The storms and trials of life should always lead us back to the Lord. We may need to take some time to cry and some time to find a way to put a smile back on our face in order to get past these feelings that accompany the desert of life, but it should always lead us back to the Lord. I find that sometimes I need a little help with that and that’s where some fabulously uplifting devotionals come in.
5.Read encouraging devotionals
Some devotionals are designed to educate, some are designed to make you think, yet others are created to have you work through situations. I’m not discussing those. They have their purpose, and I don’t deny they are important, but they aren’t what will get you through.
Another set of devotionals that are similar to the ones I’m talking about are the ones on being thankful. I also don’t recommend those at the times of your life when trials, struggles, and burdens get you down.
The ones I’m talking about here are the ones that encourage you. Bible Gateway has devotionals you can subscribe to that I have found helpful: Encouragement for Today, Devotions for Women and Devotions for Moms. Look for things that have titles that are uplifting and encouraging.
A caution: I don’t recommend the one called Standing Strong in the Storm because it’s mostly about people who have endured religious persecution. While that might be important to read or be inspiring at other times, I find that they are not something we can relate to when we are in the middle of stress. Unless your struggle is religious persecution on a grand scale, I find I can’t relate to them, and they make me feel bad for even being upset about financial or health or relationship issues which doesn’t help me feel any better about my situation.
Many of the ones on Bible Gateway are video based so you can sit back and watch them. These are great for when you’re so tired from burdens you can’t even concentrate on reading.
In addition to Bible Gateway, I find that Charles Stanley of www.intouch.org has a bunch of videos on various topics that are uplifting and have helped me in the past. If I’m not mistaken, that one has (or had) a way to organize them and keep notes. I, myself, keep a notebook with verses and ideas I like to be reminded of. That’s actually, how I am able to write my articles…from the notes I took after having read or viewed something I thought was particularly helpful (or not).
I hope I’ve given you some practical information the past few weeks to get you started on your path to being able to praise God in the storm. I will be praying for my readers that you not only come to a point where you can do that but that God will bless you and your family as well.
