Choosing to Trust God in Tough Situations

by Grace Fox

The blizzard that swept across the continent at Christmastime paralyzed the international airport near my home. My husband and I had purchased airline tickets to travel to our youngest daughter’s home for the holidays, but as the news told of countless delayed and canceled flights, we began to wonder whether we would be able to go.

We went to the airport on the morning of our scheduled departure, checked in, and seated ourselves near our gate. Hundreds of other passengers waited for their flights, too. One by one, those flights were either delayed or canceled.

One woman, stranded for five days, shrugged her shoulders and said, “There’s nothing I can do.” Her eyes brimmed with tears.

A young man said, “I’m going to charter a bus and fill it up with other passengers trying to get to the same destination.”

Many people handled their disappointment and stress well. Others, not so much. They expressed frustration with the airlines and accused gate attendants and crew members of being irresponsible.

Life being what it is, we encounter tough situations over which we have no control. We observe the goings-on around us and make judgments. Trouble is, we can’t see or know everything that’s happening behind the scenes to affect our situation. So, based on incomplete information, we develop incorrect assumptions that lead to bad conclusions. Worse, in the stress of the moment, we forget that God is sovereign over every detail of our lives. We focus only on our immediate circumstances that are not going well, and we end up frustrated, angry, dejected, or hopeless.

This happened in the Bible story about Jairus, the father of a little girl who became ill and died. When faced with tragic loss, Jairus’ family and friends focused only on the circumstances beyond their control and lost hope. But Jesus had a different perspective. Here’s what the passage says:

“While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.’ But Jesus on hearing this answered him, ‘Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.’

“And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.’

^“And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, ‘Child, arise.’ And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.” (Luke 8:49-55 ESV)

Jairus’ friends and family focused on the facts as they saw and understood them. The little girl was dead. End of story.

But Jesus knew what the people didn’t. He knew every behind-the-scenes detail involved in this situation, and He had a plan.

The next time we face difficult circumstances, let’s pause to remember that God knows infinitely more about them than we do. He knows what’s happening behind-the-scenes in the spiritual realm, and He has a plan. Nothing can thwart His purposes. He is wise, good, and sovereign over every detail of our lives, and we can trust Him.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)ber of the “First 5” writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and co-host of the podcast “Your Daily Bible Verse.” Her new devotional Fresh Hope for Today: Devotions for Joy on the Journey is available wherever Christian books are sold.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox is a career missionary, the award-winning author of 13 books, and a popular Bible teacher at international women’s events. She’s a member of the “First 5” writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries and co-hosts the podcast “Your Daily Bible Verse.” Her new devotional, Fresh Hope for Today: Devotions for Joy on the Journey, is available wherever Christian books are sold. Visit Grace’s website to subscribe to her monthly update and receive free printables to enhance your Bible reading and prayer time at gracefox.com.

Join the conversation: Have you ever made incorrect assumptions about a difficult situation? What did you find out later the helped you make sense of it all?

Advertisement

Give Your Concerns to Jesus

by Grace Fox

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

The new day had barely begun, but already its concerns burdened me: A dear friend was losing her battle with cancer; a relative was wrestling with ongoing mental health issues; my family was struggling with COVID-related tension; I faced pressing work deadlines; and more.

Overwhelmed. Crushed by circumstances beyond my control. Anxious over questions for which I lacked answers. That’s how I felt.

I suspect you can relate. Your concerns may or may not match mine, but you “get” the weight because you’ve carried it, too. We all deal with anxieties—often to our own detriment. We lose sleep worrying about those we love. We lose our focus fearing the worst about financial difficulties. We lose our peace drawing hypothetical conclusions from what-if thoughts.

Jesus never intended that concerns should dominate our thinking because He understands their negative impact on our well-being. He knows that chronically bearing their weight causes us to languish. That’s why Scripture tells us to cast our worries on him.

In the original Greek language, “cast” means to hurl or heave with force. It doesn’t suggest we gingerly place one problem on Jesus’ shoulders to see how He resolves it before entrusting Him with another. Neither does it imply we give Him our concerns only to retrieve them a short while later. Casting our cares means throwing them onto Jesus with force because we’re done with them and don’t intend to take them back.

Jesus’ shoulders are bigger than ours, and His strength is greater. He can handle those situations too complex for us. He can bear the burdens too heavy. He’s all-knowing, wise, and sovereign, too. He is trustworthy. Completely. And get this—when we turn our troubles over to Him, we don’t need to spend energy searching for solutions to relay to Him. No more prayers like, “Father, do such-and-such in this situation.” Instead, we pray like this: “Father, help. I’m giving You this burden. It’s too big for me.”

Jesus is more than able to carry our concerns. Every single one of them. Sometimes we forget the little word “all” in 1 Peter 5:7. We give some concerns to Jesus, but we hesitate to surrender others because we fear an undesirable outcome. But here’s the thing: Our concerns can’t wield control over us when we yield control to Jesus. Let’s choose to surrender all our burdens, no matter what caused them, and trust Him for the best outcome.

Overwhelmed on that morning, amidst my anxious thoughts, I sensed the Lord whisper, “Take a deep breath, and then exhale your anxiety about your friend with cancer. Trust Me. I’ve got this.” I did what He said, and my soul felt a little lighter. He spoke again: “Exhale concern about your relative with mental health issues.” And again: “Now exhale concern about all things COVID-related.”

The Holy Spirit led me through that list of circumstances, and then He brought several more concerns to mind—burdens I hadn’t even realized I was bearing until I felt the load lighten. One by one, I cast all my concerns onto Jesus, grateful for His willingness to carry them for me.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox is a career missionary, the award-winning author of 13 books, and a popular Bible teacher at international women’s events. She’s a member of the “First 5” writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries and co-hosts the podcast “Your Daily Bible Verse.” Her new devotional, Fresh Hope for Today: Devotions for Joy on the Journey, is available wherever Christian books are sold. Visit Grace’s website to subscribe to her monthly update and receive free printables to enhance your Bible reading and prayer time at gracefox.com.

Join the conversation: What concerns are you carrying today, my friend? Take a deep breath. Now exhale. Repeat. Do this little exercise as often as needed. Give those concerns to Jesus because He cares for you.

Praying with Power for Those We Love

by Grace Fox

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Ephesians 1:17 CSB

I have three adult married kids. None live locally, so we stay in touch through texts and phone and video calls. I like to know what’s happening in their lives so I can pray for them. Sometimes, though, life gets busy and we don’t connect for a couple of weeks. Even when we do visit, they don’t necessarily tell me every little detail about their high and low points, and that’s okay. How, then, can I pray most effectively when I don’t know specifics about their challenges or personal struggles?  

The same question applies to praying for extended family members and friends, especially those I haven’t seen for a long time. The best answer I’ve found is to pray God’s Word on their behalf. One of my favorite Bible passages to use is Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV). “And [Jesus] said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”

Everything about our loved ones’ well-being flows from their regard for God. If they don’t understand Him as their Creator who has a plan for their lives, then they’ll follow their own path apart from His wisdom and direction. They’ll make decisions based on what they perceive to be in their best interests, and that can prove both heart-breaking and destructive.

However, if they respond to God’s love by loving Him in return with every part of who they are, they’ll develop attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors based on His truth. Doing life God’s way brings His blessings. It doesn’t guarantee a problem-free existence, but it promises His presence and empowerment to help them through the hard times. Loving the Lord first and foremost aligns their hearts with His, and everything—values, priorities, goals, money matters and more—falls into place.

Everything about our loved ones’ well-being flows from their relationship with God, but much also depends on their relationships with others. Do they view others as people loved by God and treat them accordingly? Are they able to forgive those who offend them? Are they kind? Servant-hearted? Compassionate? Are they willing to see beyond their own needs to meet other’s needs? Can they set aside their own opinions long enough to listen and consider another’s perspective? Healthy relationships contribute to one’s emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Therefore, I pray for those I love to learn to love others well.

Praying Matthew 22:37-40 for my children, extended family, and friends has become a daily practice. I pray it for my grandchildren, too. I don’t know the specifics of what everyone’s dealing with today, but that doesn’t matter. I want them to make wise decisions, demonstrate humility, and walk in integrity. I want them to live pure lives steeped in godly wisdom and compassion. Loving the Lord with every part of who they are and loving others as they love themselves is the key to their ability to flourish.

Unlike the generic “bless my loved ones and keep them safe” prayer I offered for years, Scripture-based prayers are rich and packed with life-changing truth.

When we use God’s Word to intercede, it becomes our weapon, and we become warriors doing battle on our loved one’s behalf.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox is a career missionary, speaks at women’s events overseas and across North America, and has authored 12 books. She’s a regular contributor to Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts), a member of the “First 5” writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and co-host of the podcast “Your Daily Bible Verse.” Her new devotional Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm is available wherever Christian books are sold. Join Grace’s FB group at www.fb.com.gracefox.author.

Join the conversation: How about you? Do you have a Scripture prayer that you pray frequently for your loved ones?                       

3 Truths to Keep Hope Alive

by Grace Fox

Life is flat-out hard sometimes. Stuff happens when we least expect it, and it can send us into a tailspin or drive us to our knees. Sometimes that stuff lingers much longer than we’d like. We tie a knot and hang on for dear life, but fear threatens to slip our grip.

I’m in a season like that right now. I’ve lost four friends in six weeks. The oldest was 53. The others left behind 10 children ages 8 thru 16 years. Two more have been diagnosed with cancer, and one has been fighting for his life, on ECMO, since early December. My heart wants to cry, “Enough already!” and yet the hurt and uncertainty continue to linger.

 Perhaps you can relate. I suspect that, if everyone reading this devotional pooled their stories, we could fill a book. Or two. Or more.

So what’s the key to hanging onto hope during these seasons when they come? Here are three things to remember:

• God is with us.

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of sexual assault, and forgotten in prison. I wonder if he sometimes felt like God had turned His back on him. Nonetheless, Scripture says that God was with him (Genesis 39:2,3,21,23).

The enemy will try to convince us that God has abandoned us, but don’t be deceived. God has not changed. His faithfulness remains the same, therefore, rest assured that He is with us as we deal with difficulty. He will never leave us.

• Our trials are temporary.

Joseph’s hardships lasted about 14 years. Some of you might think that’s a long time, but others might think, If only mine were so short-lived. No matter the length of time our difficulties stay, it’s easy to lose sight of the truth when we’re in the middle of the mess. The truth is – our trials will not last forever (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Joseph’s hardships lasted until “the time came for [the LORD] to fulfill his word (Psalm 105:19). Ours, too, will end at just the right time. So, again—be encouraged. This too shall pass. We might not know when they’ll end or what the process will look like enroute, but they will not last forever.

• Our trials are part of a picture that’s bigger than the one we see at this time.

Joseph’s hardships were divinely designed. Psalm 105:17-18 say, “Then he [God] sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave. There in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and put his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his word, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.”

Why did God deem it necessary to test Joseph using these means? Because He planned to make Joseph second-in-command in Egypt. God wanted to prepare him for the task, and this was the best way to do it.

God has purposes yet unseen for our lives, too. Every one of the hardships we experience are part of the pruning and honing necessary to prepare us. They’re also designed to make us more like Jesus no matter what our destiny is (Romans 8:28, 29).

Father God, we don’t understand why hard seasons come our way. But we belong to You, and we want Your highest purpose fulfilled in and through us. So help us remember that You’re with us, hard seasons are temporary, and they’re part of a bigger picture than the one we see now. We trust You with our pain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This article brought to you be the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox co-directs an international missionary sending agency, speaks at women’s events overseas and across North America, and has authored 12 books. She’s a regular contributor to Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts), a member of the “First 5” writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and co-host of the podcast “Your Daily Bible Verse.” Her new devotional Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm releases today and is available wherever Christian books are sold. www.gracefox.com/blog www.fb.com.gracefox.author

Join the conversation. Are you in a hard season?

Why Our Thoughts About God Matter

by Grace Fox

Where I live in British Columbia, winter is marked by overcast skies and rain. It’s already upon us. The marina dock is slick, and carrying groceries or suitcases from the parking lot to our boat isn’t exactly a ton of fun. The memory of falling face-first while pulling a suitcase and wearing a 25-pound backpack still haunts me.

I could quickly fall into complaining about the damp cold and the dangers of walking on a wet dock, except that I know God placed me and my husband here. I also know that God is wise and good. He makes no mistakes. He has my best interest in mind. He uses circumstances to refine my character and make me more like Jesus. He has purposes beyond my understanding for placing us here, and He’s given me the privilege of playing a role in seeing those purposes fulfilled.

If I start second-guessing God’s goodness and wisdom (ie: “What was He thinking when He told us to move aboard a sailboat? This is ‘way too hard for a woman my age!”), then I will soon resent living here. I’ll envy my friends who live in houses—especially if they have attached garages—and discontentment will eat me alive.

In contrast, focusing my mind on truth about God brings peace. Because He’s wise and good and makes no mistakes, I know He is completely trustworthy. He’s got my back and will give me everything needed to thrive through another winter as liveaboards. I can trust and not be afraid.

John 8:12-25 tells the story of Jesus addressing a group of unbelievers:

“That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”

“Who are you?” they demanded.

Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be” (vv.24-25 NLT).

When Jesus walked this earth, He taught that people’s thoughts about Him mattered. Unless they believed the truth about who He said He was—the Savior sent to cleanse them from sin and restore them to a right relationship with God—they would die in their sins.

The same principle holds true in our thoughts about God the Father. They matter. They matter a great deal. If they’re not based on truth, we develop a skewed understanding of who He is and His role in our lives. We develop a distorted perspective and start living according to our own truth. Eventually we sacrifice peace and joy for envy, discontentment, and fear.

Our human tendency is to make God into something our finite minds can grasp. We make Him into something we want Him to be so we can excuse sinful behaviors. We misconstrue His character by over-emphasizing one attribute at the expense of another.

Let’s guard against doing this, okay? Let’s ask God to reveal any inaccurate thoughts about Him and to replace them with truth.

Our thoughts about God ultimately determine our destiny both in this life and in the hereafter. They’re the most important thing about us, so let’s strive to ensure they’re based on truth.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox co-directs an international missionary sending agency, speaks at women’s events overseas and across North America, and has authored ten books. She’s a regular contributor to Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts) and a member of the “First 5” writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Her new devotional Finding Hope in Crisis: Devotions for Calm in Chaos won the Golden Scroll “Devotional Book of the Year” award and is available wherever Christian books are sold.

Join the conversation: Have you been tempted to give God human limitations in your understanding of Him?

5 Promises That Will Never Be Broken

by Grace Fox

The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Psalm 12:6 NLT

Someone once said that promises are made to be broken. Sadly, we live in a society where many people believe this is true.

Some break their vow to love and honor their spouse until death. Others break their promise to pay for receiving a service or product. Some fail to meet someone at an agreed time and place. Many of us fail to keep our word to pray for someone who’s shared a prayer request with us.

Sometimes people break promises intentionally. They agree to do something knowing full well they won’t follow through. Others do it accidentally. A couple of years ago, one of my grandsons reminded me about a toy watch I’d bought him several years prior. “It broke, Grandma, and you said you’d buy me a new one, but you never did.” Seriously, I had no recollection of saying such a thing, but I trust his memory more than mine. To say I was mortified is an understatement.

No matter what anyone says, promises are not made to be broken. They’re made to keep. That’s the point, right? The definition of a promise is “a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen.”

We’ve all been on the receiving end of a broken promise. We’ve felt the disappointment or sting. We’ve asked ourselves the question, “Should I ask this person for an explanation, or should I just let it go?” Depending on the nature and circumstances of the promise broken, we may have enjoyed a hearty laugh or conversely wrestled with anger and unforgiveness.

People break promises all the time. Know it will happen. But know this—God always keeps His word.

Psalm 12:6 says, “The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.” Sometimes those promises don’t happen as soon as we wish. When they finally come to pass, they might look different than we’d hoped. They might come with a condition that we have to fulfill first.

Regardless, God will never make a promise and then forget to honor it. He’ll never commit to doing something and then procrastinate or fail to follow through. God always keeps His word. Here are five promises on which we can rely when facing uncertainty.

• “…Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NIV). We are not alone even when we feel lonely because God’s presence goes with us everywhere, day and night.

• “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words” (Romans 8:26 NLT). What a relief to know the Holy Spirit covers our concerns when we haven’t got a clue how to put them into words.

• ^“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37 NLT). The One who conquered death works in us to conquer all things that stand against us.

• “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27 NLT). Jesus has provided a gift that money can’t buy, and He even gives instructions so we can maximize it.  (Philippians 4:6-7)

• “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 NLT). Heaven. I can only imagine.

God will always keep these promises. Which one is most relevant to you today?

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox co-directs an international missionary sending agency, speaks at women’s events overseas and across North America, and has authored ten books. She’s a regular contributor to Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts) and a member of the First 5 writing team (P31 Ministries). Her new devotional, Finding Hope in Crisis: Devotions for Calm in Chaos is available wherever Christian books are sold. Connect with Grace on her website, blog, or on Facebook.

Join the conversation: What of God’s promises are most meaningful to you?

Orca Whales and Overcoming Fatigue

by Grace Fox – grace@gracefox.com

My husband and I had just completed a busy season of ministry overseas. Our bodies yearned for  rest, and our spirits longed for renewal, but one more commitment beckoned before we could take a break.

A lifelong friend and former ministry coworker had passed away, and we considered attending his funeral a non-negotiable. Doing so was no small ordeal. It meant making a day-long trip that involved two ferry rides with the likelihood of high-volume summer traffic and subsequent lengthy waits between sailings. The prospect held zero appeal for us in our weary state. But there was one other option: do the trip in our sailboat-home. Allowing a week for the round-trip could transform our journey into a vacation.

We left the marina with sunshine overhead and gentle breezes at our back. On the second morning, I was sitting in the cockpit when unusual movement in the water caught my eye. It was a fin about five feet high, heading straight toward our starboard side. Suddenly another fin appeared. And then a third.

Moments later, a pod of approximately thirty orca whales surrounded us. Some disappeared under our boat. Others swam across the bow. One leaped from the air off the stern and landed with a tremendous ker-splash! Their movements mesmerized me. I gazed in awe at these sea creatures diving and dancing, and I felt enveloped by the presence of their Creator and mine.

The whales’ path crossing ours in that massive expanse of water was no coincidence. Only God could have orchestrated such a nature show and given us the once-in-lifetime opportunity to sit in its audience. I embraced it as a gift, a unique and not-so-little expression of His love for us and His presence in our lives. The experience rejuvenated our spirits and filled our emotional, mental, and spiritual sails with fresh wind.

We all experience seasons—some long, some short—when fatigue settles in and feels impossible to shake off. Reasons for exhaustion vary. I have several friends who are providing care for aging parents suffering from dementia. Others are helping to raise their grandchildren. Some are investing significant energy trying to understand and resolve relationship issues within their family. Others are dealing with workplace conflict, financial loss, or health concerns. On a global scale, we’re coming through a season that knocked the wind out of our sails for so many reasons—loss and disappointment being one of them.

Fatigue makes us vulnerable to negative thinking. When I returned from overseas that summer, I caught myself entertaining thoughts like, “I feel overworked and underappreciated” and “Our ministry doesn’t make a difference.” I realized that allowing such thoughts to dwell in my mind would put me into a downward spiral of discouragement. I turned things around by meditating on and praying truths such as Psalm 23:1-2: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength” (NLT).

God invites us to cast our cares on Him, so go ahead—tell Him your need for renewal and expect Him to answer (1 Peter 5:7). He might send restoration through a timely Scripture or email, through a friend who comes alongside to help shoulder your burden, or through an unexpected opportunity to get away for a physical rest. He knows your need and how to best meet it. If He can send a pod of orca whales to renew me, He can do whatever’s necessary to restore you, too, my friend.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox co-directs an international missionary sending agency, speaks at women’s events overseas and across North America, and has authored ten books. She’s a regular contributor to Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts) and a member of the First 5 writing team (P31 Ministries). Her new devotional, Finding Hope in Crisis: Devotions for Calm in Chaos is available wherever Christian books are sold. Connect with Grace on her website, blog, or on Facebook.

Join the conversation: Do you need renewal today?

Holding onto Hope When Winter Lingers

by Grace Fox

Winters are long, gray, and soggy where I live in southwestern British Columbia. Lack of sunshine for extended times can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) characterized by depression, lethargy, and irritability. Those who struggle with it find October through April particularly difficult.

I haven’t experienced SAD, but winter brings challenges of a different sort my way, because I live on a sailboat. For instance, condensation is a problem despite our running a dehumidifier around-the-clock. As a result, I’m constantly on a seek-and-destroy mission against mildew inside cupboards and around our mattresses. Doing the laundry means backpacking our dirty wash to the marina facilities a city block away—in the rain. And walking on slippery docks and steep ramps requires extra caution. Twisting my ankle and doing a face plant taught me that lesson.

This year, amidst damp cold and increasingly tight pandemic restrictions, I began feeling as though winter came with no expiration date. Imagine my delight, then, when I discovered pink blossoms on a leafless tree in early February. The sight lifted my spirits. I stood and stared at the flowers in awe and wonder. I couldn’t resist posting a picture on Facebook. “This is not fake news,” I wrote. “Spring is on the way. There is hope after all!”

Sadly, an Arctic blast swept through our province a couple weeks later. Temperatures plunged and the flowers froze. But despite their sad demise, my anticipation of spring lingered. Their presence had reminded me of warmer, sunnier, longer days ahead. They’d given me hope, and an Arctic freeze could not take that from me.

Life occasionally hands us seasons that resemble long, dreary winters. We begin to wonder whether our circumstances will ever improve. We spend our energy trying to persevere and praying for what feels like forever without seeing progress or change, and we begin to lose heart.

Sometimes we experience an Arctic blast. Winds of sudden change blow, bad news chills us to the bone, and we wonder whether we’ll survive to see warmer days ahead.

No matter how difficult our situation, the truth remains: God’s presence and promises bring hope.  

The apostle Paul knew what it meant to suffer. As a minister of the Gospel of Christ, he’d experienced slander, criticism, beatings, and imprisonment. He’d learned how to thrive despite the storms, and he shared his insights with the Corinthian believers so they might learn to do the same.

Paul encouraged them to not lose heart, and then wrote, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet 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, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV).

Paul’s words still apply to us today. Our difficulties—our winter of the soul—might linger longer than we wish, but the Holy Spirit’s presence within us renews us and gives us strength to persevere. Our troubles might appear to have no expiration date, but rest assured, they will eventually pass. The purposes that Christ is achieving through them, however, will last forever. Therein lies hope.

Like the pink blossoms in mid-winter lifted my spirits, so God’s truth brings hope in seasons of hardship. Hold on, my friend. An eternal glory that exceeds imagination lies ahead.

Grace Fox co-directs an international missionary sending agency, speaks at women’s events overseas and across North America, and has authored ten books. She’s a regular contributor to Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts) and a member of the “First 5” writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Her new devotional Finding Hope in Crisis: Devotions for Calm in Chaos is available wherever Christian books are sold. Connect with Grace on her website, blog, or on Facebook.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox co-directs an international missionary sending agency, speaks at women’s events overseas and across North America, and has authored ten books. She’s a regular contributor to Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts) and a member of the First 5 writing team (P31 Ministries). Her new devotional, Finding Hope in Crisis: Devotions for Calm in Chaos is available wherever Christian books are sold. Connect with Grace on her website, blog, or on Facebook.

Join the conversation: Have you seen God at work within you during these difficult times?

Holding on to Hope

by Grace Fox

Last year at this time, my husband and I held high hopes for the future. As co-directors of a missionary sending organization, we looked forward to seeing how God would raise up more workers for the harvest at home and abroad. We anticipated attending our annual staff conference in Poland, leading short-term teams to Eastern Europe, and training Middle Eastern nationals for career ministry. As a Bible teacher, I busied myself writing materials for upcoming women’s retreats. We’d booked our calendar and bought airline tickets.

Then the pandemic struck. Countries closed their borders, airlines grounded their flights, and authorities banned public gatherings.

Saying that 2020 propelled us into unfamiliar territory is an understatement. It stretched and tested us, and it brought Isaiah 42:16 to life. “And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.”  (ESV)

As our usual ministry doors closed, we asked God to guide us in a new direction. He led us down the Zoom road to stay connected with our international staff. Becoming more comfortable with virtual communication paved the way for us to host an evangelistic outreach to Poland, complete with translators and breakout rooms for Bible study. After my speaking events were canceled, He directed me to develop and host two online Bible studies—truly a modern-day miracle for a techie-challenged person like me.

God shone light into our darkness and leveled rough ground before us within the context of ministry.

He did the same for our family when my 88-year-old mother’s health failed. She’d always been strong and independent. One morning, an unexpected diagnosis propelled us into foreign territory. Suddenly we were sitting vigil by Mom’s bedside in a hospital with relaxed but confusing COVID restrictions. But God once again fulfilled His promise to lead us along a path new to us. He guided our decisions about Mom’s care until she passed from our presence into His, and He continues to walk with us as we journey this road called grief.  

Here we are, my friend, at the beginning of 2021. Last year at this time, we may have looked forward to the unknown with eager anticipation. This year, skepticism or fear might cloud our perspective. Vaccines can end the pandemic but they can’t fix political strife, restore lost income, or bring back those whom we loved and lost. They can’t heal the hurt that 2020 inflicted on our hearts in so many ways. A little voice in our head warns us not to hold high hopes lest circumstances beyond our control dash them again.

Let’s silence that voice.

You and I don’t have a clue about what this year holds. But this we do know—God promises to lead us on paths we have not yet known. This One who sees everything from beginning to end will guide us. The Light of the world will illumine our darkness. Almighty God for whom nothing is impossible will level the rough places before us. Therein lies our reason for hope.

Let’s face 2021 with confident expectation of a good outcome. That’s not to say everything will turn out as we wish or expect. It’s saying that, whatever happens, God is still in control. We hang onto hope because we’re in the hands of almighty God who loves us more than words can say. And there’s no better place to be.

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Grace Fox is a career global worker and the author of ten books. She’s a regular contributor to Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts) and a member of the First 5 writing team (P31 Ministries). She and her husband of 39 years live on a sailboat. Together they celebrate three married kids and nine grandchildren. Her new book, Finding Hope in Crisis: Devotions for Calm in Chaos (Rose Publishing) offers bite-sized nuggets of encouragement for those whose minds are on overload.

Learn more about Grace and her books at gracefox.com.

Join the conversation: How have you been staying positive in these difficult times?

The Importance of Thinking Truth About Who God Is

by Grace Fox @gracelfox

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.                                                                                                                                                               Philippians 4:8

Human artists can paint a canvas, but only God can sweep and blend colors across the heavens. Every time I see the sky ablaze with red, pink, orange, and yellow, my mind is filled with awe and wonder and my heart is moved to worship. If I’m feeling discouraged about something, my heaviness lifts at the thought of this amazing God cradling me and caring about every aspect of my life.

The thoughts we think about God are the most important thing about us. That’s because they shape our beliefs. Our beliefs then influence our behaviors, and our behaviors determine our destiny.

For example, imagine facing a tough situation. A cancer diagnosis, perhaps. Or an unexpected job layoff. If we think God is truly good, then we’ll believe He cares about every detail of our circumstances. Our beliefs cause us to turn to Him for help and to trust that He hears our cries. We pray in faith believing His answer is the best answer. Even though we might not understand why He allows these circumstances, we experience inner peace for which there’s no human explanation.

Now imagine facing the same situation thinking God doesn’t give a rip. Those beliefs result in our feeling anxious, angry, and abandoned. We make fear-based decisions believing the outcome rests solely on us because, after all, God doesn’t care. Or so we think.

The Bible story about the twelve spies demonstrates this principle (Numbers 13:25-14:25). Upon their return from scoping out the Promised Land, ten spies focused on the fortified cities and the powerful giants who occupied them. “We can’t go against them!” they cried. “They’re stronger than we are!” Their discouraging reports spread throughout the Israelites who, in turn, wept all night, spoke about returning to Egypt, and plotted to stone the other two spies, Joshua and Caleb.

These spies’ thoughts about God were small. This mindset led them to believe He would allow their enemies to crush them, so they refused to do battle. Their destiny? Death.

Joshua and Caleb demonstrated a different mentality. “We can conquer the land!” they said. They believed God would fight for them and give them victory. They were eager to obey and encouraged the Israelites to do likewise. Their destiny? They entered the Promised Land.

I can identify countless situations when my behaviors reflected inaccurate thoughts about God. Like when our family entered career missions and I stressed big-time over financial uncertainty. Or when He called me to write Moving from Fear to Freedom and I argued with Him for a year because I doubted His ability to equip me for the task. Or when I gossiped, ignoring the fact that He could hear every word and knew I was dishonoring Him. Goodness, my list could go on forever.

By human nature, our thoughts about God are often small and inaccurate. Those thoughts influence our beliefs and behaviors and ultimately determine our destiny. If we want God’s blessing, then we need to fill our minds with the truth about who He is and live from that truth.

TWEETABLE
The Importance of Thinking Truth About Who God Is – insight from @GraceLFox on @AriseDailyDevo (click to Tweet)

About the author: Grace Fox is the author of nine books. She’s an annual contributor to Mornings With Jesus (Guideposts Books) and a member of the writing team for “First 5”—a Bible study app produced by Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Grace’s book, Moving From Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation, will not only show you how to face your fears but to actually let fear be a catalyst for change. Learn how to stop hiding from God develop a deeper relationship with Him by experiencing Him in new ways.

Join the conversation: What is the most meaningful thing about God that you know?