“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
 

There are many times you find yourself in the middle of the storms of life and wonder, “How did I get here? This wasn’t the plan.” In your most difficult moments, you can trust that when the Lord declared that He would prosper you and not harm you, that He would give you a hope and a future—you can believe that what He said was true. What God promised will come to pass and His plan for you is greater than the storm.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You, that despite the storms of life, You are always with me. I thank You that your plans for my life are not of destruction, but plans to prosper me. I thank You for good health and a hopeful future. Even though I cannot always see my next step, You already know it and will lead me to it. In Your precious name, amen.

Jesus said, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!” Luke 8:48 

Desperation. That is what the woman from this story in Luke chapter 8 was experiencing. She had heard about this man, Jesus, who was going town to town healing people. After years of putting her trust in expensive doctors, she decided to take a risk; she decided to seek out Jesus. Her risk led to her healing. Her decades-old storm ended the instant she touched Him.

Action: If you are in a storm, you might need to take a risk to move away from that storm. It may be an expected afternoon thunderstorm, or it may be a full-fledged hurricane. Whatever it might be, Jesus is worth the risk. He is worth your trust. Read Luke 8:40-48 and take the risk to touch the hem of His garment.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:27-29

“I will believe it when I see it.” How often have we said or thought that in a trying time? Jesus said we are blessed if we can believe without seeing. That is called faith. Faith is when we can operate confident that the thing we hope for is already a done deal. That does not mean it will be easy, but that does mean it is true. Thomas may not have wanted to believe Jesus had risen from the grave, but it was already finished. Jesus, operating in divine compassion, didn’t rebuke Thomas. No. He pulled Thomas in close to His side to remind Him that He is who He said He was.

Prayer: Jesus, oh Jesus! Thank You for pulling me in close to Your side. Thank You for giving me the ability to believe in You and in all that You are doing—even when I cannot see it for myself. Thank You for blessing me when I choose to believe that You are who You say You are, and that You will complete the good work You have started in Me! In your faithful name I pray, amen.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7  

When the 5 o’clock news reports that a hurricane is threatening, several days are spent preparing homes and shelters to protect people and their possessions. Just as many tools are used to prepare our homes for a big storm, God gives us tools to prepare us to face those things in life that bring uncertainty. We are not left to fend for ourselves unprotected and in harm's way. He gives us power, love, and the ability to think clearly. We just have to make the decision to use them.

Action: When you are faced with uncertainty and fear tries to settle in, remember that you have been given a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. If you have never memorized 2 Timothy 1:7, memorize it and add it to your toolbelt of faith today. Then, everytime you feel the defeat of a storm looming, speak those words out loud.