Joy and Strength (eBook)

January

You will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

JEREMIAH 29:12 NIV

JANUARY 1

Eternal Comfort

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you.

2 THESSALONIANS 2:16–17 NLT

In the tension of hopeful prospects for new beginnings and the pain of loss and disappointment, there is an invitation to take hold of God’s steady hand of grace. He offers us relief for our distress. He offers peace of mind for the racing thoughts that cycle back to the taunting what-ifs left in the wake of loss.

Jesus Christ himself is our peace. He is acquainted with suffering. Let us turn our hearts over to his comfort and strength as the Spirit wraps around us with love’s soothing embrace. His compassion completely covers us. We can find rest in his comfort today.

Father, I want to know your comforting embrace as I lift my heart toward you. I rely on your strength because I am running out of my own. Surround me with your perfect peace.

JANUARY 2

Beyond the Pain

This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:17–18 ESV

When suffering clouds our minds and darkens our days, it can be difficult to imagine a different reality. Though we may feel beaten down by the death of disappointed dreams and hopes that will never materialize the way we had expected, this is not the end of our story.

In a shifting world, where the only certainty we can depend upon is change, let us remember that there is a greater eternal reality awaiting us. God’s expansive love carries us through the dark nights into the bright dawn of his mercy. May our eyes look past these temporary troubles to the eternal hope of his glorious kingdom where his light will never dim and our hopes will never be frustrated.

God, I trust that even when I cannot see your goodness and I struggle to believe for lighter days, you are faithful and true. I depend on you for vision. Let me see from your perspective. I need your help.

JANUARY 3

Called His Own

The LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

1 SAMUEL 12:22 NASB

God’s great love is not dependent on our reception of it. His compassion does not waver when our hearts grow cold. He is gentle in loving leadership, knowing what we need in every moment. Our questions, our pain, even our accusations do nothing to dissuade his mercy.

He has called us his children. He claims us as his own. It is his parental prerogative to love us at our best and at our worst. We don’t need to worry on our hard days that we somehow run the risk of being disowned by our heavenly Father. He will never change his mind, and he will never leave us.

Perfect Father, I am so grateful for the revelation that you will never leave me. I don’t want to fight against you today; I want to be held by love. Draw close, God, and let me feel the relief of your presence.

JANUARY 4

Empowered to Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

ROMANS 15:13 NRSV

When you struggle to grab hold of hope, there is no need to despair. When you run out of your reserves of courage, do not lose heart. You have access to the source of life itself. Where death has rocked your world, the Spirit’s life will breathe hope into your heart.

You were never meant to strive to believe. Surrender to the wisdom of God’s eternal Word, and the Holy Spirit will empower you with supernatural strength. Joy will be yours again. Peace will be your covering. Does it sound too good to be true? That is the good news that God offers! He will restore you; you will not be left untouched by his resurrection power.

God, I have no hope outside of you. When I struggle to see any goodness, would you empower me to see where you are already at work with your restoration power? I rely on you.

JANUARY 5

Look to Him

LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.

JEREMIAH 10:23 NIV

We cannot escape the sting of suffering in this life. Anyone denying its effects would be deemed a liar. Heartbreak is an unwelcome guest, though it can be used in the refiner’s fire to purify us. When grief comes barging through the door of our hearts, will we let it recklessly wreak havoc? Or will we allow our good Father to use it to filter out the impurities of our lives?

There is always an invitation in the pain. With God, death is not simply an ending point. It is an opportunity for rebirth, for resurrection, for new life. Will we let courage lead us into surrender as God does what he alone can do? He is the master restorer.

Lord, I surrender my heart to you today. I invite you into the intense pain of my grief. Comfort me as you purify me in your love. I know that sorrow does not last forever. I trust you.

JANUARY 6

Held by Love

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

PSALM 34:18 NLT

When you buckle under the weight of your sadness, God, your comforter, is there to lift you up. He is supporting you as your legs give way under the heavy load of grief that you bear. If you remember only one thing today, let it be this: the Lord is near.

He will not let you waste away in your distress. He is your present help. He is your shield, your strength, and your defender. He is your rescuer. Even if you cannot sense him, know that he is with you. You cannot escape the grip of his mercy. You are held by love.

Lord, I need to know your nearness. I am desperate for your help, for relief. Spirit, cover me with your peace today. I cannot go on without you. Hold me close in comfort so I can hear the heartbeat of your love over me. I trust that you are here with me.

JANUARY 7

Help at Hand

Every time they cried out to you in their despair, you were faithful to deliver them; you didn’t disappoint them.

PSALM 22:5 TPT

In life, we cannot escape the circumstances that inevitably make us feel like we are in over our heads. We cannot fill ourselves with enough courage and wisdom to dismantle what we cannot understand. God is our help whenever we need it. He does not ridicule our weakness, nor does he expect perfection from our efforts.

God is full of strength and mercy; he is a faithful deliverer. He is closer than the breath in your lungs. He is your very source; he is your Creator. Will you stop your striving and let him help you? You don’t face any obstacle alone. Cry out to him at any time; your weakness will call on his strength, and he will not disappoint you.

Faithful Father, I call out to you today. I recognize that I have been discouraged by my inability to meet the needs around me. My capacity is more limited than I want to admit. Help me, God. I need you to come through!

JANUARY 8

Solid Ground

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

PSALM 40:2 NLT

There is no shame in recognizing that you cannot lift yourself out of the trenches of despair on your own. God will not leave you to claw at the flimsy ropes of fleeting hope. In your desperation for relief, call out to the one who calls you by name. He is closer than you realize.

Here he is with mercy’s anchor. He already has his hand under you, ready to lift you up and out of the mire of despondency. You will find your feet on the firm rock of his unchanging nature. Where you have felt stuck, he will carry you out; your feet will find their footing on the bedrock of his strong love once again as you lean on his steady leadership.

My God, be my strong and constant support. I cannot climb my way out of the grief that tears at my soul, but I know I don’t need to. Carry me through until I can stand once more, leaning on your steady countenance.

JANUARY 9

Shield around Me

You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

PSALM 3:3 ESV

When the storms of life rage, God will not leave you to be torn apart by the winds of adversity. He is a shield, a shelter, and a safe place to all who call on his name. He hems you into the garment of his love, hiding you in the commanding compassion of his heart.

The Lord your God surrounds you with the...