God Lifts You Up When Life Weighs You Down
When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him. Acts 21:27
Countless friends had warned the apostle Paul not to go to Jerusalem, and their worst fears come true shortly after he reaches the city. Religious opponents whip up a crowd against Paul. They seize him and drag him from the temple. A Roman commander intervenes moments before the mob kills Paul, but the apostle still goes to prison. The last chapters of Acts tell the rest of his story.
Life doesn’t always turn out the way you hope, and God doesn’t always make bad situations instantly better. Parents fight, and some divorce. Someone close feels a strange pain, then receives a deadly diagnosis. Your schoolwork overwhelms you, and you fail a class. What are you supposed to do when awful things happen that you can’t change?
As the crowd kept shouting “Get rid of him!” (Acts 21:36), Paul must have felt relieved to be bound and led to safety. He lets his captors know he isn’t a terrorist, and he stands up for his rights as a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25–29). Then he presses on to accomplish what he came to do. He tells his enemies about Jesus.
When life beats you up, God still has a plan and a purpose for every minute of your day. He hasn’t left you. He lifts you up if you let him. He helps you press on through life’s hardest circumstances.
Reflect
Reflect on a moment in your life when things seemed overwhelming — how did God sustain you? Are you going through a difficult time right now? Trust him to carry you through this current challenge.
Drawn from a devotional in the NIV Bible for Teen Guys.
NIV Bible for Teen Guys
Filled with honest discussions about what it means to be a man of God, as well as wisdom on specific challenges the world throws our way, the NIV Bible for Teen Guys helps guys ages 13-18 to grow stronger in all areas of life, while also growing stronger in faith.
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Am deeply blessed by this piece and pray that God will take me through my current trying moment. I crave your constant prayer to keep trusting in God for a breakthrough..
I’m blessed by these encouraging words. It’s always reassuring to know that with God you know that whatever hardship you are facing will pass. God turns around a difficult situation for the good of them that love him. Praise be to God. Thank you for sharing.
I love our Lord Jesus Christ, I trust that he will see me through a very difficult time. I pray that the world will one day find peace, and allow God to show us his plan.
This message comes at a time when I am overwhelmed with my studies. I thank God that this has uplifted my troubled soul by HIS Word.
Thanks for this encouraging devotional. I’m trusting God that he will give me sustainable employment and opportunity to train to become a police officer. I’m also trusting that God will heal my younger son of a debilitating medical condition and other medical problems, get an appropriate place to live, and a job and or schooling. Please join me in prayer for these items. Thank you very much and God bless you all!
The Lord Jesus Christ is always there to help you in times of need. Trust the Lord will with your whole heart, mind, and strength🫂💕.
Dear Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Please open up doors to affordable housing for me and my Landlord as they began to sell their house..
I am so grateful to be a part of this group. It’s so wonderful that every day I look forward to reading my devotion. And each time I receive my email there is something marvelous to read. Thank you and be blessed.🙌
Thank you for this word today. Really going through a challenging phase right now. The word of God is a soothing balm. Please keep me, my husband and entire family in your prayers to see us through. Thank you.
The article is like it prophesied specifically on me. I am going through a rough patch but it encouraged me to press on.
I am blessed for this great message knowing that God is always on my side even in my hardest circumstances.
True, when life beats me up, God still has a plan and a purpose for every minute of my day. He hasn’t left me. He lifts me up if I let him. He helps me press on through life’s hardest circumstances
He has brought me through so much, and we are in the middle of something now. It’s so hard waiting for Him to move, when we don’t know His timing. Please keep my family, specifically my husband and son in prayer as we need Him to open a door for both of them in finding a job to provide for their families.
This is just what I needed to hear. I am going through a difficult situation at work but I am trusting God. He is the author and finisher of my faith. It is not done until God says it’s done.
We continually pray for God’s overflowing Grace 🤲🏿 thru trials and tribulations of life. Amazing Grace
God is there for every living being.
This was just what I needed to hear.
Very good thought of the day! I am blessed to read it.
I am very blessed by this message because I am in a great trial. The trials are difficult but the Lord has a way out of the trial, so it is worth trusting in Him. Thank you again for your message.
Thank you Jesus for brothers how would die for him .
Thank the Lord for the brothers like Paul who played their life down so Jesus would be lifted up . I believe all will be well and the victory is ours.
I appreciate the historical context along with the deep spiritual explanation of the full meaning of God’s words. It’s so very much to learn.
Trying to help my brother keep his house that was severely damaged in a recent hurricane. Praying that we get answers on how to do that.
Thank you so much. I feel light because of the word and I believe indeed this is just a phase of life. It will pass by.
I am blessed to hear this word of God. My soul was down but I am blessed with this word.