When facing difficult times and feelings of discouragement, drawing upon faith in God and His Word can provide strength, hope, and comfort.

Read and Meditate on Encouraging Verses

The Bible contains a plethora of passages offering comfort and strength during challenging times. Examples include Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 11:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, and Psalm 34:18.

God's Word offers relevant verses to those struggling and provides a blessing, reinforcing God's truths and hope. Romans 12:15, for instance, encourages us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn".

Memorize Scripture for Comfort at Hand

Having God's promises in mind, can offer immediate comfort.

Pray God's promises. Incorporating scripture into your prayers, can align requests with His will and strengthen your faith.

Cultivatate Faith and Hope

Embrace a mindset of hope. Choose to believe and trust God. Things will improve and there is a greater purpose in difficulties, as they grow our faith.

Focus on God's Attributes

Remember that God is powerful, loving, and still in control.

Engage in Prayer

Prayer is a powerful way to connect with God and draw strength. Faith is a crucial element that prompts God to act on an individual's behalf.A strong, unwavering faith can influence God's actions and lead to positive outcomes.Faith...belief in God and His promises... is not merely a passive state, but an active force that can move God to intervene in human affairs.

Faith can move mountains. Romans 12:3 states that God has given each person a measure of faith. This verse emphasizes that God has distributed faith to every believer, not in varying degrees, but as a fundamental aspect of their spiritual being. The focus is not on the quantity of faith, but on recognizing and utilizing the faith given to each individual.

Seek and provide community support. Connecting with other believers can offer encouragement and prayer. Helping others develop a relationship with God and supporting people, is crucial, and lifts you up, as well. Helping those in need, shifts our focus, and serves as a reminder of God's work and all the blessings he has given us. Things could be worse. I'm very thankful for everything God has done for me and given me. Without him, we are like a boat without a sail, drifting aimlessly.

Express Thanks and Praise

It is hard to be sad and glad at the same time. Find things to be grateful for. Give thanks to God for what you do have, as many are worse off than ourselves. We think we're bad off until we see someone who is blind, helpless, or crippled. It helps to cultivate a positive perspective.

Share your story and encourage others. Testimonies of faith and God's faithfulness, is a powerful source of renewed hope. It is more blessing to give, than receive.

God's Strength Helps Us Cope With Our Weaknesses

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” We often want to distance ourselves from our weaknesses. However, in our attempt to be self-sufficient, we prevent ourselves from witnessing God's power in our lives. God gives us the grace to withstand instead of removing the hardship.

Thank you God for all you are and all you do for us. Amen.

Call on God 24/7. He's never too busy for you.

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LadyGrace

@froggtongue I don't feel you will harsh at all. You were just stating your beliefs, which is what this forum is about.

You'll do your best not to respond? Then that tells me you're not open for discussion about different beliefs, other than your own. Therefore, I will not take your time, other than to say that you have assumed things about my beliefs, that are incorrect. Yes, I'm aware there are other gods in this world. I have never denied that. There are definitely many gods in this world. Including the millions of different gods that certain people worship in this world, that Jehovah God said not to worship as He describes them as idols. However, when you say that my "group" states that my God is the only one, you are mistaken. Jehovah God himself, stated that He is the only Way, Truth, and Life, if one is to get to heaven, and that is whom I quote and follow, because I have done my own independent, in-depth research and believe Him over all others. Others may not, and that's up to them. Further, I capitalize the "G" in the word "God", out of honor and respect for Him. As to testing God, the Bible says we are not to do that. The examples you used however, were special isolated occurrences in the Old Testament. God was proving a point to Pharoah, not testing him.

LadyGrace

@froggtongue

"Whether Jesus gave Peter faith or Peter already had faith and Jesus increased it makes no difference. Jesus is still the one causing the situation to happen by making the storm. Ultimately because Jesus knows everything and creates the situation, the reason why Peter has the amount of faith he does wasn't because of Peter's choice, but Jesus's doing."

You missed the point DanielSJ was trying to make.
Your interpretation touches upon a complex theological concept concerning the interplay between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, especially evident in the biblical story of Peter walking on water.

The Bible emphasizes God's supreme authority and control over all creation, including natural phenomena like storms. Jesus' ability to command the wind and sea, showcases this divine power. While God orchestrates events, even using human actions for his purpose, he is not responsible for sin itself or our choices. That is our responsibility, yet people want to blame God for everything, instead of taking that responsibility for themselves. That way they THINK it's okay to blame him for everything. But in the end, all shall give an account of their doings, good or bad, before God. The Bible verse that describes everyone giving an account for their actions, whether good or bad is in Corinthians. When you talk about God being responsible, that sounds like a scenario where you think if you robbed a bank you could pass it off on me or vice versa. The responsibility lies in our individual choices. It's a cop-out to blame God for everything, when sometimes we cause problems for ourselves. We certainly can't blame God for that, or for making bad choices. That theory is ludicrous.

2 Corinthians 5:10, states, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

No one will be able to pass off their evil deeds to God. Nor blame him.

The Bible presents humans as having free will and being accountable for their individual choices. This is evident in God's commands and calls to repentance and faith. The narrative of Peter, demonstrates this duality: Peter's initial act of stepping onto the water was an act of faith and choice to obey Jesus' call.

The story highlights that while Jesus' power enabled Peter to walk on water, Peter's act of taking his eyes off Jesus and focusing on the storm, led to fear and his sinking. This indicates a human element of responsibility in maintaining faith and focus.

The story of Peter walking on water, and indeed the entire biblical narrative, confirms a relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God's plan is ultimately accomplished, yet human choices are real and hold significance within that plan. This encourages believers to trust in God's sovereign power, while also actively exercising faith and making responsible choices, knowing that Jesus is present and will help them, even in the midst of life's storms.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. James 1:13

LadyGrace

@froggtongue

"Most times when the Xtian bible is read it's read from an atheist."

Hardly. Not true.

FreestyleArt · 36-40, M

I've been going through this and beginning to not give up, no matter anything is in my way. I pray to God to give me the strength to do anything while being patient. it's a struggle I tend to micromanage like a freak machine trying to do everything at once.

LadyGrace

@FreestyleArt Yes, dear brother. Many a time, I have had to sit in what I call "God's waiting room". That takes perseverance and patience, but it is always worth it. We just can't get ahead of God because we never know what's going on in the background while we're waiting. Sometimes, in order for our prayer to get answered, God works on other things in the background, before our certain prayer can be accomplished. That might include a certain person, we just don't know, but whatever the case, God maybe working ones certain things to happen before the answer to our prayer can take place. And sometimes the answer to a prayer may be delayed in order to protect us from certain things. I hope that makes sense to you.

Musicman · 61-69, M

Amen 🙏🙏🙏 I can attest to that. Whenever I give my troubles to God I always feel peace. Sadly I am a sinner and a few hours later stress and worry creep back in. 😥

LadyGrace

@Musicman Yes, that is something we have to keep focused on... Jesus, or fear and doubt will try to come back on us. We wrestle against supernatural powers so it is difficult.

LoneGirl101 · 31-35, F

I find that I'm lazy when it comes to my faith. Takes some time to read scriptures

LadyGrace

@LoneGirl101 It takes time to do lots of things. It depends on what our priorities are. The Bible is well worth reading. It is a road map for life and can answer our questions. It is a great guide for life. It teaches moral standards as well as how to have a successful and meaningful life. It gives us strength in times of trouble. It lets us know how to get to heaven and to protect our soul and prepare it for eternity. For that reason alone, it is the most important book one could ever read. It tells us the why of things, like why we need a Savior. Without the coming of Jesus and his telling us how to have eternal life, we would have been lost for eternity. This world won't last forever so we better be prepared for the next. So some say there will be no existence after we die, that doesn't mean God will change his plans. They shall come to pass, according to scripture. Nothing will change that. This Earth is not for long. We can see it is dying so it's time to prepare our souls and protect them for when we leave this earth.

LadyGrace

@LoneGirl101 I think a lot of people get lazy when it comes to reading the Bible. It's easy to pass it by and not take the time. I think we're all guilty of that. We really need to discipline ourselves and take the time to read it. It helps us grow in faith and gives us strength for each day.

YoMomma ·

Ay i need to read my bible more ty ☺

LadyGrace

@YoMomma We all do, yes. Thank you. ❤🙏

froggtongue · M

Or, you know, that powerful god could just like not make the storm that's endangering you instead of saying he's going to protect you.

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