Scriptures: John 16:33, Romans 8:31-39, Hebrews 13:6, Romans 12:12, Proverbs 3:5

Wiser Than Before 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33 NIV

I’m so excited for you to begin this study! Let’s face it, life is often messy. It’s common to hear people say things like, “My life is a mess,” or “This situation is a mess.” What they mean is that life has become difficult, painful or confusing. And in the middle of a mess, it can often feel like God is a million miles away. 

I don’t know the exact circumstances you may be dealing with right now, but I want to assure you that God loves you, He is fighting for you, and He will never leave or forsake you—never (see Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 13:6). The truth is, we will all face trouble and pain in life, but if we handle it the way God wants us to, we can be blessed even in the midst of it. We serve a big God who is greater than any mess! 

I think it’s interesting that God never promises us a trouble-free existence. Jesus says, In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NKJV). Life does not always go as we would like. We all go through seasons that are peaceful and pleasant. But we also need to be prepared and strong spiritually for the times when it gets messy. 

The Bible is filled with instructions on how to handle ourselves when difficulties come our way, and I’ll cover some of them in this study. However, I want to begin with these three:Remain patient, continue to trust God when you don’t understand what is going on, and stay positive (see Romans 12:12; Proverbs 3:5). No matter what unpleasant circumstances we may face, if we do these three things, we can enjoy lifewhile He works on our problems. 

I’m sure you’ve noticed that it’s easy to behave one way when we like our circumstances and another when we find them challenging. However, it’s possible to be stable in every situation, and our ability to do so is based on our thinking and believing. If we think positively and expect something good to come from our trouble…if we trust God and remind ourselves that He is good, we can make it through difficulties more easily than if we are negative and don’t trust Him. 

It’s also important to know that change is a process. I’ve been in a serious relationship with God for more than 45 years. Like everyone, I began as a baby Christian, behaving like a baby and reacting emotionally every time life became difficult or situations didn’t go my way. However, over the years, I have learned how to behave, and God’s Word and His Spirit have changed me. I can testify that the things that once upset me greatly do not disturb me at all now. Why? Because I know how they will end if I do what God asks me to do—to remain patient, stay positive and trust Him. In the end, I know I will be strengthened by my troubles as time goes by. 

Now, I am far from perfect. Just a few days ago, a situation threatened to ruin my plans for the day, and I became impatient and frustrated. My family started preaching my sermons back to me, which only added to my frustration! The good news is that within 10 minutes, I felt peaceful and the day turned out as I had planned after all. There are times I don’t behave properly, and I am still growing. But thankfully I have improved a lot, and I am determined not to let the enemy steal the joy of my progress by causing me to focus on my remaining weaknesses. 

Remember, God doesn’t change us all at once—we grow little by little as we study His Word and spend time with Him. If you have not handled your problems well in the past, then with God’s help, you can begin to handle them better, starting now. You can begin with even just one thought that says, God, I trust You. I believe You’re going to do something great in the midst of what I’m going through.

As you do, you will become more and more stable…and come out better than you were when your difficulty began. 

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “God, thank You for being with me always. Even if I haven’t always reacted well to trouble in the past, help me to learn how to do better in the future. You are the only one who can show me how to make the best out of a bad situation. Help me to be stronger than before and to keep the enemy from stealing my joy. Help me to keep my eyes on You, knowing that You can take negative circumstances and work them out for my good. Even if I don’t see a way through my problems right now, I have faith that You will guide me all the way. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: James 1:4, James 1:2-4, Romans 8:28, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 1:6, Acts 10:34

Who Made This Mess? 

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.-James 1:4 NIV

Life can become a mess for all kinds of reasons and in many different ways. It’s important to know that God doesn’t cause our problems, but He does use them to test and mature us. In fact, all trouble tests us. It tests our character and determination to serve God.

The apostle James writes that we should be joyful when we encounter trials because they will work patience and perseverance in us…and when patience and perseverance have finished their work, we will be mature and complete, lacking in nothing we need in life (see James 1:2-4).

I am sure most of us would admit that we have grown more spiritually during hard times than through easy ones. Even our mistakes can be valuable if we will learn from them. In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28). I have seen God take my messes and turn them into messages that have helped a lot of people many times. He doesn’t waste anything and will use even our mistakes for our good and to help mature us if we trust Him to do so.

And that maturity includes taking responsibility for the messes in our lives. When I say that we should take responsibility for our mess, I don’t necessarily mean that the trouble you have is your fault. It could be, but it may not be. There are various reasons why we encounter problems in life. Our enemy, Satan, attacks us, and we live in a wicked world full of sin that causes difficulties of all kinds, some of which we cannot avoid. Other people also make choices that impact our lives for better or worse.

But no matter the source of our problem, we must take responsibility for facing it and going through it in a godly way. If we have sinned, we should admit it and repent, meaning we feel remorse for what we’ve done and change our mind for the better, turning in another direction (the godly direction). When we sin and repent, God will not only forgive us, but He will also help us deal with the problem (see 1 John 1:9).

Even when others do the wrong things, we are still responsible to do what is right. For years, I blamed my ungodly behavior on the fact that I had been sexually abused by my father. Although that abuse did cause anger, self-pity, selfishness, jealousy, insecurity, and other negative consequences, I could not keep using it as an excuse to continue to behave badly if I wanted to be free from my dysfunctional actions.

Hebrews 11:6 says that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. There have been so many times in my life when I didn’t know what to do, but I did know how to run to God with my problems. And regardless of how I got in a mess, He has been faithful to provide me with His strength, peace, joy and perseverance in the midst of it.

God is no respecter of persons; what He’s done for me, He will also do for you (see Acts 10:34). When you ask yourself, “Where is God in this mess?” the answer is: He’s right by your side, helping you every step of the way. Even when it doesn’t feel like God is there, He is always working on your behalf and looking out for you.

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Lord, show me how to learn from the messes in my life. No matter where they came from, teach me how to face them with Your help. I know that You will use trials and troubles to help me grow spiritually, so I pray that You will guide me through them and allow me to cultivate maturity. Strengthen me through the difficult times and help me to lean into You more than ever before. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Proverbs 18:21, John 14:30, James 3:8, James 3:5, Psalms 141:3

Be Careful What You Say 

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. -Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Proverbs 18:21 is a scripture that has literally changed my life. It says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. (AMPC). Our words make a difference! Everything that comes out of our mouths—whether positive or negative—has the ability to affect ourselves and others for the good or bad. 

We can use them to bless or curse, to heal or harm, to build up or tear down. 

That’s why what we say (or don’t say) during difficult times has a tremendous impact on our lives. For instance, we can easily speak out of our frustration without realizing that positive, faith-filled words have the power to help lift us out of a situation and change the way we feel in the midst of it. No wonder Jesus said He would not talk much after His suffering had begun (see John 14:30). It is better to say nothing than to say the wrong thing! 

It is amazing how often we cause a problem by speaking careless words. Yesterday I spoke one sentence to someone, and that one sentence opened the door to a lengthy, heated conversation that ended up upsetting me and costing me a good night’s sleep. Oh, how I wish I had not said anything, but it’s too late now. The damage has been done, and I cannot do anything about it. But I can let the situation be yet another lesson on the power of words, a lesson that will hopefully help me use more wisdom in the future as I choose what to say or not say to people. 

James 3:8 tells us that no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (ESV). The apostle James also writes of how a small spark starts a forest fire, and we learn from this example that just a few wrong words can cause big trouble in our life (see James 3:5). Many times, I have wished I could take back words I spoke that created problems in my relationship with someone. We cannot tame the tongue by willpower alone, but we can ask for God’s help and learn to think before we speak. Based on Psalm 141:3, I pray daily, “God, put a guard over my mouth, lest I sin against You with my tongue.” 

When trouble comes, emotions run wild, and the first thing we want to do is to talk about how we feel. What we should do instead is speak God’s Word over the situation, making comments such as these: 

“This hurts me, but I believe God will work something good out of it.” 

“This is hard, but God will give me the strength to deal with it.” 

“I wish this weren’t happening, but it will come to an end.” 

“I’m hurting, but God will comfort me and show me what to do.” 

“This situation seems unfair, but I know God loves me and He will reward me if I keep doing what His Word says.” 

Let’s make a commitment to be more careful about what we say at all times, especially when we have problems that stir up our emotions. Controlling our words may be one of our biggest challenges, but remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue! What you say will make a major difference in your own life and in the lives of those around you. So, begin to declare (say) the good things that God says about you in His Word—that He is with You, He loves You, and that He has a great plan for your future, no matter what messes you may be experiencing right now. 

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Father, teach me to control the words I speak so that I don’t sin against You or hurt those around me with careless words. Even when life is frustrating and difficult, give me the strength to say positive things about my life…things that You say about me in Your Word. Help me to speak life to everyone I encounter and be a light for You with every word that comes out of my mouth. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Ephesians 1:3, James 4:2, Ephesians 3:20, John 3:16, Hebrews 4:16, Romans 8:17, Matthew 7:7

Just Ask 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. –Ephesians 1:3 NIV

There is a wonderful lesson to be learned from James 4:2. It simply says, …You do not have because you do not ask God (NIV). Sometimes, we can find ourselves in the midst of a storm and hope for change or desire something better but never stop to simply ask the Lord. One of the greatest reasons for unanswered prayers is failing to actually pray!

What can we ask God for? We can ask for anything that His Word says we can have. If we’re not sure, the worst thing that can happen is we ask God for something that isn’t in His will and He doesn’t give it to us. But He won’t be angry with us for asking.

Ephesians 3:20 says that God can do much more than we could ever think, hope or imagine. Maybe you are not asking God for big enough things. I often say I would rather ask God for a lot and get some of it than to ask Him for nothing and get all of it! Don’t be afraid to ask God for big things, because He is a big God who loves to do big things. Always remember that He wants to bless you not because you are good but because He is good.

One of the greatest verses in the Bible is John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (NIV). In giving Jesus, God gave His best and His only.

I was hesitant to ask for big things until God taught me better. I believe that many times we don’t ask because we know we don’t deserve any of God’s blessings, let alone big ones. We ask if we are desperate for God’s help, but if it is something “extra” that we could do without, we are often not bold enough to ask for it. But do you know that God wants you to approach His throne boldly? (See Hebrews 4:16.)

Because we know that God loves us, we can go boldly to His throne and ask for whatever we need, even when we know we are far from perfect in our behavior. We all have weaknesses, but weakness is different from wickedness. God looks at the heart. Many people who have a heart after God also have weaknesses they are working through, and those weaknesses won’t keep God from helping and blessing them.

We all make mistakes. We sin and truly don’t deserve God’s help in any area of life. Thankfully, we don’t get what we deserve, but we share in what Jesus deserves. We are co-heirs with Jesus (see Romans 8:17).

God knows we could not ever deserve His goodness, and this is one reason He sent Jesus. Jesus had no sin, and He deserves everything God has. If we believe in Him and have a good relationship with Him, loving Him with all of our heart, we join in enjoying His inheritance. What He has becomes ours!

I encourage you to do three simple things that will greatly impact the power of your prayers:

1. When you sin, repent immediately and sincerely.

2. Don’t allow unforgiveness in your heart toward anyone, because unforgiveness hinders prayer.

3. Be extremely thankful for all God has done and continually does for you. God will answer prayers, but He doesn’t answer complaints. Gratitude prevents us from complaining.

In Matthew 7:7 (NIV), Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” When life is difficult and you’re searching for answers, the most powerful thing you can do is talk with God, praise Him for who He is, and simply ask for His help. You can be assured that He delights in you coming to Him and hears your every request.

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Father, please remind me that I can come boldly before Your throne and ask for big things. You are a big God, capable of doing the impossible, and You desire for me to run to You with everything that concerns me. Thank You for meeting every one of my needs and doing greater things than I can even ask or imagine. I don’t deserve Your blessings, but I can receive them because of what Jesus did for us. I am so grateful! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures: Philippians 2:5, John 10:10, Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20

Stay Positive 

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. -Philippians 2:5 NIV

No situation in life brings out our true attitudes like trials and troubles do. Difficult situations are called trials because they try us, and through them, we find out what we are truly made of.

When we encounter trouble, we have two options: We can be upset about the problem, or we can think about how much worse it could be. When we are having problems, our thoughts and attitudes immediately start to sink and become negative and sad, but we can interrupt their downfall by choosing to have a good attitude and think positive thoughts based on God’s Word. Positive people are much happier than negative ones.

Many years ago, I was extremely negative. I used to say that if I had two positive thoughts in a row, my mind would cramp. This is an exaggeration, of course, but it reflects the way I viewed myself. I believed, as many people do, that if I didn’t expect anything good to happen, I wouldn’t be disappointed when it didn’t. What an unhappy way to live!

When people told me about their spiritual victories, I thought, That won’t last. When people spoke of their faith, I smiled, but I thought, They are so naive. I thought often about how plans would go wrong or how people would disappoint me. I had experienced so many difficulties and disappointments in my life that I was afraid to expect anything good because I didn’t want another disappointment.

Everyone will face disappointments and have regrets. When we have regrets, we feel sad or disappointed about something that has happened or something we have done. Everyone makes mistakes, sins and experiences losses. But if we allow ourselves to wallow in regret too long, it steals the enjoyment of life that God wants us to have.

Jesus says in John 10:10: The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) (AMPC).

Part of living with a positive attitude (and having joy) is learning how to let go of life’s disappointments and regrets instead of letting them pile up until our life is filled with them. When we choose a positive attitude and decide to believe what God’s Word says about our situation and our future, it brings life. Positive, godly thoughts lead to positive words and feelings, and it spreads to every single part of our lives. God is positive, and if we want to be in agreement with Him, we also need to be positive.

Here are some lessons I have learned about maintaining a good attitude when life isn’t going my way or I’m tempted to dwell on past disappointments. I remind myself of them from time to time and find them helpful. I hope they will be helpful to you, too.

1.Maintain the right attitude and be positive even when you find yourself in a mess.

2.Realize that difficulty won’t last forever. (I remind myself that “This, too, shall pass.”)

3.Don’t make major decisions during your time of trouble if you don’t have to.

4.Seek God’s presence at all times. Stay close to Him. He will comfort you and guide you.

5.Try to keep your situation in perspective. The way you view your circumstances will determine how you think and feel about them.

Remember, God is good and He is with you, and it’s important to look beyond what is happening right now to the end result. The Bible says that He works all things for good for those who love Him and are “called according to His plan and purpose” and that what Satan means for harm, God intends for good (see Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20). This is really exciting when you think about it. When the enemy throws trouble at us, all he is really doing is putting us in a position to be blessed if we keep a good attitude during the difficulty!

Life is going to get difficult at times. But if we can remain positive and focus on God’s promises even when negative things are happening, it is one sure way we can be blessed in our mess.

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Lord, right now, in the midst of what I am going through, I ask for Your help to keep my eyes focused on You and the good things You are doing. Comfort me, guide me, and allow me to see my situation with a fresh perspective. You are always positive, and I ask You to help me to remain positive, knowing You will work everything out for my good because You love me. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

Scriptures: Isaiah 45:3, Isaiah 61:7, Romans 12:2, Job 1:13-19, Job 2:7-9, Job 42:10

The Double Blessing 

I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. -Isaiah 45:3 NIV

I often say that I am a living, breathing example of God’s grace—I’m proof that He can take someone whose life is broken, then heal them and use them to help others.

As a child, I was sexually abused by my father on a regular basis. This went on for many, many years. It was a horrible experience, to say the least. The house in which I grew up was filled with fear, and my father was controlling and just plain mean. He was physically abusive to my mother, and he basically ignored my brother except to curse at him when he was angry.

We don’t always understand why God doesn’t deliver us from hard situations, but He always has a reason for His decisions, even when we can’t see it. Again, God doesn’t cause suffering, but He will use it for our benefit as we trust in Him. All these years later, I am so incredibly grateful for the ways God has taken the difficulties I endured and turned them for good. Honestly, if I hadn’t gone through those things, I wouldn’t be the person I am today…and I wouldn’t be able to help others walk through the healing process.

Isaiah 61:7 includes an incredible promise for all those who have suffered or found themselves in a mess. It says, Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours (NIV).

I love this! Even when our circumstances aren’t good, God wants us to believe that He can do something good for us. In fact, He wants us to believe that He can somehow make our lives even better (give us double) than they would have been had we not gone through the trial. Our part is to hope. When we have hope, we live with the expectation that God will do something great. Hope is a powerful motivator. Anyone can have hope if they want to. All you need to do is expect (believe) that something good may happen to you at any time.

If you have trouble being hopeful, start by saying aloud several times a day, “Something good is going to happen to me, because God is good!” You will find that the more you speak this and meditate on it in your thinking, the more you will believe it. By doing this, you are renewing your mind (see Romans 12:2).

The story of Job is another great example. It seems that nobody in the world ever had it as bad as “poor ol’ Job,” who experienced calamity after calamity, but God gave him double for his former trouble (see Job 1:13–19; 2:7–9). Job 42:10 (NIV) says, After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

The Lord gave Job double after he prayed for his friends who had treated him badly. Job needed them to comfort him, but instead they blamed him for his problems. From this story, we can see that anyone who wants the double blessing can’t have it with unforgiveness in their heart. I had to forgive my dad, and you also will have to forgive anyone you have anything against if you want to be blessed.

To experience blessing in the midst of your mess, you may need to make some decisions and take some actions that won’t be easy. This includes keeping a good attitude during trouble, being thankful when there doesn’t seem to be anything to be thankful for, and forgiving people who don’t deserve to be forgiven or who have abused, hurt, or abandoned you.

The adjustments you may need to make will come in various forms and in many situations, but the double blessing will be worth them all. You may not be able to see it now, but God wants to take what you’re going through and use it for your good.

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Dear Lord, help me to forgive those who have wronged me and help me to trust that even in my darkest days, You are right there with me. Let me have faith that even in the most difficult situations, You have a plan for me and You can give me a double blessing for the things I’ve gone through. I choose to believe that something good is going to happen to me today and every day! In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: James 1:2-4, Luke 21:19, Proverbs 16:32

Remain Patient 

Consider it pure joy, my 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 NIV

For years, I thought being patient simply meant to wait. But the Lord showed me that patience is more than the ability to wait—it includes our attitude and behavior whilewe wait. Waiting in life is not an option. Everyone waits. We wait on people to do the things we need them to do. We wait in the grocery store line. We wait at the doctor’s office. When we’re sick, we wait to get well. We wait in traffic. And we wait for God to deliver us from life’s trials and tests. 

I believe many people give up on God because He doesn’t respond as quickly as they would like or in the way they prefer. I used to be extremely impatient and get frustrated when the Lord didn’t do things the way I thought He should. But it’s so important to realize that God is always with us, He is always working on our behalf (even when we can’t see it), and He has perfect timing for everything He does. Patience allows us to be stable and steady while we’re waiting to see the results. 

Many years ago, I read that patience is a fruit of the Spirit that only grows under trial, and I have never forgotten it. Ouch! I wish I could get patience some other way, and you probably do, too. To be patient means to be long-suffering with mildness, gentleness, moderation and constancy. God wants us to be constant, meaning to be the same in difficult times as we are in good times, even if we are going through suffering. 

In Luke 21:19, Jesus says, “By your patience possess your souls” (NKJV). If you don’t possess your soul (your mind, will and emotions), it will possess you. Your mind will rule you, your emotions will rule you, and your own will (power to choose) will end up controlling you instead of your using it to control yourself. We are to be spiritual and to let the Holy Spirit lead us, not allowing our mind, will and emotions to dictate our lives. 

We can be “blessed in the mess” if we do things God’s way—the way He says to do things in His Word. And patience is God’s way. Impatience causes stress, and stress causes sickness. A person who does not wait well will eventually see the results in their physical body. I have learned to choose not to let every inconvenience stress me out. If we allow ourselves to get worked up over everything we don’t like, the stress will become too much and eventually harm our health. 

Impatient people rush and hurry all the time, even when they aren’t going anywhere specific (this was me). However, a patient person is a powerful person. The Bible says that it’s better to be a patient person with self-control than a warrior who can take an entire city in battle (see Proverbs 16:32). 

Think of it this way: Each moment we have is truly a gift from God, and not to enjoy it is tragic. The moments we miss often hold miracles we miss—perhaps the miracle of a flower in full bloom, or the miracle of hearing what God is trying to say to us, or the miracle of changing a life through showing kindness. We miss moments like these because we are in too much of a hurry to even notice them. 

Most of life is ordinary. And during our ordinary days, messy things happen sometimes. When they do, we can exercise patience with the messes by letting the world do whatever it will while we remain stable and happy. Patient people are thankful for the good things in their life, and they trust God to work everything out for their good. 

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “God, please show me the areas of my life where I can grow in patience and help me to endure through times where I don’t feel like waiting. You help us make progress even through difficult times, so help me to learn how to be patient during moments or seasons of life that aren’t comfortable. Develop a new stability inside of me that will allow me to enjoy Your peace in any circumstance. Thank You for Your faithfulness! In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Matthew 5:7, Galatians 6:9, Genesis 8:22, Lamentations 3:22-23, Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Mark 1:41, Proverbs 11:17

Blessed Are the Merciful 

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy! -Matthew 5:7 AMPC

I have discovered that one of the best things we can do in life is to help and care for other people—not just those deserving of help, but perhaps especially those who are not.

Selfishness leads to unhappiness. But one of the greatest things we can do when we’re experiencing difficulties is to get our minds off our own problems and reach out to help someone else.

I spent many years being totally selfish, and I was unhappy all the time. As God made me aware of how selfish I was and began teaching me the power of caring for others, my life changed drastically for the better. I personally discovered how happy caring for others made me, and I believe you’ll find it makes you happy, too.

Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) teaches us a powerful principle. It says, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

The fact that people reap what they sow is a law of nature and a law of God. We can easily understand this principle by thinking of gardening or farming. If a farmer sows tomato seeds, he won’t get pumpkins. If he sows seeds that are rotten, he won’t reap healthy fruit. This is a natural law that God has set into motion since the beginning of time. As long as the earth remains, there will be seedtime and harvest (see Genesis 8:22).

So, what do you need today? Are you in need of help and comfort? Then take some time to help and comfort someone else who may be struggling. Are you praying for a breakthrough in your circumstances? Then reach out and become the answer to someone else’s prayer.

One of the greatest things we can give to others is mercy. We all need a lot of mercy because we all make a lot of mistakes. The best way to be given mercy is to generously give it away. First, we receive mercy from God, and then He expects us to let it flow through us to others. Mercy cannot be deserved or earned. It is a gift to the undeserving. Lamentations 3:22–23 tells us that God’s mercies “are new every morning” (NKJV).I am so thankful for this, and I’m sure you are too.

I have read that mercy is kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness. Mercy doesn’t just do what is fair. Mercy is extravagant; it goes beyond reason.

Mercy is closely related to compassion, and I am always struck by the fact that Jesus was “moved with compassion” (see Matthew 9:36, 14:14; Mark 1:41 NKJV). He didn’t merely feel sorry for hurting people; He always did something to help them. It is wonderful to know that God will help us when we don’t deserve it and that He enables us to help others who don’t deserve it.

I really love Proverbs 11:17 (NKJV). It says that a person who is merciful “does good for his own soul.” Don’t miss out on the blessing of giving and showing mercy. If you’re hurting and going through a difficulty, there is no better time than to reach out and help someone else. As you do, God promises you will be blessed—(happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward condition)… (see Matthew 5:7 AMPC).

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Father, thank You for the ability to sow into other people’s lives. I ask You to open my eyes to the needs around me and show me how I can be a blessing. As I sow mercy and kindness, I release my faith, knowing that You will bring it all back to me in so many wonderful ways. Change my heart and help me to be others-focused instead of me-focused. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Psalms 100:4, Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18-19

Count Your Blessings 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. -Psalm 100:4 NIV

I wish I could tell you that after reading this study, you won’t encounter any more messes in your life. But that’s simply not true. What I do hope is that after reading it, you will be better equipped than ever to deal with the messes, and experience God’s blessings right in the midst of them. 

As we finish this study, I want to leave you with one of the most powerful lessons God has ever taught me. It literally has the ability to change our lives if we let it. I have mentioned that God will bless us in our mess if we do things His way, and if we truly want to experience the good plan He has for us, we cannot ignore the importance of a thankful attitude. Our lives need to be filled with thanksgiving. The more grateful we are, the more powerful our prayers are and the less access our spiritual enemy, Satan, has to our lives. 

Even in the midst of our worst problems, all of us can find things to be thankful for. You may not like your job or some of the people you work with, but you can still be thankful you have a job. You might not like some of the things your employer does, but the situation could be worse. At this moment, you may be frustrated with your spouse, but there are probably lonely people everywhere who would gladly trade the loneliness of solitude for the inherent challenges of close relationships. 

Philippians 4:6 (NIV) says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

When we are worried, God gives us the privilege of praying in any circumstances and making our wants known to Him. But He tells us to do so with thanksgiving. If we are not thankful for what we already have, we are not ready for anything else! Thankful people are humble people who don’t have an attitude of entitlement, but one of gratitude. 

Being thankful isn’t just a good thing to do, it is part of every believer’s purpose. One of the questions people frequently ask me is “What is God’s will for my life?” I realize they are often asking what specifically God wants them to do as a career or in a certain situation, but let’s think about God’s will in a different way. The apostle Paul writes: 

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:18–19 AMPC). 

These verses tell us that God’s will is for us to be thankful in everything, no matter what our circumstance may be. It doesn’t mean that you are thankful for your circumstances, but it means that you remain thankful in the midst of them, choosing to worship God for who He is despite what you are going through. 

You’ve probably heard the old phrase, “Count your blessings.” It is terrific advice! Regularly taking inventory of what God has done for us releases new faith, hope and joy. It also breathes new life into our circumstances and relationships. 

So, anytime you start to feel depressed or discouraged, start thanking God for the blessings in your life. It won’t take long and your heart will fill with gratitude, and you’ll begin to see your life and situation in a whole new way. 

Adapted from the book Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “God, I want to live my life with a heart full of gratitude, starting today. Thank You for my life and all of the blessings You have provided—big and small. You have created me for a purpose, and I thank You for constantly working on my behalf to give me a great future. Fill me with an attitude of appreciation for all You have blessed me with and show me how I can be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.”