Grace of God

Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: ISAIAH 55:8-9; 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10

When I was in high school, I struggled with depression and anxiety. A boy broke my heart, none of my friends understood me, I struggled with family issues at home, and it felt like nothing in my life went right or ever would go right.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” And Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I’d read Bible verses like these…And I just didn’t get it! If I’d been asking God to heal and help me, then why wasn’t He healing me? Why was I still hurting? If God gives us peace in the storm, then why was I feeling so far from peace?

One day, I came across 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Paul had been asking God to remove what he called a thorn in his flesh, similar to how I had been repeatedly asking God to remove the pain and hurt in my life. It felt like God was speaking directly to me when He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (verse 9).

Eventually, God did bring me out of my season of depression and anxiety. He brought better friends into my life, and He brought healing to my heart and mind. I think during that long season of my life, God was teaching me to rely on Him. He was teaching me that He, and only He, was sufficient for my life. God’s grace and presence are all we need. He was strengthening my faith even when I couldn’t see it and teaching me to trust Him when nothing made sense.

The truth is, God loves us more than we could ever know, and we can trust that even in the hurting, He is with us. • Elizabeth Cooper

• Have you ever felt like nothing in your life was going right, or ever would go right? Do you feel like that today? You’re not alone. Jesus is with us in our pain, grieving our hurts alongside us. We can be totally honest with Him about anything we’re going through.

• Believing God is with us and entrusting ourselves to that promise doesn’t automatically make every situation in our lives better. But it does give us hope in the midst of the hurting—hope that we are held securely in God’s love, and hope that one day Jesus will return and then terrible things like depression, anxiety, and broken relationships will be no more (Romans 8:31-39; Revelation 21:1-5). As we wait for that glorious day, God gives us His Word, His Spirit, and the community of His people here on earth to help with our struggles and pain. Do you have a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about what you’re experiencing? *

• Throughout our lives, we’ll read verses in the Bible that we don’t understand or that don’t seem to be true in our own lives. Every word in the original manuscripts of the Bible is completely true. However, that doesn’t mean we’ll always understand everything we read right away. In fact, there are some things in the Bible we may never fully understand. Yet God wants to help us grow in our understanding of His Word (Psalm 119:34; Luke 24:45; Acts 8:26-35). Are there any Bible verses that you’ve found unsettling or frustrating, or that just don’t seem true? Who is a trusted Christian in your life who could help you dig deeper so you can understand it better, using tools like study Bibles, commentaries, or scholarly articles, videos, or podcasts? (Whenever we read the Bible, it’s important to keep in mind the whole Bible points to Jesus. If you want to know more about the good news of Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page.)

• * If you’re struggling with anxiety or depression, or if life has just been really hard for you lately, who is a trusted adult you could talk to? If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

Three times I [Paul] pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NIV)