Life’s circumstances may have you feeling discouraged, frustrated, anxious, or even depressed. But God’s love is not dependent on your situation. Because his love for you is unchanging and his promises are true, you can choose to believe that today will be a good day. Find the hope that is abundant in God as you reflect on these devotions from “Hope for Today: 365 Devotions for Depression and Anxiety.”
BroadStreet Publishing
Day 1
Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:8
Never Alone
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we are to strive to do things on our own. In fact, the Word repeatedly reminds us that God partners with the weak and willing and gives them strength. God often meets us where we feel the most vulnerable.
What areas of weakness are you facing right now? Where does fear threaten to keep you immobile? He is with you in the midst of your greatest triumph and your greatest struggle. He has not forgotten about you. He has made a way for you where you have felt confusion and angst. Let go of the worry today and trust that he is at work in the details of your life—every single one of them!
Holy Spirit, I invite you into my weakness today. Give me eyes to see what you are doing as I cling to you. Thank you that I am not alone in any situation. Help me to remember today, above all else, that you are with me.
Day 2
Scripture: Psalms 40:2
Steady
Do you feel like you’re drowning under the weight of your circumstances? When darkness makes it hard to see where you’re going, what keeps you from sinking into desperation? You were never meant to rely on your own limited resources to get out of tough situations.
Where you have felt stuck, cry out to God for help. Invite him into the specific places that overwhelm you and watch how he lifts you out of the muck and sets your feet on solid ground. He can do it, and he is faithful to meet you no matter what kind of mess you find yourself in. He rescues his beloved children over and over again.
Father God, I need your help. Show up in my life with your resurrection power, bringing life out of what has felt like death. Fill my heart with hope as I watch your faithfulness unfold before my very eyes.
Day 3
Scripture: Psalms 119:28
Strength for Today
Sometimes the stresses of life, even the small, mundane, and ordinary things, feel like too much to face. Have you been relying on your own motivation to get through the recent days and weeks? Or has sadness stripped away any desire to do anything outside of what’s necessary?
God is faithful to give us strength in our weakness—every single one. There is not a day where we are left on our own to figure things out. His grace is always available to empower and strengthen us, though that may not look like getting done everything we’d hoped. His strength carries us. When we are stripped of the enthusiasm we once had for life, we must adjust our expectations of what strength looks like. What would personal and profound encouragement from the Lord look like for you today?
Holy One, you are the strength that carries me through my darkest days. I won’t worry about what tomorrow will bring; today, I fix my eyes on you. Come strengthen and encourage me like only you can.
Day 4
Scripture: Job 5:16
Hopeful Expectation
As children are completely dependent on their parents to provide what they cannot, so are we dependent on God. For some of us, it is harder to lean into our needs. When we find ourselves out of our depths and overcome with helplessness, where do we turn? There are some circumstances that can’t be fixed by anything we could even dream of offering.
Where is our hope then? Is it in our own strength and capabilities, or does it lie in the one who formed us and all things around us? The Creator’s character is flawless and his faithfulness is unmatched. This limited life is not where the fulfillment of our expectations will be found though we have sweet glimpses of our eternal hope. There is coming a day where there will be no more tears or sadness, and the old will have passed away. Where does your confidence lie?
God overall, you are bigger than I can fathom. I’m so grateful that you see from a higher perspective than I do. I ask for your holy hope to fill my heart today with the confidence of your goodness. You are worthy!
Day 5
Scripture: Luke 12:22
Enough
Have you ever taken inventory of the worries that fill your mind? How many of them are based on what will happen today? The thing about worry is that it is often caught up in what-ifs and scenarios that may or may not ever happen. Often they are based in the future, and much of it far off.
Jesus, when speaking to his disciples, said that we should not worry about everyday life. We will have what we need when we need it. There is always enough. What have you been worrying about that is simply draining your energy? Can you trust God today to provide for everything you need? He is always on time. Think through your life. Have there been times when you were worried about something and it ended up working out? Thank God for his faithfulness. He hasn’t changed.
Father, I can see how you have provided for me before, and I believe that you will do it again. I trust that you are sufficient for me and that you’re never late. Fill my thoughts with your goodness.
Day 6
Scripture: Hebrews 13:6
Confident Help
There are some situations that are completely out of our control. We cannot dictate the outcomes, and it sometimes seems that whatever we try to do to help only intensifies the issues. What then should we do? We don’t need to be in control to be at peace. God is our help in every single circumstance.
God cannot be confused or confounded. Your troubles are not too complex for him to handle. In his perfect wisdom, he always knows exactly what to do. Will you trust him to do what you can’t? Will you relent your need to fix and let him be your help? He is more than capable in this, and every, situation.
Lord, you are my willing help in every hour of need. You never withdraw your presence, leaving me to figure things out on my own. I surrender my need to control and let you take the reins. You are always faithful. My confidence lies in you.
Day 7
Scripture: James 4:6
Humble Heart
Failure is not a sin but an eventuality of humanity. It’s ok to try and not succeed; it is not a character flaw to be imperfect. When we do make mistakes that affect both others and us in hurtful ways, there is so much grace. Not just enough grace but plentiful mercy that overflows!
When we humbly approach God, there is unfailing love that meets us every time. He doesn’t sometimes encounter us with kindness and other times with harsh discipline. Even his correction is drenched in compassion. Let us not lose heart in approaching God at every opportunity. His tender heart is full of power to heal, refine, and liberate.
God, I come to you with a humble heart, longing for your tender mercy to meet me again. I cannot test the limits of your compassion. There are no boundaries to your love. I offer myself as your own again; fill me with the power of your presence that sets me free.
Day 8
Scripture: Matthew 24:13
Deliverance Is Coming
In the waiting, it can be hard not to grow discouraged. This is where our attention matters. What are we surrounding ourselves with? Do we fellowship with others who help us and lift us up, or do we plug along with the disheartened and discouraged? There is a place for sharing in suffering, and it should not be underrated. The messages we receive from media, faithless friends, and society at large, affect us.
What are our souls being fed with? Is it the despair of the world or is it the hope of the kingdom? We cannot escape the harsh realities of life, but we certainly can take ownership of the messages we allow into our homes and hearts. God is our hope, and he is our deliverer! May we choose to align ourselves with the love of Jesus, displayed in the Word and in fellowship with others who are submitted to his grace.
God, as I cling to your Word, I know that life and deliverance are coming. Even as I wait on you, I choose to continue to believe in hope that you are coming and you will restore all that has been lost. You are consistently good, and I choose to trust in your goodness.
Day 9
Scripture: Romans 12:12
Constant Prayer
What a glorious mystery it is that the God of the ages is available to us at all times through prayer. He never disengages from us. He hears every cry—both the spoken and unspoken—of our hearts. We can be encouraged that God never tires of us. Though we grow weary of ourselves and others, he is full of kindness, mercy, and compassion to all who come to him in every single moment.
We cannot catch God at a bad time. He is always listening with love. It is hard for us to comprehend the possibility of something so wonderful when we are faced with limitations everywhere we look. But God is limitless in love. He is abundant in power. He is full of light that chases darkness away. There are no shadows to be found in him. May we never withhold or resist his wonderful love. It is the source of all the delight in our lives.
Wonderful God, you who are rich in mercy and never failing in faithfulness, you are the one I turn to again and again. Today, I won’t censor myself with you. I will constantly turn to you in conversation and in prayer. You are the best thing I’ve ever known. Be near even as I reach out to you.
Day 10
Scripture: Isaiah 42:16
Led by Love
When plans change and the fear of the unknown settles in, we are left with a choice. We can either give in to worry or choose to trust God. We cannot see the way sometimes, and that is okay. We don’t need to know how everything will work out; we just need to trust the one who guides us in perfect wisdom. When our lives are shrouded in the mystery of what the future will bring, may we have the courage to rely on God who promises to lead us.
Do you believe that God will work everything out for your good? He leads in love, not by obligation. His affection for you runs deeper than you can imagine. Let yourself lean in to his care for you today; he sees everything that you cannot.
Loving God, I am grateful to be led by you. I take comfort in the knowledge that nothing is a mystery to you, nor is any circumstance too much for you to handle. Encourage my heart to hope in your resurrection power over my life.