Have you ever felt completely hopeless? Have you ever felt that the trouble you face is just too much? I think if we are honest each of us would say that we have felt this way at least once or twice.
We know that we have hope in God and that He is always beside us, so why do we despair?
I think that often the noise of our lives drowns out God’s gentle, quiet voice and we find ourselves unable to hear Him. It is then that we begin to feel hopeless. It is then that we question if God loves us. It is then that we wonder where in the world He is.
Recently my family and I began a service project called Mission to Inspire {you can read about it here}. We decided that there were many people in our community who were suffering and we wanted to bring them hope and peace. Without saying a word to those who would pass us, we stood quietly holding signs of encouragement and smiling at those who read our signs. It was a wonderful experience that we plan to do again.
What is ironic to me is that while I can clearly see to help others and to uplift them, often I can’t see past my own pain and my own worries. I think that God does this for us so that we will trust and rely on others too. If I could solve all my own problems I would never need God or need anyone else. Instead, I believe He allows our struggles so that we will draw closer to Him and to the people He puts in our lives to help us- and He always puts the right people in our lives at the right time, we simply have to open our eyes to recognize His handiwork and be humble enough to accept it!
Perhaps you are struggling today. Maybe you don’t know where to go or what to do; maybe you feel alone and overwhelmed. If you are, I hope that some of the following quotes will help inspire you, uplift you, and help keep you going. I have stumbled across these at various times when I have been at low points in my life and just needed a little bit of hope to see me through. I pray one will inspire you to keep going, to keep trying, and to trust in God.
“Consider the postage stamp: It secures success by sticking to one thing until it gets there.” –Josh Billings (Don’t give up! You can do it!)
“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson (It only takes one small step to create something amazing! Take that first step!)
“Most persons would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions.” –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Don’t worry about what everyone else is good at. Focus on your strengths and go nurture them!)
“There are strange ways of serving God; you sweep a room or turn a sod, and suddenly, to your surprise, you hear the whirr of seraphim, and find you’re under God’s own eyes and building palaces for Him.” –Herman Hagedorn (We serve God in the routine. Everything we do, from sweeping to changing diapers to working our job can and should lead us to Him! It is all worthwhile!)
“All common things- each day’s events, that with the hour begin and end; our pleasures and our discontents, are rounds by which we may ascend.” –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (All our trials and our successes lead us to God and to Heaven!
“We must never get into the habit of being preoccupied with the future. There is no reason to do so. God is there.” –St. Teresa of Calcutta (Take care of the here and now and stop worrying about a future that we have no control over… God is already there and has it handled for us!)
“The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.” – St. John of the Cross (Your suffering has merit! Join it to Christ’s!)
“Joy is one of the best safeguards against temptation. The devil is a carrier of dust and dirt; he uses every chance to throw what he has at us. A joyful heart knows how to protect herself from such dirt. Jesus can take full possession of our soul only if it surrenders itself joyfully.” –St. Teresa of Calcutta (Don’t let the devil steal your joy! Even in troubles we can be joyful in Christ!)
“God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.” – St. Augustine (Christ understands your suffering. Give it to Him so that He can carry it for you!)
“Suffering, pain, sorrow, humiliation, feelings of loneliness are nothing but a sign that you have come so close to Jesus that He can kiss you.” –St. Teresa of Calcutta (Christ is with us in our deepest pain and sorrow! He kisses us on our cheeks and He holds us close to Him.)
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” –Psalm 42:5 (God is always with you! Don’t give up hope!)
“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11 (God loves you and wants good things for you!)
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” -2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (God will strengthen you! He will bring you comfort and peace!)
“For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.” Psalm 71:5 (God is always there! Put your hope in Him alone!)
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God.” –Job 19:25-26 (Even in your darkest days God is there beside you! He will never abandon you!)
Do you have a favorite quote or bible verse that has helped you when you are struggling? Please share with us, we’d love to hear it!
