We can’t always see everything God is doing in our lives. We may not fully understand His ways or His timing, but we can be sure of this: He is at work.
Even though the enemy will try to make us believe that we are forgotten or left to our own devices, we must choose to step past his traps. Even though we may not be aware of the bigger picture that only God can see, He faithfully guides and carries us, even when we don’t understand how all of the broken pieces of life can ever fit together.
The Bible is filled with countless reminders that the Lord loves us and that His presence covers us, goes before us, and encloses us behind. God never asks us to face struggles and difficult decisions alone. He is always with us and promises to show us the way.
Here are 10 powerful verses to use when making tough decisions:
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Verses about trust
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Even though we don’t always see what’s ahead of us, God sees it. And there is great power in trusting Him. For it paves the way for our security to rest solely in Him, not in our circumstances or others, nor in ourselves or our own ways of thinking.
He is faithful to guide us, and He still has a purpose and a plan in store. It brings clarity and light in dark times. He knows what awaits us, even if it seems hidden to us. His timing is perfect, even if it doesn’t always make sense to us. No matter how we feel or what our current situation, we can be sure that God’s presence goes before us, guiding and guarding our steps.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you“, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
As believers in Christ, we can hold fast to this promise. God will never waste our pain; He’s going to turn things around for good. Every battle, every difficult place and every painful storm. He will never allow us to go through deep struggle without allowing it to bring more hope and purpose, both in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.
Every mark of darkness is redeemed when we are in Christ. Every crushing trial will be pushed aside so that we can live freely. That’s what He does best. He brings beauty, strength, hope, and goodness to every difficult journey and broken day.
Our past will not define us. The trial itself will not label us. We are uniquely defined by our Lord, who knows our path and brings us out of the depths. He leads us through the fire, out of the darkness, into greater goals and greater blessings to come.
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Verses about Asking God for Help
James 1:5-6
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without doubt, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
His grace is always sufficient for every need, for every burden, and for every difficult decision of every day. We never need to struggle to try to make sense of it all in our own strength. He is faithful to help us in our weakness and his power is great.
For times when we may feel stuck in difficult situations, or when we don’t know what else to do, we can be assured of this truth: God is already in all of our tomorrows. He knows our way; He has a plan. And we can know without a doubt that it is always the best solution for us. He is able to give us the ability to continue to choose trust, to let go of our worries, and to cling to Him.
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
God promises us that if we come to Him, seeking His wisdom and leadership, He will give us everything we need. He reminds us that He is the one who opens the door and that nothing is too difficult for Him. God is never late. Until He opens the next door, we can continue to praise and trust Him right where we are, knowing that He is faithful to guide us.
Psalm 32:8
“I will instruct you and teach you the way to go; I will advise you and keep an eye on you.”
If we only look at our current situation or what everyone else is doing and saying, we will quickly sink into fear and despair. Looking up to Him who saves is the only way to live when we find ourselves in the midst of hard struggles.
God reminds us that he will constantly advise us and watch over us. We can leave the burdens we carry at His feet. We can choose to focus solely on Christ, because nothing is too difficult for Him. And when we choose to look up, our heart is reminded where our true strength and help comes from.
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Verses about fear
Joshua 1:9
“Didn’t I order it from you?” Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
The enemy will do everything he can to bring about defeat, but God will never allow him to achieve final victory. Our God is greater and He will work for His people even in places that may seem impossible to us.
He continually reminds us in His word not to be afraid, not to let our hearts be troubled, and to keep moving forward in His strength and power. He offers us the deep assurance and peace that the world can never give us, for He is with us and will never let us go.
Isaiah 41:10
“Therefore do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My right right hand.”
The enemy will lure us into panic and worry if we focus on everything that is wrong in this world. And even when we know the truth and believe that God is in control, there are so many things to worry about. It can still be a daily battle in our hearts and minds.
Fear sets in. We lose focus because we are so distracted by all the things that can never really give us strength and hope anyway. Only God can offer us a confident peace that we can never find in this life without Him.
We can choose again today to set our eyes on Him. He is the creator of all the heavens and all the earth. He has a sovereign and incredible plan for us. God reminds us through this powerful verse that He strengthens us for the journey. He helps us and supports us with his righteous right hand.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
True hope and lasting peace can only be found in Christ. God gives us his word and his Holy Spirit to guide us. He still speaks to us today through his powerful Scriptures, reminding all believers that we are strengthened by his Spirit within us day by day.
Yet even when we know this to be true, the problems we face sometimes surprise us. We find ourselves in storms we never saw coming. We struggle with terrible setbacks or losses. And it is when we are deeply shaken and shaken that God gets our attention and we have the most potential to gain deeper faith through witnessing His powerful miracles.
If you find yourself there, take heart. He promises that He is near and is fighting for us today.
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Verses about Looking to the Future
Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the old things; dwell not on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it arises; do you not perceive? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wilderness.”
Only God has the power to make a way where there seems to be none. We don’t have to stay stuck in the past or fear the future. It takes us to new places and opens a path that might otherwise be fraught with pitfalls.
God is our restorer and able to repay all that has been lost through hardship and difficult seasons. He promises to work on behalf of his children, no matter what challenges we face. He is a God of miracles, and nothing is too difficult to heal and redeem. Choose to continue moving forward in all that He has prepared, for He is doing a “new thing.”
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. »
His words are alive, active and powerful. They are the only thing that can bring us true peace in this life, especially in dark and uncertain times. And when we decide to fill our hearts and minds with the right things, with His truth and His words, then the lies of the enemy will have no room to enter.
Although it seems simple enough, it can be difficult to get out of it if we are not living consciously. Other things will seek to steal our time and devotion. Worry will drain our energy and the cares of this world will wear us down. It takes active choice, diligence, and the Spirit of God in us to help us stay on track and move in the direction He shows us.
My God,
Sometimes it’s hard to completely let go of worry when we can’t see everything you’re doing. We confess our dependence on you, because we know that our situation needs a miracle from you.
Today Lord, we choose to believe in you. Because it is often in the most difficult times that we work hardest. Thank you for being the Empowerer, the One who can make things possible. This leaves us nowhere to look but to you alone.
We ask for your guidance so that we may walk fully in your blessing and goodness. We ask that your face shine upon us. We pray that you will open the right doors and opportunities for our lives and for our loved ones. We pray that you will work in power to close the wrong doors as well, protecting us from what we need to walk away from.
Establish the work of our hands. Do all that you have given us to do in these days. We pray that you will make our path determined and our steps firm. Give us a heart of wisdom to hear your voice; please make us strong with your immense favor and your grace.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor’s wife, mother of three extraordinary children (and many pets). Join her every morning on Fresh Day Ahead’s Facebook page, for daily encouragement to live a strong, free and hope-filled life. Also find it on Twitter and on his blog www.debbiemcdaniel.com.
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Originally published on Tuesday April 16, 2019.
