Going through a global pandemic has been one of the biggest trials for many people. We can be consumed by what we read and hear all around us. Or we can focus on the truths in God’s Word.
Affirmations are declarations we can make to give us encouragement. And what better affirmations than those based on the truth?
Our thoughts affect our behavior. If we feed our mind with worries, we will be anxious. If we feed ourselves with the anger of others, we can become angry. Affirmations are helpful because we declare statements that will affect our thoughts in a positive way.
Paul instructs us what kinds of things we should put in our minds (Philippians 4:8). That should be our checklist, especially when we are in our trials...when we tend to focus on how hard things are instead of who God is.
Here are 16 of the most powerful affirmations during crises:
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Prostock-Studio
1. Nothing Is Bigger than God
While we go through trials, some seem to overwhelm us. When we can’t see the solutions, we start doubting that any exist. And yet, the truth is, no matter how big our trials are, our Father is bigger still.
This earth is the Lord’s, and so are we (Psalm 24:1).
2. I Am Not Alone; God Is Here
One of the hardest things about trials is feeling alone in it.
Even before we can utter a word, God knows our frames and that we struggle in our trials. God promised he would never leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
And when we can’t utter a prayer, God reads our hurting hearts.
3. God Is in Control No Matter How Things Look
Scripture gives us glimpses of God working throughout time. When we think of Daniel, we think of the lion’s den (Daniel 6). When we think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, we think of the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16-18). And when we think of David, we can almost picture Goliath.
Yet, God was there stopping the mouths of the lions, he was there in the furnace with those three men, and God gave David the strength David needed to fight the Philistine (1Samuel 17:1-25).
God, who was in control back then, is still in control today.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/piyaset
4. I Am a Branch of the True Vine
God tells us that he is the vine and we are his branches (Matthew 5:13-14). People have been known to say, “hang in there.” But it would be more accurate to say, “just hang onto him.”
We will have everything we need by being his branches (1John 15:5).
5. God Is a Loving Father
Being one of God’s children, we can look up at our Father, knowing He will take care of us, knowing we are loved. And when we start to doubt that truth, we can remind ourselves of it by looking at the children, siblings, or friends God has given us.
If we are capable of love, God certainly is capable. For God is the one who gave us that love (Psalm 103:13).
6. I Am under God’s Wings
A mother robin made a nest on our second-floor window ledge. Every day we watched and waited for the little blue eggs to hatch. And it happened.
One day when it rained, we peeked through the curtain to see the momma robin shielding her babies under her wings—just like God protects us (Psalm 91:4).
7. This Trial Is for a Reason
Too often in life, we try to figure out what God is doing when we go through difficulties.
As a primary Sunday school teacher, I once shared the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. I paused with gratitude when I got to the part where the people were all filled, and still Jesus tells his disciples to gather up the remains (John 6:12).
God pointed out to me that he doesn’t waste anything.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Amos Bar-Zeev
8. God Is Approachable
While God is worthy of our praise, he still encourages us to come to him. We never have to worry that God is inaccessible. And while he looks after the whole world, God is never too busy for us.
He tells us that we can come to him with boldness (Hebrews 4:16).
9. I Can Cast My Cares on God
When my grandson lost his little toy car, I did not brush it off as insignificant. Because whatever mattered to Charlie, mattered to me.
In the same way, God tells us to cast our cares on him because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
10. God Knows What I Need Today
One of God’s names is Jehovah Jireh, which means, God will provide. Whatever need I have will be taken care of by my Father. Not one need will be overlooked. (Philippians 4:19). God purposely created even the tiniest creatures. Everything matters to God—especially when it concerns us.
11. We Can Hide in God
Remember playing hide and seek when you were little? Our hearts would beat wildly as we hoped no one would find us.
Now when things seem scary to us, we can hide in the best hiding place of all. We can hide in God (Psalm 32:7). And no one can touch us there.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes
12. No Plan of God’s Can Be Thwarted
Often when we are in crisis it feels like nothing good will happen to us again. It’s easy to fall prey to negative thoughts.
But the good news is that God’s plans for us will prevail. Nothing can thwart God’s plans, no matter how dark things look. Just ask Job (Job 42:2).
13. God Knows My Future
Circumstances in our lives may cloud our vision, but we can rest in the fact that there is no fog to God. He is all-knowing. God knows the plans he has for each of us, and they are good plans (Jeremiah 29:11).
14. Our Trials Achieve an Eternal Glory
Often when we are in crisis, we cannot figure out how it can be valuable. We think what we’re going through is just for our present time, because we’re still in that crisis.
But when we’re in heaven, God will reveal the whole picture to us, and we will then see the value of our trials (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
15. God Will Give Me the Strength I Need
Trials exhaust us, zapping every ounce of energy we have. We find ourselves wondering how we can go on even one more day. But God is all-powerful, he is almighty. And God’s strength never diminishes.
God promises when we wait on him, he will renew our strength and we shall mount up with wings as eagles (Isaiah 40:31). With God’s strength, we will soar.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Miguel Bruna
16. I Just Need to Follow God’s Lead
Trials make our minds fuzzy. We can get all confused, not knowing which way to turn. But instead of trying to figure things out, we can trust our all-knowing Father. Instead of leaning on our own understanding, which is so limited, we can lean on God with all our weight, and he will show us the way (Proverbs 3:5-6).
He always has, and he always will.
A Prayer for Us in Crisis:
God, we look at our lives sometimes, and everything is jumbled up. We find out thoughts get scattered and we seem to lose our way. And whatever we face becomes insurmountable.
As long as we look at our crisis, it grows before our very eyes. And we forget who is in charge. We forget the strength that you possess.
So we ask you to give us grace for what we’ll face and supply us with your strength for each day. We know you love us no matter how hard our trials are. And we rest in the fact that you don’t leave us alone to face them.
We thank you and praise you for who you are, and we pray this in your Son’s most precious and Holy name. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Bernardbodo
Originally published Saturday, 23 May 2020.
