Isaiah 26:3-4  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

As the story goes, a ship was wrecked in a furious storm and the only survivor was a little boy who was swept by the waves onto a rock.  He sat there all night long until, the next morning, he was spotted and rescued.
“Did you tremble while you were on the rock during the night?” someone later asked him.  “Yes,” said the boy.  “I trembled all night – but the rock didn’t”

Who is your rock in times of trouble?

John 6:66-69   After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus had just said that He is the bread of life, and that the bread He offers us in His flesh.  What a hard saying!  So when others walked away, Jesus asked His disciples if they wanted to leave, too.

Peter gave a great answer.  Where else would we go?  Where else could we ever find the words of eternal life?  Besides, we know that you are the Messiah, the One sent by God.  

What would your answer be?

2 Chronicles 12b   We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

Have you ever been there?  Things just haven't gone your way.  There is hurt, there is pain, and there is uncertainty.  You just don't know what to do.  What is the best way, and what is the right thing?  Keep your eyes on God.  Trust Him to show you the way.  What will happen when you do?  The same thing that happened for the king in this passage.

Verse 17:  You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

And that is exactly what happened.  Trust Him with today, and with all your tomorrows.  He will be with you, too!

1 Peter 4:8-9   Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Have you ever thought about how love and hospitality go together?  Without love, hospitality is just doing what you think you should.  Without hospitality, love has no outlet and no evidence.  We love because we were first loved by God.  The practical outcome is that we love others and give ourselves for their good.  In other words, we practice hospitality because the love of God is flowing through us.  Does that define you?

John 10:4-5, 10   The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Isn't it wonderful?  Jesus knows your name.  And He gave His life for you.  That is why we follow Him.  That is why we listen for His voice.  Do you recognize His voice?  Are you listening?  Are you following?

2 Timothy 1:12 (MSG)  …  I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.

I know that Jesus loves me, and I know that I can trust Him with my life and my eternity.  And I know that I can trust Him to guide my life today and every day.  When my life is over, I know that I can trust Him to care for me forever.

And what could be better than that?!

Romans 8:13-16   For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

If you live for Jesus, the Holy Spirit testifies within us that we belong to Him as His own beloved children.  And who can argue with that?!

John 16:33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 1:4-5   In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

That's good news on a day when you think the world can't get any darker.  Just remember that He is the light, and He has overcome the world!

Ephesians 2:4-10   But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Notice that we don't do anything to gain our own salvation.  He, because of His great love, saves us by His grace.  So what is our part?  Believe in Him (that's faith) and love Him (including walking in the good works that He has prepared for us).  Oh yes, one more thing:  Be thankful for all that He has done for you.

1 John 4:4   Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

We don't need to fear.  All we need to do is trust.  That is, if we are truly God's children.  Why?  Because God is greater than anything we will ever face.  And that is a truth you can base your life on.