Can you identify? Are you weary? If so, you’re not alone. Whether from breaking news, pandemic policies, social media tirades or something else, feelings of weariness and cynicism are certainly understandable. 

In such times, prayer can be a lifeline. And prayers from the Bible can lift up a person’s soul like helium in a birthday balloon. So, if you’re struggling with lethargy and apathy, consider praying one—or all—of the following Scripture prayers to revive your spirits: 

I am weary, God,
    but I can prevail. (Proverbs 30:1, NIV)

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11, NIV)

Restore to me the joy of your salvation 
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12, NIV) 

My soul is weary with sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word.
Keep me from deceitful ways;
    be gracious to me and teach me your law.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I have set my heart on your laws.
I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;
    do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your commands,
    for you have broadened my understanding. (Psalm 119:28-32, NIV)

I come to You, Jesus, for the rest You promise to all who are weary and burdened. Teach me Your ways and let me find rest for my soul, for Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. (Based on Matthew 11:28-30.)

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV)

Lord, let me not become weary in doing good; remind me and encourage me with the knowledge that at the proper time I will reap a harvest if I do not give up. (Based on Galatians 6:9.)

These are among many Bible passages that can lift drooping spirits and energize a weary soul (others include Hebrews 12:1-3, Psalm 10:17-18 and Psalm 13). Pray them as often and as long as necessary. 

The post 7 Bible Prayers for the Weary appeared first on Guideposts.

The Civil Rights Movement was underway, and the brave group of students became known as the Little Rock Nine. Melba was only 15 when she volunteered to be one of the first African-American students to attend the previously all-white school. Her courage and faith to face racism—embodied and expressed by those clinging to segregation—continues to be inspiring and spiritually powerful. 

Melba had to face a hateful and violent crowd that day. What kept her going? Her faith, she said, passed down by her grandmother and mother. Her grandmother had always assured her that God was with her, as close as her skin. So Melba believed that He would take care of her because she was doing the right thing. She prayed, asking for courage, strength and endurance. 

Even though I read the book years ago, I still find myself thinking about how she and the other students were willing to endure hardship to stand up for what was true and just. With a resilient spirit, Melba was willing to use her voice and place herself in danger to help bring about needed change. Though a girl, but she was a giant of faith and an agent for justice.

A few years after reading her account, I was in Little Rock on a business trip for Guideposts and decided to visit The Central High Museum and Visitor’s Center across the street from the school. As I walked through the museum, Melba’s story came alive through the photos on display. The images showed the intensity and deep emotions of a crowd resisting integration and the bravery of the African-American students.

One photo especially stood out. Elizabeth Eckford, another of the Little Rock Nine, is walking to school, her eyes shielded by sunglasses. She is surrounded by a hateful mob—mouths open wide in fury, faces filled with anger. What courage and faith it took for the 15-year-old to endure that.

Many of us have been inspired over the years by the bravery of those students and others. But we also have to remember the long-lasting emotional and psychological impact that hate, injustice and bigotry have on people. Many of the Little Rock Nine continue to work through the trauma they experienced in such a hostile environment that wished them ill. Injustice, racism and oppression take a spiritual and emotional toll.

As people of faith, we must pray for justice. We must ask God to be with those suffering from discrimination. But our prayers must be accompanied by action. We need to find the courage and faith in ourselves to act spiritually and in concrete ways to help and welcome the outcast, the poor and the marginalized. We must contribute to changing systems of oppression that, in the end, hurt us all.

We must proclaim in word and deed as did Amos the prophet, “But let justice roll down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.” The time is now to pray and be agents of justice for God.

The post Lessons from the Past on Courage, Faith and Justice appeared first on Guideposts.

As I recovered from heart surgery this summer, I was surprised by how fears—unwanted, uninvited fears—would haunt me. What if I had to go back to the hospital? What if I wouldn’t get back to my usual self? What if I’d never find peace of mind again?

It’s all very well to tell yourself, “Don’t be afraid,” but if you’ve suffered from trauma, little things can take you back. Even something as simple as going up a flight of stairs would remind me of the breathlessness I had felt before surgery. I had prayed then. I needed to pray now.

1)  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3). Fear is a natural enough emotion for us humans. I find I get into more trouble by pretending it’s not there than actually confronting it, as the Psalmist reminds me. Doing something about it, in prayer.

2)  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18). The antidote to fear isn’t some sort of brazen courage or plucky confidence, it’s love. Reminding yourself of God’s love and savoring it. Loving myself as God loves me. Love is here to cast out fear.

3)  The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6). The other day I was sitting with a group of friends from church, prayer partners. It suddenly occurred to me, “All these people prayed for me. They are part of the reason I’m here.” Accept that the Lord is on your side, and you will discover that you are never alone. The Spirit fosters community.

4)  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15). I love how Paul acknowledges our very habit to fall back into fear. We thought we had moved away from it, but there it is, lurking in the shadows of our souls.

The solution? A very simple direct prayer, “Abba! Father!” Not some distant formal language but “Abba” which is like saying “Papa” or “Daddy,” our beloved Father, exclamation point! 

5)  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God…Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:6). It’s so easy to get trapped into thinking that God doesn’t really care about some mundane thing that has us in a snit fit. Think again, Jesus is saying. If God can remember those sparrows sold for two pennies, how can He forget what’s bothering us? 

6)  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea (Psalm 46:2). Monstrous things might happen, disasters right and left. We can pray along with the Psalmist—note it’s “we,” all of us doing it. We will not fear because there’s a power bigger than us in charge. Just the One to look after our fears.

The post 6 Bible Verses to Help You Pray Through Your Fears appeared first on Guideposts.

Times of financial stress have often given urgent meaning to my daily prayer to “Give us this day our daily bread.” I’ve also prayed Philippians 4:19 at such times (“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” as the King James Version puts it). 

But times of financial stress have taught me to pray what I call “Zarephath Prayers,” remembering the account in 1 Kings 17 of the prophet Elijah’s visit to the widow of Zarephath, whose meager resources were miraculously replenished while he remained a guest in her home. Here are five “Zarephath Prayers” that I prayed and recorded in my journal during times of financial stress:

1.

Lord God Adonai, let it be to me as it was to the widow of Zarephath. 
Let the jar of flour not be used up 
and the jug of oil not run dry 
until the day you send 
showers of blessing on me,
on my home, 
on my land, 
on my life. 
In Jesus’ name, amen. 

2.

Abba, Father, 
Yahweh Yireh, 
my Provider, 
I know that what looks to me 
like severe cash flow challenges 
in the weeks and months to come 
are no different to you than 
a handful of flour in a jar 
and a little olive oil in a jug.

What you did for the widow of Zarephath 
through your servant Elijah, 
please do for me and, 
more importantly, 
for my household, 
in Jesus’ name, amen.

3.

Lord God Adonai, 
my defender and provider, 
I pray once more 
as I have prayed before: 
let it be to me 
as it was to the widow 
of Zarephath. 

You know my need of the moment;
you know my need in the future. 
You know what is yet to come in, 
and what is yet to go out. 
You know the state of my jars, 
the condition of my pantry. 

I lean on you still, 
I depend on you 
to make much of little 
and enough of not enough, 
in Jesus’ name, amen.

4.

Lord God, you have provided, 
you are providing, 
and you will provide: 
I believe, 
help my unbelief! 

From unexpected places, 
in unmistakable ways, 
with gracious generosity 
and gratifying regularity
you have provided for the needs
of me and my family, 
and graciously kept our stores 
of oil and flour 
from running out.

I thank you, Sovereign Lord, 
with my whole heart, 
and ask you to please 
continue.

Amen.

5.

Lord God Adonai, you have been to me 
as you were to the widow of Zarephath. 
You have supplied 
and sustained 
and showered 
your blessing on me, 
my home, 
my work, 
my life. 

Please let your faithfulness to me 
through these scary times 
of need 
and adjustment 
and faith 
be remembered in the future
whenever I am tempted 
to doubt your provision,
In Jesus’ name, amen.

You may pray these just as they are, perhaps in succession, one day after another, as I did. Or you might adopt just one to carry you through a time of financial stress. You may even use these simply as inspiration to pray your own “Zarephath Prayers.” In any case, if they’re helpful, count it as yet another way that God provides in a time of need.

The post 5 ‘Zarephath Prayers’ to Relieve Financial Stress appeared first on Guideposts.

I learned early Thursday morning that a friend and business associate of mine, Dr. Robert Lesslie, was killed tragically along with his wife and two grandchildren in South Carolina. When such things happen, whether I know the people involved or not, my heart and mind find it hard to pray. 

That’s one of many reasons God’s Word is such a precious gift; it helps me when I don’t know how to begin my prayers. Sometimes in the wake of tragedy I’ll open my Bible and start thumbing through the pages and, before long, my eyes will alight on a passage that expresses my heart. At other times, though, I’ll turn to one of these go-to passages that I’ve prayed often when my mind is muddled, and my heart is hurting:

1)  Psalm 5
I prayed Psalm 5 in its entirety following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and have since turned to it often to express my heart’s cry. From first (“Give ear to my words, O Lord”) to last (“For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield”). It tracks with the highs and lows of my thoughts and emotions. 

2)  Psalm 23
The “Shepherd Psalm” has consoled countless souls, and I repeat its fourth verse as a calming refrain: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

3)  Psalm 46
The familiar lines of this psalm begin:

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV).

I occasionally read this psalm aloud while pacing back and forth until I believe it, until my heart and mind align with the truth my voice repeats. 

4)  Psalm 90
This entire psalm of Moses lifts my perspective from an earth-bound, limited viewpoint to a heavenly, eternal way of seeing myself and the events of this life. 

5)  Psalm 94
I often need the rugged, unvarnished way of praying that’s preserved in The Psalms—such as Psalm 94, which begins: 

The Lord is a God who avenges.
    O God who avenges, shine forth (Psalm 94:1 NIV). 

And ends:

But the Lord has become my fortress,
    and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
He will repay them for their sins
    and destroy them for their wickedness;
    the Lord our God will destroy them (Psalm 94:22-23 NIV). 

6)  Psalm 121
Many people are familiar with the first verses of this psalm, and it’s a balm to my soul. The second verse, in particular, is one I sometimes repeat over and over until surrender, peace and trust in God assuage my turmoil: 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV).

7)  Psalm 130 
This psalm is called the “De Profundis,” from the Latin version’s first two words, which are translated, “Out of the depths.” The emphasis in its central verses on waiting for and hoping in the Lord always re-orient and restore me.

8)  Habakkuk 1
The prophet Habakkuk’s opening complaint—an unapologetic appeal to our just God—helps me express my own outrage in a healthy, biblical way: 

How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice is perverted (Habakkuk 1:2-4 NIV).

9)  Matthew 6:13
The phrase given to us by Jesus in The Lord’s Prayer—“Deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13 KJV)—is a fitting and oft-repeated prayer in the face of tragedy. 

10) “He Hideth My Soul”
The chorus of Fanny Crosby’s hymn, drawn from Exodus 33:22, are a frequent refuge, whether I say them or sing them:

“He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.”

These are just 10 of my “go-to” passages that help me to pray when I don’t know how or what to pray. I hope they’ll be a blessing to you whenever and wherever you need them.

The post 10 Bible Passages (and a Hymn) to Pray When Tragedy Strikes appeared first on Guideposts.

When I look at the birds, I notice how they’re not frantically flapping their wings all the time. 

They catch the thermals and updrafts, seeming to float. If worries have you bogged down, catch an updraft of the Spirit. Try some of these Biblical prayers.

1)  When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. (Psalm 56:3) 

God made the birds so they can fly. They’re light with feathers perfectly engineered to make them airborne. Similarly, God made us with the ability to trust. Step away from your burdens for a moment. Close your eyes and trust. 

2)  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.(Matthew 6:34) 

If you’re like me, you’re constantly checking to see what the weather is going to be like, not just for today but for the days ahead. Look at that big storm that might be coming! One more thing to fret over!

Jesus is reminding us to deal with—and enjoy—the weather we’ve got now. Look out the window. See what’s there. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is unknown, today is God’s gift.

3) “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) 

The man brought his son to be healed by Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes,” Jesus said. That man believed. He needed help with the other part, the unbelief.

Me, too. When I get too overcome with worry, I use this man’s prayer. “Sure, I believe,” I say to God. “Just help those other parts of me that are struggling. Help my unbelief.”  

4)  When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul. (Psalm 94:19)

To make this prayer work, I have to slow down. The Lord is trying to console me. Sometimes I’m too busy listening to the negative voices within to hear God’s reassuring word. 

5)  Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) 

Here’s a way to pray this verse. Write down a person’s name or something someone’s done, a memory, a place, an image that comes to mind for each of those adjectives: noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable. Make a collage if you want or draw pictures. Let that be your prayer.  

6)  So 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 righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Sometimes I tell myself, “I can’t get through all that I need to do today.” Then I remind myself I’m not alone. “Help,” I say. A one-word prayer. 

The post 6 Comforting Bible Prayers to Combat Worry appeared first on Guideposts.

I sincerely think I’ve turned to that verse more often than they ever did. It’s been especially helpful in these recent months, which have been full of fears about the pandemic and economic stress. It’s at the top of my mental list of scriptures I pray to banish fear, but it’s not alone.

Some (like Psalm 56:3) are already prayers; others I’ve taken the liberty of revising slightly to turn the biblical truth into a prayer. Here’s a short list for you to choose from. Memorize or duplicate the text, and place it in a spot where you can pray one or two of these short prayers anytime fear and panic raise their ugly heads:

1) Psalm 56:3
“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”

2) Isaiah 43:1
Lord, let me be as You say, “Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.”

3) Deuteronomy 31:8
“You will never leave me nor forsake me, so I won’t be afraid; I won’t be discouraged.” 

4) Psalm 124:8
“My help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

5) Lamentations 3:21-23
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Your steadfast love, LORD, never ceases; Your mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

6) Psalm 27:14
“I wait for You, LORD; I will be strong, and let my heart take courage; I wait for You, LORD.”

7) 1 Peter 5:7
“I am casting all my anxieties on You, because You care for me.”

8) Psalm 23:4 
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

9) John 14:27
“Let not my heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

10) Joshua 1:9
“Lord, you have commanded me: Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The post 10 Quick Prayers from the Bible to Banish Fear appeared first on Guideposts.

On days like those, and in a time like this, I’m learning to pray a little more, and sometimes I pray just one word, over and over: Ebenezer. 

Yes, I know that was the first name of Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, but the word goes back much farther than Dickens. It’s actually a biblical word. 

It’s from the days when the Philistines were the arch enemies of God’s people. (Remember Goliath? He was one of them.) The Philistines often fought Israel and oppressed them. But one day, the Bible says, “the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle” (1 Samuel 7:10, NIV). God’s people asked the prophet Samuel to pray, and he did:

That day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites….Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:10, 12, NIV). 

Ebenezer, like many Hebrew words, combines two words: eben (stone) and ezer (help). The stone was a marker indicating, “thus far the Lord has helped us,” and expressing faith that He would lead them on from there. 

It’s a great word to pray, especially when I’m struggling to keep going. It reminds me that God has helped me many, many times before. It encourages me with the realization that He’s with me now, no less than He was then. And it energizes me to believe that He will help me, not only to keep going, but to find peace and joy, in God’s time. 

Try it. Pray “Ebenezer,” especially when you struggle to keep going. That one-word prayer can help you remember God’s faithfulness in the past and rely on His rock-solid help in the future.

The post A One-Word Prayer for Strength in Difficult Times appeared first on Guideposts.

1) Psalm 10:17 (NLT)
“Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely You will hear their cries and comfort them.”

2) Psalm 33:18 (based on NIV)
“Lord, Your eyes are on me. I place my hope in Your unfailing love.”

3) Psalm 94:19 (based on TLB, NIV)
“God, when anxiety rises up in me, Your comfort gives me renewed hope and cheer.”

4) Proverbs 18:10 (based on NIV)
“Your name, Lord, is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

5) Isaiah 40:31 (based on KJV)
“I wait on You, Lord, to renew my strength, that I may mount up with wings like an eagle’s; that I may run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.”

6) Jeremiah 29:11 (based on TLB, NIV)
“Lord, I know the plans You have for me are plans for good, not evil, plans to prosper me, not to harm me. Remind me that You are designing and arranging things to give me a hope and a future.”

7) Lamentations 3:22-24 (based on NRSV, NIV)
“Lord, Your steadfast love never ends. Your compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

8) Romans 15:13 (based on NASB)
“God of hope, fill me with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may abound in hope.”

9) 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (based on NIV)
“God, help me not to lose heart, even when it feels like I’m wasting away. Remind me that inwardly I’m being renewed day by day. Show me how my troubles are achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

10) 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (based on NLT)
“Lord, You love me and by Your grace have given me eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. Now, comfort and strengthen me in every good thing I do and say.”

The post 10 Bible Prayers for Comfort and Hope appeared first on Guideposts.

There’s never been a better time to use Scripture, prayer and positivity to fight fear and choose faith. To help you find peace in the midst of this panic, we rounded up our best articles on fighting fear:

Faith Cancels Out Fear

Struggling to choose faith over fear? Check out these four tips from Guideposts founder and the father of positive thinking, Norman Vincent Peale.

10 Ways to Pray Away Fear

“No matter how often we hear it, there are still occasions when our hearts quail and quake with fear,” writes Guideposts blogger Bob Hostetler. “There is no better time to turn to prayer than these moments. Simply breathing—or even thinking—one of the following Bible prayers can calm and strengthen our hearts and minds, and turn us from fear to faith.”

Overcoming Fear

Want to overcome your fear? Try the tips in this video from Guideposts Vice President of Ministries Ty’Ann Brown.

A Scripture to Conquer Your Fears

A Guideposts devotion writer shares how the story of Peter walking on water toward Jesus helped her to let go of her fears.

4 Bible Verses to Fight Fears

Check out the four promises from God that bring this Guideposts writer peace.

A Devotion and Prayer to Release Your Fears

Learn how John 5:8 can provide inspiration to turn away from fear and focus on God instead.

7 Inspiring Quotes to Overcome Fear

From Nelson Mandela to Martin Luther King Jr., these quotes on fear will help you face your own.

How to Pray in Times of Panic

Turn to this advice to keep yourself grounded when the news is causing you to panic.

3 One-Word Prayers for Emergencies

Use these quick prayers to guide you through stressful situations.

7 Ways to Pray When You’re Scared

Feeling afraid? Turn to these prayers to fight your fear.

The post How to Fight Fear and Stay Positive During Trying Times appeared first on Guideposts.

We are emotionally and spiritually weary and exhausted. And it doesn’t appear that it will end any time soon.

Recently, I was deeply touched by an experience at my local county agency in Florida where I went to register my car. Due to the crisis, the number of people served was limited, and there were fewer workers to help them. 

When my number was finally posted on the digital billboard, I walked to the cubicle and struck up a conversation with the man behind the counter. “How are you doing?” 

“I worry for my family,” he said. “I work with the public all day. I don’t want to bring the virus home to my children and spouse.” He then told me that his sister had passed away, not due to the Coronavirus, but they couldn’t bury her.

“I am sorry for your loss.” I responded. “I will be praying for you.” In the moment, they were the only words I could summon. And we proceeded with the business of registering my car. But I went home thinking, and still do, about this man who was overwhelmed and worried about his family and his inability to fully grieve the loss of his sister.  

Where do we find strength in these stressful and scary times? How are we spiritually and emotionally replenished so we can push forward and not let fear get the best of us? Just as we wouldn’t go to an empty well to find water, we don’t lean on just ourselves when we are emotionally depleted and have no strength. 

Instead, we turn in prayer to God who gives strength to those who wait upon Him.

Isaiah declared, “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” 

Through God, we tap into a power unlike anything we can generate on our own. Our resources and capability dwindle by the minute, but not God’s. The prophet’s words to the tired and weary in exile point us to the source of endless power and energy. God gives us the spiritual and emotional capacity to go one more day. One more week. One more month. 

Every day I pray for the county worker I met, that God will strengthen and protect him. I think of those on the front lines battling this virus. I pray for those who are fighting illness to take one more breath. I pray for those who have lost their jobs, that God will help them get through these hard times. 

In this season of uncertainty, let us turn to God to sustain us.  May we all find strength one day at a time.

The post How to Find Strength for Another Day appeared first on Guideposts.

Holocaust survivor and author Simon Wiesenthal in his book, The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness, tells his story of being in a Nazi concentration camp. At one point, he was taken off work detail and ushered to the bedside of a dying member of the SS.

The officer had committed horrific crimes including the murder of a family with a small child. Now on his deathbed, the Nazi officer was tormented by his crimes and wanted to confess and, if possible, receive forgiveness from a Jew. Wiesenthal left the room in silence. He did not offer forgiveness. Years later, he wondered if he had done the right thing.

We don’t need to have committed crimes against humanity to feel the need to confess and be forgiven. Most of us are more like Wiesenthal, wondering if we should have withheld forgiveness. We all have something in our lives that troubles our conscience.

The path to offering forgiveness begins with confession—disclosing the hurt we have held onto and seeking reconciliation. Confession can be an ordeal for many. Not even King David, a man after the heart of God, was exempt from this struggle. But once you are ready to confess, pray and ask for God’s forgiveness. Talk to your pastor or priest or a trusted friend—maybe even the person you have held a grudge against.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to allow people to treat you poorly. It simply means releasing any bitterness or anger about the hurt someone else has caused you.

The psalmist wrote, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.” The agony of unconfessed sin wore down his mind, body and spirit. Forgiveness was the only thing that could bring healing and restore his joy. Without confession there is no forgiveness.

Why is it so hard to forgive? Pride often gets in the way. We want to remain in control and not show any sign of vulnerability and weakness.

Saying “sorry” wasn’t always practiced when I was growing up. Neither was saying “I forgive you.” You took your licks and moved on. Even today, expressing our deepest human failings and forgiving the failures of others is not the cultural norm.

But until we confess our own failings and open our hearts to forgiveness, we are robbing ourselves of the fullness of God’s grace.

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