Hope for Troublous Times: A 40-Day Journey of Courage, Stamina, and Resilience

By Josephine V. Corriette RN

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, Thank You for being my very present help in times of trouble. Thank You for loving me with an everlasting love. I am not alone, for You are with me wherever I go. Amen.

Even before you rise out of bed to face another day, you may be overwhelmed by thoughts of opportunities and hindrances. But no matter what awaits you, there is a wonderful reality that transcends any trouble or difficulty. The God of hope is with you. Because of your relationship with Him, you can have confidence that He will give you the wisdom, understanding, courage, and strength to navigate every difficulty, challenge, and decision.

In her new 40-day spiritual journey, Josephine V. Corriette shares 40 prayers, hope gems, inspiring original poems, and captivating stories intended to uplift, inspire, empower, and motivate you to live a life of courage, stamina, and resilience. Her prayer is that her readers across the world will be drawn closer to the Lord and find peace, joy, and hope, even in times of trouble.

Hope for Troublous Times is a 40-day inspirational devotional that provides hope, encouragement, prayers, wisdom, and tips for spiritual and personal growth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664232020

Josephine V. Corriette RN

Josephine V. Corriette, RN earned degrees in nursing and psychology from the University of the Virgin Islands and the University of Central Florida. She has over 40 years of experience as a loving wife, mother, and Registered Nurse within several specialties. In addition, she has successfully counseled couples whose marriages were hanging by strings. When not traveling, she enjoys sewing, interior decorating, crossword puzzles, reading, studying the Bible, and spending time with her husband, son, daughter, grandson, other family members, and friends. She is also the author of With Outstretched Arms- A 40-Day Inspirational Devotional for Health Care Workers and Caregivers and Hope for Troublous Times- A 40 Day Journey of Courage, Stamina, and Resilience which have a broad base of worldwide readers.

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Josephine V. Corriette, RN.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

Scripture marked (NKJV) taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All poetry is (NKJV) taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked (KJV) taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3201-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3203-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3202-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021908055

WestBow Press rev. date:    05/21/2021

Presented to:

_________________________________

From:

_________________________________

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Day 1 No More Condemnation

Poem: Grow in Grace

Day 2 Backlash of Pride

Poem: My Foolish Pride

Day 3 Hidden in Times of Trouble

Poem: Face Your Fears

Day 4 Pacifying Anger

Poem: Fret Will Cause Harm

Day 5 Sheltered in the Storm

Poem: Lord, You Left the Splendor of Heaven

Day 6 Bumpy Ride

Poem: Let the People Praise Him

Day 7 Fiery and Painful Molding

Poem: The Clay Shaped by the Potter

Day 8 Forgiveness: A Key to Hope

Poem: Forgiveness

Day 9 Deliverance from Hardship

Poem: Don’t Lose Hope; Don’t Give Up

Day 10 Fear, Anxiety, and Worry Defeated

Poem: Fear and Anxiety

Day 11 The Stronghold of Anger Broken

Poem: Chains of Anger Are Broken

Day 12 Light Shatters Darkness

Poem: A Flicker of Light

Day 13 Forgiven and Joyful

Poem: Consequences of Sin

Day 14 Harsh Words Incite Anger

Poem: Don’t Be Weary, My Brother and My Sister

Day 15 Struggling to Love and Forgive

Poem: I Will Praise Your Name, O Lord

Day 16 Love Pacifies Hatred and Strife

Poem: Love, Not Hate

Day 17 The Longing of the Soul

Poem: Outside Looking In

Day 18 Courage and Hope

Poem: Don’t Let the Devil Fool You

Day 19 Say Goodbye to Envy

Poem: Forgive Me, O Lord

Day 20 Be Brave and Fear Not

Poem: Be Brave, Do Not Be Afraid

Day 21 God Is Our Strength in Trouble

Poem: I Will Praise Your Name, O Lord

Day 22 Let Go of Anger and Resentment

Poem: Let Go of Anger and Resentment

Day 23 Firm Foundation

Poem: Jesus Is the Rock of Ages

Day 24 Give Place to Wrath

Poem: Your Word Is a Lamp

Day 25 God Is Our Defense

Poem: Run to the Rock of Ages

Day 26 The Wise and Foolish Builders

Poem: Wise and Foolish Builders

Day 27 Victory in Jesus

Poem: Rewards of Suffering

Day 28 Not Consumed Because of God’s Mercy

Poem: God Is Faithful

Day 29 Happiness Prevails

Poem: Fill My Cup with Happiness and Love

Day 30 The Battle Rages

Poem: God Is for Us

Day 31 Courage in the Storm

Poem: Be Strong and of Good Courage

Day 32 Do Not Grow Weary

Poem: Hand in Hand with Jesus

Day 33 God’s Grace, Greater Than Our Sins

Poem: Faithful Until Death

Day 34 Be Ready and Stay Ready

Poem: Get Ready and Stay Ready

Day 35 The Splendor and Joy of Heaven

Poem: The Gates of Heaven

Day 36 Be of Good Cheer

Poem: Don’t Complain Anymore

Day 37 The Strong and Mighty Arms of God

Poem: Shine through Me, Holy Spirit

Day 38 Victory over Defeat

Poem: The Victory Is Yours

Day 39 Flee Temptation

Poem: Resist the Devil

Day 40 God’s Unconditional Love for You

Poem: All Things Work Together for Your Good

PREFACE

Times of trouble may toss us about, but God is our beacon of hope through life’s stormy seas. Trust Him. He will never disappoint you. There is nothing too hard for God to do. If we stand still, He promises to fight our battles. That’s why I’m excited to share with you God’s unconditional love and mercy and to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

In this inspirational and uplifting devotional, Hope for Troublous Times, I’ve prayerfully included forty prayers, scriptural and motivational quotes, hope gems, original poems, prayers, and compelling stories to inspire and lift your spirit. Be blessed!

The number forty has great significance in the Bible. It is indicative of judgment and ministry. For example, Goliath defied the army of the Lord for forty days before David, the shepherd boy, killed him. King David, the man after God’s own heart, successfully reigned in Israel and Judah for forty years. King Solomon reigned for forty years as well. Jesus spent forty days on earth after His resurrection and taught His disciples about the kingdom of God.

You are unique and greatly loved by God. He’s holding you, my beloved readers, in the palm of His hand and will give you strength, courage, and endurance to navigate the ups and downs of life.

May God continue to bless all the readers of this devotional. May you grow spiritually and personally and find comfort, joy, peace, and restoration, especially during these troubled times, as you read these inspiring stories.

You are in my thoughts and prayers! God’s richest blessings to you!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior who loves me with an everlasting and steadfast love, thank You for leading and guiding me in writing this devotional.

To Edith, my mother, a woman of God, you always prayed and challenged me to reach my full potential. To my husband, Vansley, thank you for keeping me grounded and for your love and devotion that have allowed time to spend many hours writing. Special thanks to my children, Allison and Benjamin, for their encouragement and prayers.

I also appreciate the love and support of my siblings: Eyon, Millicent, Spencer, Doreen, and my late sister, Enola. Our upbringing and love for each other have shaped my life and made this devotional a reality. To Donovan, my grandson, thank you for always encouraging me to continue to write and share stories of God’s love and goodness.

33469.png

DAY 1

No More Condemnation

No one, sir, she said. Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin.

—John 8:11 (NIV)

Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carry with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit.

—Napoleon Hill

H ave you ever experienced condemnation from a peer, neighbor, family member, or total stranger? Several years ago, neighbors condemned Sylvania, a single mother of ten children, for her immoral lifestyle. This regal and beautiful woman caught the attention of young and older men alike.

Sylvania was poor and had to work long hours on the farm as a child instead of going to school. She had a third-grade education with no skills for gainful employment. Therefore, she depended on her children’s fathers to support her large family of eleven. She had children with different men, most of whom were married. Sylvania’s dependent lifestyle affected her mentally and emotionally, causing her to retreat into the home. She had very few friends and acquaintances. She also suffered from depression and very low self-esteem as a result of guilt and shame.

Sylvania’s experience with infidelity reminds me of the story of the woman caught in adultery and brought to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. John 8:3–4, 8–9, 11 (NKJV) declares:

And when they had set her in the midst, said to Him, Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act … And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. … And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.

Unlike Sylvania, who suffered from depression and very low self-esteem, this woman caught in the very act of adultery had a new lease on life. Jesus had completely forgiven her. She left her life of sin and faithfully served the Lord for the rest of her life. God blessed her with a happy and abundant life.

God is a God of love, mercy, and grace. He delights in forgiving His children