It is no surprise that in life we will face various trials. Throughout the Bible, we see stories of illness, death, famine, and disappointment. Yet, despite the peril, we also see a God who is present in times of need.
God, who is powerful enough to put the stars in the sky and intimate enough to know the number of hairs on our head, is divinely aware of everything we will encounter. Nothing catches Him by surprise.
Though He could’ve chosen to be a distant God, He instead desires a personal relationship—one where we can count on Him for strength, courage, and peace. His Word is full of reminders that no matter how big our trials may be, He is our greatest helper, defender, resource, and advocate.
With this in mind, here are 12 verses that inspire hope.
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We Trust that God Knows and Loves Us Intimately
Psalm 139:14
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Remember you are called to be set apart. If you have felt rejected or undervalued, know who you are! You are God’s beloved and intricately designed by Him. He wants to use your flaws, past experiences, and personality to bless others.
If you are feeling frustrated and isolated because you don’t quite fit in, know that the Lord may be giving you an opportunity to move forward and walk in the fullness of who you are. Rather than trying so hard to fit into the crowd, be confidently aware that God has made you to be who you are!
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Many people believe that they have to be perfect before coming to the Lord. But the Bible says that while we were “yet sinners,” He died for us. In other words, He realized that we would struggle with sin. Even so, He said we are worth dying for.
This doesn’t mean we have license to sin. However, it does mean that when we mess up, we don’t have to wallow in condemnation. Instead, we can seek the Lord for refreshing and deliverance from what we are struggling with.
Romans 8:39
“No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Recently I saw a meme that said, “I have given God a million reasons not to love me, but none of them has changed His mind.” Truthfully, we cannot out-love Him or run away from His love. His arms are always welcome to receive us.
If only we could truly embrace the love of God, we would never be the same. We would have the courage to go through the toughest moments, knowing that we have a God who loves us far more than we could ever imagine. His love would be the comfort and the peace needed in every storm.
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We Believe that God Has Good Plans for Us
Jeremiah 29:11
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
There is comfort in knowing that there is a plan. Not only is there a plan, but the plan is good. This can be hard to believe when it seems we are faced with trials that are too much to bear. In these moments, we can be reminded that He knows it all and has not forgotten us. He is well aware of His plans for us.
We can rest assured that no matter the trial, God will use it to get us to where He’s ultimately called us to be.
Genesis 50:20
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
This phrase is spoken by Joseph as he encounters his brothers who tried to kill him. In the same way, every time you face opposition, know that the Lord will use it for your good. Every betrayal, disappointment, and hurt that the enemy threw your way, God will turn around!
Numbers 23:19
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
God does not lie! No matter who has been dishonest or betrayed you in the past, their ways are not God’s ways. He takes His words very seriously and will not be called a liar. If the Lord has promised you something (whether in the Bible or through His speaking directly), He is sure to do it. Keep believing and trusting the Lord on the matter.
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We Have Confidence that God Equips Us
Isaiah 40:29
“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”
Feeling like giving up? God, promises to give us power and strength in the midst of our toughest times. Call on the Lord when you are overwhelmed. Whether physically drained or emotionally exhausted, this we can cry to the Lord for help (Psalm 77:1). We will find that He will equip us with supernatural power to overcome.
Psalm 34:10
“...those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
The Lord desires for His children to experience good things. You may be at a point where you can’t see how He has blessed you. Perhaps your pain is so extreme that you can’t see your blessings. We all have been there!
Yet, God says that He is sparing no good thing for those who continue to seek Him. He desires for you to walk in health, provision, and wellness as these are all good things from above. There may be times when He requires you to wait just a little longer to see the manifestation of His promises. When in doubt, seek the Lord—He will answer.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ...”
You can do it! You can go through this in the joy of the Lord with your head up. So often, we find ourselves in deep trials and want to give up. We fear the unknown factors and trust in our reasoning to make it through the issue. However, the key is here: we can do all things through Christ.
In other words, when we live our lives aligned with His voice and leading, we can do all things He’s called us to do! He will give us the strength, wisdom, grace, hope, and love needed to move forward. Rather than throwing in the towel, keep going!
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We Have Faith in God's Compassionate Presence
John 11:35
“Then Jesus wept.”
The Lord can feel emotion. This is comforting because it reminds us that He is aware of the human condition.
When you mourn, it hurts His heart. When you are wronged, He sees your peril. He’s not a distant God nor is He weak. He is one who is present and a comforter to those in need. Though He is God, He is still able to connect with us on an intimate level. There is hope in knowing He is not just with us in presence but aware of our emotional condition on a personal level.
Deuteronomy 1:30
“The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf...”
In this verse, the Lord reminds us that no matter the circumstance, God is completely aware of our struggles. Not only is He attentive to what’s happening, He goes before us in the matter. In other words, God doesn’t operate in our sense of time. He transcends time and is fully aware of what we will face even in years to come (Revelation 1:8). So, when God says He’s going before you, He means it! And when He goes before you to fight, He wins every time!
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
If the Creator of the universe is with us, how could we possibly live in fear? Instead, allow the awareness of His presence to be a motivation to keep going. If God has called you to do something bold, know that He’s planning on being with you every step of the way. Be strong and courageous!
Victoria Riollano is an author, blogger, and speaker. As a mother of six, military spouse, Psychology professor and minister’s wife, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God’s ultimate purpose for her life. Recently, Victoria released her book, The Victory Walk: A 21 Day Devotional on Living A Victorious Life. Her ultimate desire is to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. She believes that with Christ we can live a life that is ALWAYS winning. You can learn more about her ministry at victoryspeaks.org.
Originally published Monday, 29 April 2019.
