Every person has the hard times in their lives. Making it through is a big part of the hard times. As Charles Swindoll states:
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”.
If we are to live by that mantra then we need to find ways to react to life. I have found five verses that help me through those tough times and react the right way.
Verse #1:
Romans 8:15
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ” Abba, Father!”
This verse is good if you are like me and come from a background with a family that does not really care about you. It shows that each person has a father, no matter how bad their earthly father is. I picked this verse up as one of my “life verses”. In fact this one is tattooed on my right forearm!
All one has to do is to think about the power of this verse. There are two parts of this verse that I would like to highlight. The first is that we have no reason to fear. The second is that we have a father that we can always call out to.
The coolest part is if you keep on reading from this verse you can see that we are also joint heirs with Christ! That makes my day when I feel like no one wants me or wants me to succeed.
Verse #2:
John 3:17
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
This verse often gets overlooked by the majority of Christians. It is overshadowed by 3:16 but is no less important or inspirational. I love the fact that the this verse states that Christ’s purpose in his life was to save not to judge. God chose not to judge the world through his son, but instead chose to send us the savior.
If you ever wonder if you have gone too far off of the path or if you can be saved, this verse is for you!
Verse #3:
Romans 6:23
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I know that I will get a lot of the “Roman road” crowd that thinks this is just a verse for salvation but it is also a way of reminding ourselves that we are redeemed. It sounds odd that this makes a list of inspirational verses, but for me it keeps me remembering that I don’t have to pay the price for sin. We have an advocate for our sins, and it means that we can have an eternal life!
Verse #4:
Matthew 6:25
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
25 “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
How many times have we found ourselves wondering about the bills or the kids? This verse is great because it says we shouldn’t do it! This verse, in my opinion, is often overlooked. It follows the Lord’s Prayer and can be said to be some of the most under-utilized pieces of advice in the Bible.
I have always wondered why this was in here, but found it as a great source of strength when I was in Basic Training.
Verse #5:
1 Corinthians 10:31
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.
Another odd verse for this list. I know that I have often found myself wondering if I was doing things right or if there was a purpose to what was going on. This verse helps to focus me when I lose that focus and realize that if it is not for God then what is it for?
Hopefully this has been a great help for you and that you can use these when you are feeling down and out!
Sources:
1 Corinthians 10:31
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2010:31&version=HCSB
Matthew 6:25
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:25&version=HCSB
Romans 6:23
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%206:23&version=HCSB
John 3:17
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:17&version=HCSB
Romans 8:15
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:15&version=HCSB
Charles Swindoll Quotes
http://thinkexist.com/quotation/life_is-what_happens_to_you_and-how_you_react_to/158456.html