Jesus Calling 🩷🙏

Life can throw some serious curveballs, right? I know I've definitely had my share of moments where I've wondered how I'm going to get through. It's in those challenging seasons, when anxiety starts to creep in or everything feels uncertain, that I find myself leaning even harder into my faith and asking, 'How do I truly trust God in difficult times?' One message that has profoundly impacted me, especially from reading my 'Jesus Calling' devotional, is the powerful promise: 'I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.' This isn't just a comforting thought; it's a foundational truth that can genuinely transform how we navigate hardship. When I read that Jesus proclaimed this promise to His disciples after His resurrection, and it continues to be for all who will listen, it really hit home. It reminds me that His continual Presence isn't conditional on my circumstances or my feelings, but is a constant reality. For me, the key has been making His Presence the 'focal point of my consciousness.' What does that even mean practically? It means intentionally starting my day by acknowledging Him, perhaps with a devotional like 'Jesus Calling,' or by spending a few moments in prayer. It’s about trying to ‘gaze at Me through the eyes of your heart,’ as the devotional beautifully puts it. When I do this, it's like a shift happens. My perspective changes, and suddenly, the overwhelming challenges don’t seem quite so insurmountable because I’m viewing them through a lens of divine support. I remember a time when I was facing a really stressful situation at work. Every morning, I felt a knot in my stomach. But I made a conscious effort to open my Bible to verses like Matthew 28:20, where Jesus says, 'I am with you always,' or to reflect on Psalm 139:1-4, which speaks of God’s intimate knowledge of us – knowing when I sit and when I rise, discerning my thoughts, knowing my path. These scriptures, combined with the daily encouragement from my devotional, became anchors. They helped me realize that even when I couldn't see a clear path forward, God was fully aware of my situation and was right there with me. It’s not about pretending everything is fine; it’s about embracing vulnerability and allowing myself to feel the fear or the pain, but then consciously handing it over to God. Trusting God in difficult times isn't a one-time decision; it's a daily, sometimes hourly, choice to surrender control and believe in His faithfulness. This practice has brought so much peace into my life, replacing anxiety with a quiet confidence that all the pieces of my life will, in time, fall into place according to His perfect plan. If you're going through a tough season, I truly encourage you to seek out that constant Presence. It makes every moment, even the hardest ones, feel meaningful.