It's been a busy year, and this semester, "busy" doesn't begin to cover it, but I have made it a point to do something to spend time with God every day. Going through a relatively minor but still very painful and limiting injury (now make that two) has added to the stress but also added to the strength of my faith. That's usually the plan. Over the past few days I have been looking at a relatively new song by Jordan Feliz called "Faith," and it came to me as encouragement to not lose hope, keep on going, take care of myself, prepare for good things ahead. I may be down, but I am not out. God has brought me through a lot of unlikely circumstances before, He can and will do it again. My job is to believe in Him and do the little things that can help.
There is no ocean that can't be parted
There is no mountain that can't be moved
I know there's help for the heavy-hearted
The weak will find their strength renewed
You just gotta have faith
It's light for the shadows
For all your tomorrows
It's knowing He's there through the sun and the rain
It's when you believe it
Before you can see it
And you can walk on, ‘cause He's making a way
Just gotta have some faith, faith
Searching for purpose in all the waiting
Praying through so many silent hours
Finding a breath when you feel like fading
Learning to love where you are right now (where He's got you now)
You just gotta have faith
Remember your Rescue is standing beside you
I have to remember that there is nothing I can't get through; God will always make a way. When my heart is weighed down by all the negativity and problems of the world and anxieties of my life, He lifts me up. When I feel weak and have nothing left to give, He gives me strength and energy. He is the light that shines in the dark situations, the one who holds my future so I don't have to fear. He has given me good times as well as comfort in my bad times. I have to believe in His power and His plan before it comes. That's part of the journey. I can always find reasons to keep going. When I feel stuck, waiting for something better, I can pause in patience knowing there is a purpose. Prayers may seem unanswered, but it is just not time yet or not what I expected. Know He is hearing, and He is acting. Take time to breathe and take care of myself when I feel like things are crumbling. Find joy in the journey whether it is rough or smooth--it is all great in God's plan. Remember that God is right here with me through it all and is working everything out for my good. Walk by faith.
Verses
FAITH & BELIEF
"The righteous shall live by faith." Romans 1:17
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7
"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt..." James 1:6
"Whoever believes in Him is not condemned..." John 3:18
"Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?'" John 11:40
"For it is with your heart that you believe and with your mouth that you confess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:10
"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see...Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:1, 6
"Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God." 1 Peter 1:20
"These trials have come so that the genuineness of your faith, of greater worth than gold, may result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him you love Him and believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." 1 Peter 1:7-8
"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4
"So that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God's power." 1 Corinthians 2:5
"Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16
"You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:3
"Faith comes from hearing the message, through the word about Christ." Romans 10:17
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24
"Surely the righteous will never be shaken...they will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord." Psalm 112:6-7
NOTHING GOD CANNOT DO
"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.'" Matthew 19:26
LIGHT
"The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned." Matthew 4:16
"The light shines in the darkness..." John 1:5
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12
"You are a chosen people...belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5
HE IS WITH US
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:17
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing...He guides me along the right paths, for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff comfort me...Surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life..." Psalm 23
"The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand." Psalm 121:5
"The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Psalm 118:6
"Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16
"For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end." Psalm 48:14
"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
"He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 (and 147:3)
HE IS OUR RESCUE
"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom." 2 Timothy 4:18
"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." Nahum 1:7
"In You, Lord, I have taken refuge...In Your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me...Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go...You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." Psalm 71:1-5
"The righteous may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers Him from them all." Psalm 34:19
"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me." Psalm 18:16-19
CARRY ON
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3
"...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
"Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand." Psalm 37:24
"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." 2 Corinthians 4:1
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12
"Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
PRAYING
"The spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us...the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14
"Jesus told the disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24
"Rejoice always, pray continually." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
"Is anyone in trouble? Let them pray." James 5:13
"the is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." Isaiah 30:15
"Pray with the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41
"Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy. In Your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief." Psalm 143:1
"Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to You, because You answer me." Psalm 86:6
HE WILL MAKE A WAY
"This is what the Lord says--He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters...forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'" Isaiah 43:16-18
"You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:11
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14:6
"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9
MORE FOR OUR HOPE
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
"You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewal of your strength, so you did not faint." Isaiah 57:10
"The Lord has made everything for its own purpose." Proverbs 16:4
"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
"Make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16
"All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16
"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4
"So that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God's power." 1 Corinthians 2:5
"Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16
"You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:3
"Faith comes from hearing the message, through the word about Christ." Romans 10:17
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24
"Surely the righteous will never be shaken...they will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord." Psalm 112:6-7
NOTHING GOD CANNOT DO
"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.'" Matthew 19:26
LIGHT
"The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned." Matthew 4:16
"The light shines in the darkness..." John 1:5
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12
"You are a chosen people...belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5
HE IS WITH US
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:17
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing...He guides me along the right paths, for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff comfort me...Surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life..." Psalm 23
"The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand." Psalm 121:5
"The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Psalm 118:6
"Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16
"For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end." Psalm 48:14
"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
"He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 (and 147:3)
HE IS OUR RESCUE
"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom." 2 Timothy 4:18
"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." Nahum 1:7
"In You, Lord, I have taken refuge...In Your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me...Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go...You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." Psalm 71:1-5
"The righteous may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers Him from them all." Psalm 34:19
"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me." Psalm 18:16-19
CARRY ON
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3
"...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
"Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand." Psalm 37:24
"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." 2 Corinthians 4:1
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12
"Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
PRAYING
"The spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us...the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14
"Jesus told the disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24
"Rejoice always, pray continually." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
"Is anyone in trouble? Let them pray." James 5:13
"the is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." Isaiah 30:15
"Pray with the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41
"Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy. In Your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief." Psalm 143:1
"Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to You, because You answer me." Psalm 86:6
HE WILL MAKE A WAY
"This is what the Lord says--He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters...forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'" Isaiah 43:16-18
"You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:11
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14:6
"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9
MORE FOR OUR HOPE
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
"You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewal of your strength, so you did not faint." Isaiah 57:10
"The Lord has made everything for its own purpose." Proverbs 16:4
"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
"Make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16
"All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16
Now you can go listen to the song and sing about how you have something to have faith in, then wait and see how God responds!
