Words of Hope Daily Devotional

The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer.

The devotional is available in your email and in print.

In God We Trust

Read: Psalm 56

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. (vv. 3-4)

When I first started traveling for work, I had to fly. At first, I was afraid of flying, but the more I flew, the less I was afraid. Trust God—it’s easy to say, but it’s not so easy to live. Things are most difficult when we focus on our fears and lose sight of God. In Scripture, there’s an invitation to trust, to be present, and to be aware of God’s presence (Rom. 8:28).

Like us, David experienced fear, anxiety, sorrow, and pain. He wrote Psalm 56 while fearing for his life, and in it, he shares the key to overcoming danger and difficulty: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (v. 3). Simply put, fear gives way to faith when we trust God. Our perspective changes as we stop focusing on how big our problems are and start looking at how big our God is. David was alone, desperate, and afraid until he intentionally redirected his focus toward God. Like David, we’ll find our faith grows as we remember that God is for us, praise his goodness, and recall his promises (vv. 3-4, 9-11).

If we put our trust in God, in all times, good and bad, we’ll begin to see how there’s bravery and relief in trusting God, even when we’re afraid. In turn, by trusting God, we gain confidence in his ability to intervene and create hope and positive changes in our lives.

As you pray, ask how you can place complete trust in God.

About the Author

Ariana D. Den Bleyker is a Pittsburgh native currently residing in New York’s Hudson Valley. She is the author of two devotional poetry collections,To Be Held by the LightandWaking in the Light. She is an ordained deacon in the Reformed Church of America.

An Uncomfortable Dinner

Read: Luke 7:36-50 [Jesus] said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (v. 50) Every eye in the place was on her from the moment she entered the house. There were smirks, low chuckles, heads shaking—they

Read More »

Levi’s Feast

Read: Luke 5:27-39 Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others. (v. 29) He was at home here, with these people, and they enjoyed his company. There was

Read More »

The Wedding at Cana

Read: John 2:1-12 But you have kept the good wine until now. (v. 10) James Montgomery Boice wrote: “The life of the Christian is to be characterized by joy . . . that divine and desirable joy that characterized the

Read More »

A Glutton and Friend of Sinners

Read: Luke 7:24-35 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (v. 34) It was the worst thing they could say

Read More »

The Living One

Read: Revelation 2:8; Mark 16:1-8 The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. (Rev. 2:8) We have already heard God call himself the Alpha and Omega, the first and last (Rev. 1:8). Now Jesus

Read More »

The Tree of Life

Read: Revelation 2:7; 22:1-5 To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Rev. 2:7) The original Tree of Life was in the Garden of Eden, along

Read More »

YouVersion Series

Words of Hope devotionals are available on The Bible App!

Books

Autobiographies and reading plans for groups or individuals.