Sometimes God’s presence seems far away. When you feel abandoned or deserted, have faith in God’s promise that the Holy spirit is always there. God is guiding, comforting and helping you. Take heart knowing that He holds the future in His hands.

This scripture contains the first “not good” in the Bible. God wants us to live in fellowship with a community of others along life’s journey. Each one of us is a helper, mentor or encourager to someone else.

God holds the entire universe together. He is the caretaker of the world. When you feel like you are at your wit’s end supporting your friends, coworkers and family, take a deep breath and give the reins back to the one in power.

Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century lay monk, found joy “seeking Him only and nothing else, not even His gifts.” When you make God’s presence your motivation, when you desire to love Him simply for who He is, you will truly experience His blessing.

Throughout Scripture, there are many examples of God bringing peace. From the israelites at the Red Sea to Elijah after his encounter at Mount Carmel, God calmed fears and brought comfort. When life is chaotic and you are worried about the future, turn to prayer. God’s voice is peace.

Scripture tells us that we are to glory in our sufferings. Because of faith, we can see the blessing in every experience—even in our suffering. Our hardships help us to find perseverance and hope and encourage us to pursue a strong relationship with God.

The Apostle Paul encourages us to help others and lift them up with God’s love. God empowers us to spread peace and hope. He encourages us to spread His message of unconditional love and acceptance to those who need it most.

Do you worry even when there is little or no reason to? When anxiety overwhelms you, the normal reaction is to freeze or flee. The next time this happens, imagine yourself safely in God’s loving arms. Keep a list of comforting Bible verses and read them over and over again.

God rested on the seventh day. Remind yourself of this scripture when you are too busy to even think. Rest is a necessary and important part of life. Give yourself permission to take time off, to say no to things you don’t want to do and to take time to relax and restore your spirit.