When Things Go Wrong

“Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 HCSB

The Lord is good,
a stronghold in a day of distress;
He cares for those who take refuge in Him.

Nahum 1:7 HCSB

We all encounter difficulties that turn our world upside down. Sometimes, it’s a natural disaster, like the recent wildfires or severe flooding that have demolished homes and taken lives. Other times, it’s a health crisis or a job loss.

When these things happen, we miss what we’ve lost and struggle to find our way. It will take time, patience, strength, and courage to keep going. We will need the help of the Lord and others to lovingly support us along the way.

Here is a poem to remind us of the Lord’s promises to stay with us even in the toughest times.

When things go wrong,
When troubles come,
When all our work
Becomes undone,
Our hearts struggle to understand
The difficulties we withstand.
We cry out
With pain and fright,
In prayer to our Savior
For His faithful might
To guide our way,
And shelter us
Both day and night.

Difficulties come and go
But the Lord will surely stay
Beside us to advise us
And gently lead the way.
No matter how bad things seem,
The Lord will us redeem.
We lean on Him
And call His name
Forever His promises we’ll claim.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, these times are hard! Each step is a struggle when we don’t know what to do. But we will cling to You and claim Your Word which says, “Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time” (Hebrews 4:16). Psalm 138:9 states that “On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me.” We trust in You and will keep Your Word close to our hearts as we endure. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Journal: Call out to the Lord in your struggles. He will remain close by to provide what you need. Use the attached list of Bible verses to help you focus on His promises. Write them down or read them aloud as you pray.