2 Corinthians 4:8–9 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” Life doesn’t always make sense. Sometimes you do everything “right,” yet hardship still comes knocking. That’s what Paul meant when he said, “we are perplexed.” The word…

Acts 27:20 “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” vPaul wasn’t just riding out a rough patch of weather—he was in a storm so fierce that even seasoned sailors gave up hope. The skies

Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” There’s a special kind of ache that comes from waiting. Waiting for healing. Waiting for restoration. Waiting for an answer to a prayer that feels like it’s bouncing off the ceiling. Solomon called it “hope deferred,”

Acts 27:20 “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” Paul was no stranger to hardship. On a prison ship bound for Rome, he found himself in the middle of a brutal storm. The sun

Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Cultural hope is like a balloon—bright and cheerful, but easily deflated. You hope your favorite team wins. You hope the weather cooperates. You hope things work out. But

Proverbs 3:11–12 “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” No one likes correction in the moment—it stings our pride and challenges our comfort. But to reject correction is to reject the

Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” There’s a sobering truth in the Christian life: staying close to God is not automatic. Jude reminds us that while God’s love is constant and unchanging, we must be intentional about remaining in the warmth

Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” One of the quiet tragedies in the Christian life is when trust

1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Paul wasn’t worried about losing his salvation—he was concerned about becoming disqualified, unusable in the race of faith. The term “castaway” paints a picture

Zephaniah 3:2 “She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.” There’s something sobering in those last words: “she drew not near to her God.” It doesn’t say she turned and ran from Him. It simply says—she didn’t come close. That’s the