Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century lay monk, found joy “seeking Him only and nothing else, not even His gifts.” When you make God’s presence your motivation, when you desire to love Him simply for who He is, you will truly experience His blessing.

Throughout Scripture, there are many examples of God bringing peace. From the israelites at the Red Sea to Elijah after his encounter at Mount Carmel, God calmed fears and brought comfort. When life is chaotic and you are worried about the future, turn to prayer. God’s voice is peace.

Scripture tells us that we are to glory in our sufferings. Because of faith, we can see the blessing in every experience—even in our suffering. Our hardships help us to find perseverance and hope and encourage us to pursue a strong relationship with God.

The Apostle Paul encourages us to help others and lift them up with God’s love. God empowers us to spread peace and hope. He encourages us to spread His message of unconditional love and acceptance to those who need it most.

Do you worry even when there is little or no reason to? When anxiety overwhelms you, the normal reaction is to freeze or flee. The next time this happens, imagine yourself safely in God’s loving arms. Keep a list of comforting Bible verses and read them over and over again.

God rested on the seventh day. Remind yourself of this scripture when you are too busy to even think. Rest is a necessary and important part of life. Give yourself permission to take time off, to say no to things you don’t want to do and to take time to relax and restore your spirit.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Remember always that faith is a fight against disbelief, a struggle against doubt!” When the storms of doubt come, lean into the wind—and believe. no matter what you are feeling, God is in charge.

When your willpower needs a boost to help you reach a goal or to turn away from temptation, embrace God. His will is strong and righteous. He will guide you to be your best, to reject destructive choices and to pursue a joy-filled life.

Imagine your life without prayer. How would you find spiritual grace? What would you do to calm your fears and feed your faith? Prayer is your true lifeline to the source of everything—wisdom, knowledge, comfort, peace and love.

Turn to this verse when you feel uncertain about the future. Your faith in God is the key. Trust that He has the unknowns covered. Release your fears to Him. He will light the way out of darkness and make the rough roads smooth.