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Psalm 46:1-11 "God is our refuge and strength. " 46:1. Amid the storms of life, the scripture points us to the safest place, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give away. " Difficulties come to us in many forms, but God outlasts them all, if we follow Him. God can not be shaken.

Matthew 8:3 "Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing ', he said. 'Be clean! ' Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. " Why did Jesus touch the leper ? By touching the "untouchable" Jesus demonstrated his authority over the law. He cared more about people's needs than about religious ritual.

John 20:24-29 "See my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. John 20:27. When Jesus appeared after His ressurection, He brought His scars. John writes Thomas wanting to see "the nail marks in his hands" and Jesus inviting Thomas to "put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side". In order to demonstrate He was the same Jesus, He rose from the dead with the scars of His suffering still visible.

Matthew 16:21-28 "On this rock I will build my church. " Matthew 16:18. God uses our struggles as opportunities to equip us to continue working for Him. Peter's life was marked by inexperience and mistakes. His faith faltered as he tried to walk on water. He wasn't sure if Jesus should pay the temple tax. He rejected Christ's prophesy about the crucifixion and resurrection. Through each issue, Jesus taught Peter about who He was. Peter listened and learned what he needed to know to found the early church. Likewise, if we are discouraged by failure, we should remember Jesus would lead us forward. Jesus continued to work with Peter despite his shortcomings.

"Psalm 39:1-7 But now, Lord what do I look for? My hope is in you. " Psalm 39-7 David 's broken spirit caused him to reflect : "Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days, let me know how fleeting my life is". Amid his renewed focus, David didn't despair. He had nowhere else to turn. "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you ". David would survive this personal battle and go on to serve God. Father, our hope is in You. We are in the best place we can imagine when we go to God in prayer.

Matthew 8:17 "This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah : 'He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases'. " Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. When Christ died, He bore our sins in his body on the cross. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, who died to give us life.

2 Corinthians 2:17-3:6 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, and read by everyone. 2 Corinthians 3:2 Paul didn't require a letter of recommendation when he spoke to the church in Corinth, they knew him. In his second letter to that church, Paul wrote that he preached the gospel out of sincerity, not for personal gain. As we follow Jesus, this becomes true of us too, our lives tell the story of the goodness of the gospel.

Psalm 103 "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits ". Psalm 103:2. Psalm 103 reminds us that "The Lord is compassionate and gracious.... He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him. " In our walk of faith, we come to Jesus humbled by our unworthiness. There is no sense of entitlement as we receive His grace, and are overwhelmed by His love. They remind us of "all His benefits".

2 Samuel 22:26-30 "You, Lord, are my lamp, the Lord turns my darkness into light." 2 Samuel 22:29. In this, David mentioned about "darkness" which includes defeat, weakness, and stress. Many of us live with same anxiety, which invites stress and worry. However, when we face "darkness" , we can find peace because we know God is with us.

Psalm 46 "The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress. " Psalm 46:7. It is tempting to rationalize that the presence of trouble means the absence of God. But the truth of scripture counters such view. "The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress, " He is present when our circumstances are unbearable, and we find comfort in Him.

Isaiah 53:1-6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way.... " Isaiah 53:6. We stray in several ways, doing what displeases the Lord, hurting others by our conduct, and not spending time with God and in His Word, as we're too "busy " with ourselves. We behave like sheep in the field. But we've the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for us. He carries our sorrows and sins as our shepherd. He calls us to the safe pasture, so that we follow Him closely.

Matthew 27:46 "Jesus cried out in a loud voice,... 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me ' ?" As Jesus suffered and died under the burden of our sins, He was suddenly alone, forsaken, isolated, cut off from His relationship with the Father. Yet His suffering in isolation secured for us the promise of the Father, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. " Hebrews 13:5

Luke 23:32-46 "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life.... No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. " John 10:17-18. Even in his final hours, Jesus showed His love for us. He showed it to the mocking soldiers who nailed Him, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. " He gave hope to a criminal, crucified with Him, "...today you will be with me in paradise. " Looking at John, He told His mother, "...here is your son ". And, He told to John, "Here is your mother. " Jesus' last act of obedience and love was to trust the Father, "Into your hands I commit my spirit. "

John 1:5, 16:1-11, 33 "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. " John 16:33. Jesus warned His disciples about the trouble they would face. They would be rejected by people, who "...will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. " But Jesus offered words of comfort. We can turn to Him for guidance and comfort.

1 Samuel 17:41-50 "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Almighty,... " 1 Samuel 17:45. When Goliath challenged Israel to engage in battle, no one was willing to fight. King Saul said, "...all the Israelites were... terrified. " However, David said, "This day the Lord will deliver you (Goliath) into my hands,... " David believed in God, and with a single stone he proved his faith. We're tempted to believe that our troubles direct our future, but if we have faith, God dominates, and directs our future.

James 1:22-25 "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. " Luke 11:28. This is the reason James' instruction is so appropriate -- "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. " His "mirror" illustration enables us to know what it means to "observe" that needs attention. But we are deceived if we think that observing alone is enough. God wants us to observe and obey His Word.

Luke 18:1-8 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. " Colossians 4:2. In Luke, we see "... Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. " In the story, Jesus contrasts an "unjust judge ", who answers a request merely because he didn't want to be further bothered. However, Jesus encourages us that when we pray, God hears and welcomes our prayers. He loves us, and wants us to come to Him.

John 6:47-59 "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. " John 6:51. In the gospel of John, Jesus reminds His listeners that when their ancestors wandered hungry in the wilderness, God provided quail and bread. That food satisfied them for a time. But Jesus promises us that those who accept Him as the "bread of life", will "live forever. "

Ephesians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. " We tend to think of blessings in terms of money, possessions or opportunities. But Paul uses the word to refer to the special relationship and position Christ offers: salvation, forgiveness and the hope of eternal life.

Mark 10:17-27 "With man this is impossible, but not with God, all things are possible with God. " Mark 10:27. Jesus told the rich man to sell his possessions, and give the money to the poor, and follow Him. But the rich man loved and relied on his wealth more than he trusted Jesus. Abandoning the security of his money to follow Jesus was a too great a risk for him. "with man this is impossible, ... but ...with God all things are possible. "