“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”  John 14:6

It's all about Jesus!  It always has been.  It always will be.  Our life will never be without trials and challenges.  God doesn't promise it will.  God does promise that He sent Jesus to help us manage and maneuver through those trials and challenges in a successful manner.

Dear God, thanks for Jesus!

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Unfortunately, many are out of work.  For most, work has at minimum been altered a lot.  Some need to work more and some are blessed with less to do.  But there is always work to be done.  God's work is never done.

Lord, help me to prioritize my work.

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”  1 Timothy 4:8

Working out has become more challenging these days.  That's ok.  Train differently.

Lord, help me to see the opportunities that I have and not focus on the things I don't.

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”  Acts 20:24

What matters?  Seriously, what matters?  And what matters most?  Convenience?  March Madness?  Easter with family?  Ability to do whatever we want?  Our expectations being met?  Our plans and schedules being uninterrupted?  Or, do we truly believe that sharing the Good News of Jesus is what matters most?  If God matters more than us, then today is a wasted day if we don't use the current situation to grow closer to Him and to help others to grow closer to Him.

Lord, help me to have the right priorities.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.”  Philippians 4:6

When given two choices, prayer or worrying, we unfortunately choose to worry.  Why do we feel that we have more control over something when we worry about it compared to praying about it?  The answer unfortunately is that we trust ourselves more than we trust God.  How stupid is that?

Lord, help me to trust you more than myself and help me to pray more and worry less.

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  John 16:32-33

"Unprecedented time"?   Not so much.  Actually, this has happened many times, in various forms.  We may feel that life has changed.  It hasn't, and most importantly, God hasn't changed.

Lord, thank you for speaking truth into our difficult circumstances.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” James 4:10

Most people don't fail from lack of ability.  Most people fail due to pride.  No one is able to do everything.  We all have shortcomings and we all face challenges beyond our control and ability.  When we don't recognize that we need help, we fail.  Humility helps us to recognize that all that we have comes from God and those things that we don't have, we can ask God and others for help.

Lord, thanks for providing me with many talents and help me to ask when I need help.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:3-5

We can complain.  It is our choice.  But we can also rejoice.  Also a choice.

Lord, help me to choose to rejoice.

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  John 15:13

"Giving up" is not "quitting".  Giving up refers to "forgoing" or "relinquishing".  Quitting refers to stopping something.  Giving up is not stopping.  Giving up our time or our money or our comfort, in order to help someone else, is far from stopping.  Giving up something to help others is actually intentional and it is starting something good for others.

Lord, help me to give up.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

A lot of uncertainty exists right now and that is making everyone considerably more anxious than usual.  We don't typically function well when we don't know what is going on.  Sure, a little uncertainty is understandable, but a lot of uncertainty makes us feel helpless.  We may not be in as much control as we prefer, but we are far from helpless.  God has given us a simple instruction on how we should not only deal with the circumstances that we face today, but the challenges of yesterday and tomorrow.  We must trust and depend on God.  It isn't a suggestion.  It is a command.  We must put His priorities of loving Him and loving others before our own goals of comfort and selfish desires and wants.  God can is using this time in history to bring us closer to Him and providing an unprecedented opportunity to help others come to know Him more.  It is our fault if we waste the opportunity to grow ourselves and to help others to grow.  And when we decide to trust, God will provide a peace that only He can provide.

Lord, thank you for giving a plan to deal with the challenges I face today and tomorrow and always and help give me the strength to trust in your plan and not rely on my own inferior thoughts and emotions.