Your prayer time with God is private and sacred; whatever you tell Him remains a secret you share. Often in the beginning God’s work within you is hidden, but eventually your spiritual growth will blossom and bear fruit for the world to see.

It’s easy to feel the stress of life’s challenges weighing down on you—bad news, financial difficulties, a health issue, even something trivial like a callous comment can throw you off balance. But God deeply cares about everything in your life. Ask Him to reassure you that He is always with you and He will lead you through big and small problems, each and every day.

Imagine your life free of worry. The Bible is filled with verses like today’s to help reassure you that with faith there is no need to be afraid. His Word can empower you to live each moment joyfully because you know deep in your heart that God has your back.

There are many sayings about how we handle loss and difficult situations. That our reaction to devastating experiences can either make one bitter or better; our personal tragedies can either define or refine. Reflect on your life and your way of handling adversity. Ask God to help you release the pain and hard feelings that linger after loss and turn those feelings into something positive.

Author Bob Goff said, “Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.” Very few people have mastered the art of embracing change. If you struggle with new situations ask God for help in feeling more secure. Know that He is always the same and He is always there.