the absence of conflict. But as long as we’re on earth, we’ll experience troubles in our families, our friendships, our work, our school, and everything else. It’s part of living in a fallen, broken world. God’s peace isn’t about what is going on out there. It’s about Who is living in here—inside our hearts. When we give God control of our lives, His calming voice speaks inside us. His Holy Spirit whispers peace into our spirits even when chaos surrounds us. Do you long for peace in your life? Talk to God. Ask Him to remind you of His presence. Breathe Him in. Sing praise songs out loud or in your heart. Invite Him to be a part of every area of your life and cling to the beautiful peace only He can give, the kind that goes way beyond human understanding. I invite You into every part of my life, Lord. I long for Your presence, and I’m so grateful for Your peace.

Fear Not

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 esv

How is your anxiety level lately? Are you battling stress over friendships? Are you worried about grades, college applications, or finding a job? Are you unsettled by hard conversations at home? There are a million reasons we struggle with our mental health, but there’s one answer that eases anxiety across the board. Every single one of us will find peace of mind and a calm spirit when we put our full trust in God. When we trust God, He gives us strength. He holds us by the hand so we won’t fall. He always offers help when we sincerely call on Him. Sometimes that help may be in the form of godly friends, wise counsel, or medical intervention. It may come as a change in responsibilities or the reworking of a school schedule so you won’t be under so much stress. Whatever the source of anxiety, we can be sure God is on our side. When we lean into Him, He works in ways we can’t see to lead us away from fear, doubt, and anxiety. I need help, Father. Anxiety is crowding out my peace. Thank You for the reminder that You’re with me, giving me strength and holding my hand.

Brand New

When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 tlb

The idea of a new life and a fresh start might sound awesome. Wouldn’t it be great to leave past mistakes behind and start over? But this verse means more than just letting go of the past. It suggests a new way of thinking, seeing, and living. When we hold tight to our old ways, we see things from a worldly perspective. If something seems impossible to us, that’s what we accept, and we act accordingly. Don’t forget that your faith in Jesus makes you a brand-new person. We don’t have to wait for heaven for a body and mind makeover. It has already begun, and we can now start to see impossible situations as opportunities for God to work. We see those we once hated as people God loves. Everything about our perspective changes. As a believer, you have been made new! Step fully into your faith by filling yourself with His words. Pour out His love and kindness to others. Embrace the fresh new mind and spirit He has given you, and watch what He does in your life. Thank You for giving me a fresh start, Father. I’m sorry for clinging to my old self. I want to step fully into the new life You’ve given me.

Removed

You see, God takes all our crimes—our seemingly inexhaustible sins—and removes them. As far as east is from the west, He removes them from us. Psalm 103:12 voice

Some wounds are so deep they’ve become part of our identity. It’s hard to let those go. How do we untangle the mess of knotted moments that have wrapped around our hearts and won’t seem to let go? We do it with God. And we do it one strand at a time. Remember, God isn’t the one holding on to those past sins and hurts. He created you in His image, but Satan wants to hide that image. He flings these wounds back at you, hoping they’ll stick. Many times, they do. But God is more powerful than sin—our own sin and others’ sin that has hurt us. He doesn’t want us carrying that around. If we ask, He will help us untangle the strands with precision, removing them from our hearts and minds. God will fling them as far as the east is from the west. With faith, trust, time, and patience, He will heal and restore us to be the people He created us to be—daughters formed in His image. Remove my sins and hurts as far as the east is from the west, Father. Help me forgive myself and others. Help me let go. I don’t want to carry that pain anymore.

Show Love

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:17 esv

God is very clear in His Word: We should not judge others. That’s His job. We’re supposed to love others as we love ourselves. But we can’t love others very well if we don’t love ourselves, can we? Loving ourselves doesn’t mean being selfish. It means that we’ve come to understand who we are, who God is, and that He chose us. It means holding our heads high in the knowledge of who we are in Christ. It also means humbly and honestly seeing our sinfulness and areas of weakness without harsh self-judgment, which can be challenging. When we truly understand what God has done for us, it becomes easier to extend that kind of grace to others. When we’re tempted to point the finger and criticize someone’s actions, let’s remember that isn’t who God is—and He doesn’t want to condemn anyone. Instead, He wants to save them. He wants to love them. He wants them to ask for and receive His forgiveness. And He wants us to show others His love by the way we live, extending mercy, compassion, and grace. Father, I’ve been quick to point fingers and criticize. When I think of the mercy and grace You’ve shown me, I’m ashamed. Teach me to love instead of judge. Let others see Your love in me.

Let It Go

But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done. 1 John 1:9 voice

Forgiving others is one of the hardest things we’re asked to do, but it’s not always the hardest. For many of us, forgiving ourselves is even harder. We walk around listening to negative self-talk on repeat, telling ourselves we’re failures, losers, and any other number of hurtful things. God doesn’t hold on to our past mistakes once we acknowledge them and ask forgiveness. He said He’d forgive us if we confess, and He does. If God Himself is willing to let stuff go, to leave it in the past, to look at us as redeemed and whole and perfect through Christ, why can’t we? That voice in your head that tells you you’re a failure—that’s not God talking; that’s Satan. The next time you hear negative words in your mind, reminding you of past mistakes, tell Satan that he’s a liar and to leave you alone. Then remind yourself that you’re God’s chosen daughter, and He has a beautiful future in store for you. Thank You for Your forgiveness, Lord. Help me leave my past behind and shut down self-condemnation. Help me move into the hope-filled future You have in store for me.