If you are like me, then you have probably asked God, "What is going on? Why is all of this happening to me?" And most likely you have asked God than once. 

The truth is, God loves you so much. He really, truly, and genuinely wants only the very best for you and He has an amazing plan for your life. 

Suffering is inevitable for the believer.

We will all experience hardships. Trials and tribulations. Storms. Sadness. Heartache and pain. Loss. Jesus tells us in John 16:33;

"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world."

But He follows by encouraging our hearts to, "be courageous! I have conquered the world." How amazing is that? If we are in Jesus Christ then we can rest in knowing that everything will work out. God's got us! Remember, that although life is not always fair, God is always just.

Have faith and trust that even in the most painful of circumstances, God can and will turn it around for our good and for the good of those around us.

If you are having a difficult time trusting God in your current circumstance, my prayer is that my 7 life verses will speak to your heart. 

Psalm 118:8-9 // It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 

Proverbs 3:5 // Trust in the LORD with all your heart...

Isaiah 12:2 // God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid.

Isaiah 50:10 // ...Trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon His God.

Nahum 1:7 // The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.

Mark 5:36 // "Do not be afraid; only believe."

Philippians 4:13 // I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.



What verses or promises help you to trust and abide in Christ during your hardest times?

Can I be honest with you? As a young girl I had no problems making friends. I could get around a crowd of girls and just fit right in. But as I got older and experienced hurt and betrayal from other women, I became less quick to fit in. I will admit that at times I still tend to pull away with the fear that a friend may hurt me.

What I looked for in my worldly friends was completely different from what I want and desire from a godly friendship. I believe that the gift of friendship was one of God's greatest ideas. I also believe that just how God picks our our husbands to compliment us, He does the same with our friends. It has been said about marriage that where one lacks the other makes up for it. I know Jesus made friendship to work the same way.

I spent a good part of my life searching for genuine friendships. I always would get sad when I would hear women say, "We have been best friends for over 15 years." I thought, wow. That would be nice to have. I had close friends, but those were all worldly friends. Things happened that caused us to go our separate ways, and with others we just grew apart. Temporal friendships don't stand a chance when they are built on a temporal foundation. The slightest disagreement can wash away even 20 years of what you thought was an unbreakable friendship if it was not built on solid foundation. God, The Rock.

[Read the rest of this article at Whole Magazine.]