> God really does care even when it looks like he doesn’t. When we look at what isn’t immediately visible with our physical eyes then we start to see clearly, this is called faith. By faith I know that God cares.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is bring sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
> Seeing things from God’s perspective is the necessary guide to thinking rightly about this bad situation.
II Peter 1:4 “.. He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may
participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world.”
> His presence gives abundance of strength and wisdom to deal with the crisis.
John 8:58 “I am” means God is always present with us.
Matthew 28:20 “And truly I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
> We need the support of other Christians to talk and pray with on a consistent basis.
Galatians 6:2 “Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
> Take it one day at a time. Life’s battles are not fought in a single day, but every day.
Matthew 6:11 “Give us today our daily bread.”
Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take
up his cross daily and follow me.”
> God brings hope to any and every situation on any day in history.
Lamentations 3:21-23 “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
> God’s sovereignty (complete control) limits any situation so that we can endure it.
I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation [life situation] has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
> Life has many burdens, of which the greatest is our own sin, but Christ has offered to bear our burdens on the cross if we will repent of our sins, surrender to him and follow him—to live in the victory of His resurrection.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
> Death is not the end and it does not have the final say for Christians.
I Thessalonians 4:13-14 “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live,
even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
> In answering the “Why?” of life’s tragedies, God offers us satisfactory answers, even though we may not fully grasp God’s mysterious ways.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 “I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
> God adds meaning, and even good, out of bad situations, though that does not mean God brings about a bad situation so that good can come from it, only that good can come from an already bad situation.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose.”
