How to Find Hope in Any Situation¬

Don't let hard times hinder us from making the most of each day our lives. Realize that even when times are tough, you can do much more than just endure your current situation.  You can actually enjoy life to the fullest - even in the middle of the worst circumstances - when you remember that life if a gift from God and decide to embrace it.  Ask God to help you notice His presence with you in every situation, and rejoice when you sense Him nearby.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to renew your mind each day so you can have the positive attitudes you need to thrive no matter what is going on in your life.

Ask God to help you see your struggles from His perspective.  Let your struggles teach you whatever God wants you to learn from them.  As you deal with the difficulties in your life, stay focused on what matters most - eternal values - so you can grow into a stronger person in the process.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that God doesn't care about you if He doesn't give you whatever you ask Him for.  Realize that God loves you so much that He gives you what you need, even when it's not what you want.  Keep in mind that, because of your limited perspective on life compared to God's unlimited perspective, sometimes you ask God for something that seems good but can actually harm you.  Trust in the fact that God knows what you need to have the life that brings you the greatest good.  Ask God to bring your desires in line with His will for you.

Remember all that awaits you in heaven at the end of your life here on Earth.  Let the anticipation of the wonderful experiences you'll have in heaven motivate you to meet your current challenges with the hope, which will lead to the strength you'll need to get through any situation.  As you think about heaven, focus your mind on what truly matters and let distractions go so you can live life to the fullest right now.

Whenever your sense of hope starts running out, ask God to renew you with a fresh dose of hope so you can continue to faithfully deal with the difficult situations that come your way.  Be confident that at the right time, God will reward you for your faithfulness if you don't give up your faith in the middle of challenging circumstances.  Count on God to give you more hope whenever you ask Him for it.

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