Even when adversity comes knocking at our front door, we remain confident that God will help us to persevere over any storm life might throw in our direction. Over time we come to the realization that God never lets us down. On the contrary, He has a perfect track record that showcases a level of love beyond our capacity to fathom with our finite minds.

Who better to trust with everything than the One who knows us better than we know ourselves? After all, He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (everywhere at all times). Add to these realities that God has His children’s best interests at heart in light of eternity. It should be intuitive at this point for us to realize that there is no one better in the universe to rest our faith and surrender our fears and anxieties. As such, we must rest assured that He always faithfully protects and guides us in the direction that best suits His perfect will and our well-being.

Another advantage of placing our complete faith in God is experiencing His peace. Sometimes we attempt to take things into our hands rather than pray for God’s help. These are not mutually exclusive endeavors. In many cases, praying and taking action would be wise. However, we overestimate our influence on our immediate circumstances and underestimate the power of prayer. Sometimes the best course of action is to surrender something outside our control to God in prayer and rest in His sovereignty (John 16:33). When the situation calls for it, this demonstrates our faith in God to handle our problem. Furthermore, we welcome His peace to offer us the antidote to our burdensome worries (Philippians 4:6, Romans 5:1).

As believers, God has created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). Each of us is an ambassador of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are also friends of God rather than at enmity with Him when we walk in obedience to His Word (John 15:15)! Our ultimate purpose is to bring God glory (1 Corinthians 6:20, Isaiah 43:7). The execution of fulfilling our calling varies from person to person. Still, all believers are a part of His plans for us as we are members of the body of believers serving different roles that complement one another (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). When we have faith in these elements of our foundation and purpose, it should boost our confidence and develop our courage.

The Bible provides a steady supply of strength that reminds us of God’s faithfulness and love in the lives of believers before us. Knowing that flawed men and women, just like you and I, were used by God for the fulfillment of monumental achievements in the eyes of God should increase our faith and eliminate our worries. For example, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob parted the Red Sea to save His people under the leadership of Moses (Exodus 14:26-29), protected Daniel from being devoured in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:23), and delivered Shadrack, Meschac, and Abed-Nego from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:19-25). So likewise, God is with His children today as with our ancestors (Romans 8:31-39).

If we reflect on our lives, we can refer to God’s consistent protection, provision, and providence to remember his unfailing reliability (Philippians 4:19). Do not forget the numerous times you, your family, or friends prayed, and God was faithful. It may not have always agreed with our perspective or timing, but often we are privileged to take notice that His timing was infinitely superior anyway (1 John 5:14-15). After all, it would be a tragedy if God gave us a blessing that we were not yet prepared to receive due to a lack of character development, preparedness, or appreciation.

Instead, He lovingly defers those blessings to the correct time after we have learned to handle them and experienced the contrast of not having them so that we might rightfully understand how outstanding the opportunity truly is (Proverbs 13:12). If we are honest with ourselves, some of God’s most excellent answers to prayer are those He lovingly does not provide for us because He knows what we need better than we do. In those cases, we should aspire to be equally thankful even when we do not understand why the door closed unexpectedly, and things did not pan out in the direction we foresaw.

The final aspect of faithfulness that carries one of the most remarkable benefits to all of us is God’s gift of community with fellow believers (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11). God has given each of us a consistent desire to pursue fellowship with like-minded believers. As a result, not only do we receive benefits such as encouragement, accountability, and support from such circles, but we are also enabled to invest our time, energy, and effort in being there for others.

There may be seasons where we require one end more than another, but in their time, we all need to lean on one another the way God designed it to be. When we share our struggles, others can relate, offer advice, or pray for us. Likewise, we can share testimonies in our lives where God came through for us, and God’s answers to our prayers can strengthen the faith of our Christian peers (2 Timothy 1:8). Such actions can alleviate our fears and anxieties by focusing on God’s work rather than overthinking, which may lead to fear or anxiety.

Some worries and concerns should not be on our radar because they are far less of an issue than we make them out to be and often do not even materialize (Matthew 6:31-34). Instead of spending time in our heads about such circumstances, we are often better suited to pouring into the lives of others. Focusing outside ourselves and being there for other believers may be just what the doctor ordered to offer us a renewed perspective.

May God bless each of us with a desire to pursue Him and His will wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 29:13). Let us not allow the whims of fear or anxiety dictate our actions in life. Instead, let us build one another up in faith, knowing that God will never abandon or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). We can trust Him to be there when life throws us more than we can handle. Submit your cares and worries to Him, rest in His sovereignty, and pursue the calling He instills in your heart to answer (1 Peter 5:7). There is no better place to be than at the center of God’s will for your life.

One of the most significant blessings stemming from Christian hospitality is bridging gaps of understanding across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic divides. It allows us to share God’s love and connect with people we might not have encountered otherwise. There is no telling how offering a listening ear, sharing a meal, or offering a kind word could bless someone. Imagine the impact of these types of actions throughout a lifetime. Of course, not all of us can share this gift in the same manner, but perhaps we may feel compelled by God to do so uniquely. It is also possible to improve how we do so over time, which may drive some of us to practice taking such actions frequently. Inspiring other recipients in our path to pay it forward in their walk with God can yield eternal dividends (Matthew 25:35-40).

There is no better example of these actions than those found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, if we become more like Him in our sanctification, it would make sense to follow His example. For instance, he demonstrated the unfathomable humility of washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:4-15). The lowest servant in the household was typically responsible for such a duty, yet the God of the Universe willingly did this so that we would do the same for one another. He also cared for and healed the sick (Mark 1:40-45), welcomed and blessed the children (Matthew 19:13-15), reached out to societies outcasts (Luke 19:1-10), and spoke to a large crowd who He also fed instead of turning them away (Matthew 14:13-21). By any measure, Jesus Christ consistently demonstrated hospitality and His love through His actions. Therefore, we should follow His example and practice hospitality to the people we encounter.

Our motivation for every action we take is critical to take into account. Concerning Christian hospitality, we can find a sense of satisfaction intrinsic to such steps. After all, we know giving is a greater blessing than receiving (Acts 20:35). If we take action from a disposition of love, generosity, humility, and genuine desire to be a blessing to other people, we will find joy intrinsically and inextricably linked to the kind of actions we take. We recognize that God gave us all the strength, energy, resources, and capabilities required to provide a helping hand to those who need it. While we might be in a position to provide help now, there is no telling when we might be the ones who require assistance ourselves. Such a reality check affirms our vulnerability and humbles us to recall that we rely on God for everything. After all, all good and perfect gifts come from Him (James 1:17). Our ability to serve others is a privilege, not a burden.

It is vital to all of us that we do not over-extend ourselves and risk burning out in our service. We need self-awareness and discipline to take a step back when we require a proper dose of rest (Exodus 34:21). God encourages us to rest at least one day a week for a good reason. When we rest, we demonstrate our faith in God’s provision. Instead of trying to take everything into our hands, we surrender that control to God in faith (1 Peter 5:7). It is a blessing from God to enjoy these breaks because it is easy to get caught up in the race of our daily routines. We do not want to make productivity an idol, and we should learn to identify when to take a step back for prolonged rest as God calls us to do so. Consider how even small packets of rest in stillness build our trust in God. Take confidence that He is working things behind the scenes of our lives in our favor as He sees fit (Psalm 46:10). I recognize this is a challenging feat for those of us who have a strong work ethic and tend towards uncompromising diligence. Still, we would be foolish to neglect to embrace God’s gift (Galatians 6:9).

Ultimately it is a beautiful desire to do God’s work consistently. After all, our capacity to do so is directly enabled and directed by His providence. As long as we maintain a good balance between serving others and attending to our needs when appropriate, we will maximize our likelihood of succeeding. That way, we can demonstrate hospitality the way God intends. If you burn out from any excess, it is unhelpful to anyone, no matter how good your intentions may be.

We must recognize our limitations and remember that God supplies all our needs. I would suggest this is a skill for us to master because we live in a world that often promotes hustling and productivity to the extreme. Take care of yourself and open the door for your loved ones to offer a helping hand on occasion. There is no shame in it, and none of us is as invincible as we may think. These seasons take humility, but the better we get at correctly identifying these dynamics, the less frequently we will struggle to rest, recover, and return to effectively being God’s hands and feet (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). We all have different thresholds for this, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer, but I encourage you to learn your limits and draw boundaries to protect your well-being accordingly.

I pray that today’s article will compel you to demonstrate hospitality and seek God’s guidance on how He may desire you to do so. May God receive all the glory for all that we do. We are the salt of the earth and serve as a light in a dark world (Matthew 5:13-16). Let us not forget the urgency in pursuing God’s design for us in supporting one another in the process. None of us can ever go wrong by whole-heartedly, prayerfully, and humbly seeking God’s will. Keep fighting the good fight of faith and surrender to Him daily (1 Timothy 6:12). There is no better place to be than at the center of God’s will for you.

Elements of discomfort often form a basis for substantial progress in life. Have you ever examined the biographies of people who led successful lives? It particularly rings true for those who generated eternal value through serving God. They often share remarkably uncomfortable anecdotes of pasts riddled with struggles. Yet, instead of allowing such obstacles to derail their lives, they eventually persevered amid adversity with God’s provision (Philippians 4:13). Their difficulties appeared insurmountable. Still, God saw it fit to help them conquer the giants in their lives (1 Samuel 17:50-51). Some Biblical examples include the likes of King David, Job, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul, to name a few of my favorites.

All the glory related to resolving such situations points towards the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The only One who can make what is impossible in the sight of man possible despite all the odds firmly against it (Matthew 19:26). Furthermore, He can take what is meant for evil by our adversary and turn it around for good in ways we do not see coming. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, but God had a greater plan despite his hardship (Genesis 50:20). A whale swallowed Jonah. However, God decided his story was far from over (Jonah 2:10). The Israelites wandered the wilderness for roughly forty years (Joshua 5:6), but God provided for them in their distress and never abandoned them (Exodus 16:12). God’s people, including you and I, are often strategically placed in situations designed to lead us back to Him. Whether we understand it or not, we must concede to God’s will. Trust that His plans are infinitely superior to ours (Romans 8:28). If we faithfully surrender to His will above ours, it is only a matter of time before we reap the fruit of obedience (John 15:7-9).

The rigors of our unpredictable lives also form the contrast by which we can measure our numerous blessings. For instance, maybe you lost your job, struggled to find a new path forward for several months, and got dangerously close to burning through your entire emergency fund. Then, suddenly, God opens the door to that new employer, and you recover financially through that fresh opportunity. If this happened in my life, my gratitude for employment would be significantly greater than if everything had gone smoothly from the beginning (James 1:2-4). The newfound appreciation for a new workplace, and God’s role in finding me that unique position, would make me look at the same circumstances in an altogether different light (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Excess comfort can also breed laziness and complacency. If everything comes easy to us without a battle, we will fail to appreciate the magnitude of our blessing. No wonder those who become suddenly wealthy from such avenues as lottery winnings or inheritances often squander them (Luke 15:13-14). When someone lacks experience dealing with that wealth level and does not respect the degree of effort required to build it, the story, unfortunately, writes itself. Such situations require a great deal of prayer and wisdom if one is to be a good steward of such monetary responsibilities in the sight of God (Ecclesiastes 7:12).

Finally, for better or worse, discomfort can push us forward to our goals at an accelerated pace. It may also serve as a reminder of the urgency to do God’s work compared to circumstances that may not frequently highlight the scarcity of time. When we operate as if we have all the time in the world, we will not evangelize, disciple, or generally serve God with the same zeal (Romans 13:11). Alternatively, we would if we consistently recognized how fleeting life is (James 4:14).

God often reminds us of individual limitations through the reality of uncomfortable situations tied to extraordinary challenges. Thus we must turn to Him for help, and that continuous reliance will quickly eliminate any fable of self-perceived invincibility we may feel inclined to entertain (Psalm 39:4-6). Instead, humbly seeking God and submitting to His guidance is crucial. It will provide the ideal outcome for us with eternity in mind (James 4:6). Ultimately, many comforts and luxuries can be indulged in moderation when we know our priorities are in order (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9).