Have you ever felt like you cannot take one more thing? Life has a way of piling one trial on top of another. When we least expect it, here comes another difficult situation and we can’t see a way through or a way out. Just when we feel like we might be okay, another trial hits and it can feel like life keeps kicking us when we are down. It’s not just you. It happens to all of us at some point.
Discouragement and frustration can mount to unexpected heights and faith can feel like it is falling apart. Life is just hard sometimes. But there is hope! And help! Life might be filled with chaos, hardship, hurt, and burdens, but the Bible speaks to all of these things.
There is one thing we can cling to in times of utter shock, hurt, and devastation – God’s Word. Even though we might not always want to hear it, the Bible gives us the peace, hope, joy, and the help we need.
Here are a few verses that I go to when I feel like I cannot take another trial:
“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psalm 3:3).
When we face insurmountable or unthinkable situations, often the posture of the body results in slumped shoulders, head down, hands to the face, or we try to run away from it all. But Psalm 3 is one of those chapters in the Bible that offers some beautiful help in times of need.
I love the picture here of the Lord being both the shield and the lifter of the head. It’s more than protection. It’s a protector and a giver of hope. A hope so real the head rises from the utter shock and the eyes let light in from the sun, knowing this is not the end.
“The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).
Psalm 23 might be one of the most noted passages in the Bible. It’s quoted at funerals, printed on photos, cards, plaques, and home décor items. It’s a go-to verse in time of hardship and struggle. When we can’t take one more thing, the first verse of this psalm gives us both a comfort and promise.
The comfort is that we have a Shepherd. This is not just any leader, guide, or protector. It’s the promise that the Lord, our Savior, will be the leader and guide for us even now. And when we follow and believe Him to be who He promises to be, we will receive what we need when we need it. It might not be what we think we need, but it will be the Lord’s presence and guidance. That alone is enough to carry us through the most difficult days.
“Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).
If the promise of God’s presence isn’t enough, there is more. In Psalm 27, David shares his song of confidence. He ends this song with a declaration of patient waiting. Waiting on God to answer, show up, come through, follow through, or fix it, might be one of the hardest things we ever face. But David says, wait! Not only that, but wait with courage. When we do, we are promised strength that only comes from God. This strength isn’t something we can muster up when we think we need it. It’s a strength God gives in the moment we need when we think we cannot make it another day.
“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
When I think of a refuge, my mind goes to a faraway place that no one knows about. A safe house where the enemy can’t find it or get in. It’s a secret space provided for the vulnerable or less fortunate where they can find rest, peace, security, and reassurance that everything is going to be okay.
This is one of the reasons I love Psalm 46:1. When we cling to the promise of God being our refuge, we can know we have a safe place in His presence. There might still be trouble and hardship, but we are not unprotected with Jesus.
“From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).
It can be easy to stop praying when prayers don’t seem to be being answered. The devil is quick to convince us God doesn’t hear, isn’t listening, isn’t caring. And if he was or did, He would have stepped in by now.
But God’s ways are not our ways. He has a master plan and sees the bigger picture. Sometimes our trials are not here to harm us, they are simply a tool to remind us to turn our hearts and prayers to God. When the psalmist cries out to God it’s in a desperate plea. It’s a moment of utter devastation. If you are feeling devastated, it is not time to distract yourself with busyness or fun. It’s time to turn your heart to Jesus so He can lead you to a higher place.
“For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).
We can get kind of crazy when we start talking about the spiritual beings of heaven and hell. It can make us feel uneasy not knowing all the answers or having all the details. But what we do know is there is a very real spiritual battle going on every day.
When we read a verse like this one, we can rest in the full assurance that God’s angels are active and working on our behalf. We don’t need to get spooky or start acting crazy to activate the spiritual realm. It is alive and well without us messing it up. What we can do is thank God for the angels we know are alive and well working for Him on our behalf. This Bible truth helps me when I feel afraid in my trials or alone in my efforts.
“It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2).
You don’t need to lay awake all night worrying about things you cannot control. God wants us to let go and rest. He gives rest. It is a gift of walking with Him. It is not God’s plan for you to lay awake and think of all of the possible outcomes and issues. God in His kindness offers rest for those who will put their burdens down for Him to carry. God wants you to rest.
“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17).
God has not left you to fend for yourself. Sometimes we get the idea that God doesn’t care anymore or think that maybe He’s done fighting our battles. Those thoughts are lies from the enemy. God is not done! He is not done with you and He is not done with this trial you are walking through. He has a plan more beautiful than you can imagine.
Tell yourself the truth. The truth is found in Scripture. These are just a few verses to remind yourself about the truth of God’s Word when you feel like you can’t take one more thing. You are going to make it! But you won’t make it alone. Trust the One who can carry you through it.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/cyano66
Micah Maddox is a wife, mama, friend, Bible teacher, and author of a James: Tired, Tested, Torn, and Full of Faith. You can find encouraging resources FREE HERE! Micah is passionate about helping women learn what it truly means to daily walk with Jesus. She is on the Proverbs 31 Ministries First 5 Writing Team and writes for Encouragement From Women. Her main ministry is at home with her husband, Rob, who leads worship at Clear Springs Baptist Church in East Tennessee, and with her five children, some by birth, and some by adoption. Micah's heart for her local church is what fuels her desire to keep writing, teaching, and serving. Micah loves to give a voice to hurting hearts and writes and speaks to the one who needs encouragement. You can connect with her on Instagram or micahmaddox.com.