“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” —Matthew 5:4 NIV
I am blessed even on difficult days because I will experience the
We think
But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. —Hebrews 11:35-40 NLT
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. —Matthew 5:44-45 NIV
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. —2 Timothy 4:18 NIV
We think pain always means
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. —James 1:2-4 NIV
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. —1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT
We think
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. —Isaiah 57:1 NLT
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. —Psalm 34:18 NIV
(2 Corinthians 1:3-11 NIV)
Refocus on what’s happening
But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. —2 Corinthians 1:9 NIV
Remember that God always
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. —2 Corinthians 1:10 NIV
Rely on solid
[He will continue to deliver us] as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. —2 Corinthians 1:11 NIV
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