God’s hand works hope in the tough stuff Ruth 2:19-20 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice...
The grace-filled faithful turn the tide Ruth 2:2-7 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I...
The tough stuff of a spiritual choice Ruth 1:15-18 And Naomi said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your...
Struggling when counting the losses Ruth 1:11-13 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your...
Living in days full of tough stuff Ruth 1:1-5 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem went to sojourn in the country of Moab,...
God’s answer to Job Job 40:1-9 And the Lord said to Job, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer...
Job’s bottom-line confidence in God Job 19:23-27 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were...
Job’s problem with God Job 28:12-19 “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth, and it is not...
Cycles of “Why” debates Job 4:1-7 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from...
An eruption of confusion Job 3:1-4, 23-26 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said: “Let the day perish on which I was...
Friends who share our plight Job 2:11-13 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz...
The integrity of resolute faith Job 2:7-10 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of...
Testing the tenacity of faith Job 2:3-7 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and...
Remarkable worship in the face of tragedy Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came...
The destructive hand of our enemy Job 1:13-21 “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down...
What God allows from our Enemy Job 1:10-12 [Satan] “Have You not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work...
God delights in those who live righteously Job 1:8-11 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and...
The range of our formidable Enemy Job 1:6-8 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord...
A surprising candidate for tough stuff Job 1:1-5 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away...
Will God keep His promises? Ephesians 1:11-14 In Christ we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things...
Is God truly good? Psalm 73 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly...
Is God Still in Control? Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his...
Is God Punishing Me? (2) 1 Peter 4:12-15 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were...
Is God Punishing Me? (1) 1 John 4:17-19 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we...
Opportunity to suffer for His name 1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were...
Opportunity for a humble witness 1 Peter 3:13-17 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you...
Opportunity to bring encouragement 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us...
Opportunity to strengthen one another Hebrews 12, James 5 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what...
Opportunity to be strong in weakness 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in...
Opportunity to become like Him Romans 8:29, Hebrews 5:7-10 For those whom He foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…In the days of his...
Opportunity to depend on the Spirit’s power Romans 15:9-13 As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said,...
Opportunity for an energized hope Romans 8:23-25 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for...
Opportunity to deepen faith Job 42:1-6 Job answered the Lord and said, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted....
Difficulty of the persecuted Body of Christ Acts 9:1-5 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for...
Difficulty of spiritual defection 2 Timothy 4:10, Philemon 1:24 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and...
Difficulty of unchecked pride Proverbs 16:5,18-19, 21:24 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. Pride...
Difficulty of the devouring devil 1 Peter 5:8-11 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist...
Difficulty of the enemy’s opposition Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to...
Difficulty of indwelling sin Psalm 51 and Romans 7 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, You delight in truth in the...
Difficulty of a crippled creation Genesis 3:17-19 Then to Adam God said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which...
The Good News: A cord of three strands for the tough stuff Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow....
The Good News: God’s Son offers confidence in grace Hebrews 4:14-16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our...
The Good News: God’s Son is our propitiation for sins Hebrews 2:17-18 Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high...
The Good News: God’s Son destroys the power of death Hebrews 2:14-16 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death...
The Good News: God’s Son took our tough stuff Hebrews 2:9-11 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of...
The Good News: God sent His Son for our tough stuff Genesis 3:14-15 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the livestock and above all...
The Good News: God loves us in our tough stuff Genesis 3:6–9 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was...