Comfort and Peace for Every Day: 180 Readings to Restore Your Spirit

By Carolyn Larsen

It seems each new day brings us more reason to worry, and many of us find ourselves caught in an endless cycle of bad news and anxiety about the future. But when you belong to God, your struggles and anxieties do not get the last word. God does. And you can experience the comfort and peace he promises each day as you cling to his Word and learn how it can impact your days.

Compact and beautifully designed, Carolyn Larsen's Comfort and Peace for Every Day offers you 180 inspiring devotional readings that will help you feel God's reassurance when life gets challenging and experience serenity and calm in your inner being no matter what's going on outside. These short, to-the-point readings illuminate God's promises and show you just how they apply to your everyday life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Mar 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781493439812

Carolyn Larsen

Carolyn Larsen is the bestselling author of more than 50 books for children and adults. She has been a speaker for women's events and classes around the world, bringing scriptural messages filled with humor and tenderness.

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© 2019, 2020 by Carolyn Larsen

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Combined edition published 2023

ISBN 978-0-8007-4253-9 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-4934-3981-2 (ebook)

Previously published in two separate volumes:

Words of Comfort for Women © 2019

Words of Peace for Women © 2020

Ebook edition created 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Words of Comfort for Women

1. Never Alone

2. When You’re Weary

3. One Step at a Time

4. Where Does Comfort Come From?

5. Where’s Your God Place?

6. Remember

7. Focused Thoughts

8. Living on a Hamster Wheel

9. God Cares

10. The Reason for Grace

11. Share the Burden

12. Run to the Comforter

13. A Safe Place for You

14. Nothing Surprises God

15. No Elevator Speech Needed

16. Pass It On!

17. Check Your DNA

18. Stop, Pray, Wait

19. Honest Trust

20. Jesus Wins!

21. Covered in Prayer

22. Your Strong Anchor

23. Faith Lessons in the Dark

24. Share Your Story

25. Pursued!

26. Strength Together!

27. A Safe Place

28. Work in Progress

29. The Wisdom You Need

30. Greatest Love

31. Never Shaken

32. A Lighted Path

33. Stop the Noise

34. Cut the String!

35. Growing Up

36. Deal with Today

37. Trusting in Prayer

38. Surviving the Fire

39. Parenting Struggles

40. God’s Goals for You

41. Dependable Trust

42. Your Song

43. This Is Love

44. Forever Love

45. The Reason to Go On

46. Promise for Eternity

47. Comfort of the Spirit

48. God’s Daily Goodness

49. In Training

50. Keep Doing What You Do

51. He Forgives and Restores

52. No Man Is an Island

53. Shout Your Gratitude

54. Humble Yourself

55. Worry, Worry, Worry

56. Protection in Troubled Times

57. God’s Unchanging Word

58. Money, Money, Money!

59. True Success

60. No Bragging

61. Private Conversation

62. Always Good

63. Training Manual

64. One Step Forward . . .

65. Confidence in God

66. Red Rover!

67. Really Living

68. Go Forward with Confidence

69. No Longer Alienated

70. God’s Comforter

71. Living a Godly Life

72. Keeping Focus

73. Strength in Numbers

74. No Pain, No Gain

75. Calling to God

76. Real Wisdom

77. Jesus Came in Love

78. Discipline Time

79. What’s Your Job?

80. Real Peace

81. Do Love

82. Completely Clean

83. The Blessings of Today

84. Wonderful You

85. Vine and Branches

86. Love Deeply

87. Pay It Forward

88. What Love Does

89. Build a Team

90. Love Your Enemies

Words of Peace for Women

1. The Source of Peace Is Jesus

2. Representing Jesus

3. Strong Roots

4. Take the First Step

5. Thief of Peace

6. Peace in Submission

7. Heart Focus

8. Peaceful Nights

9. Teamwork

10. No Revenge

11. Don’t Hold On to the Past

12. Forgiving Others

13. Peace versus Envy

14. The Thief Called Pre-worry

15. Your Heart’s Treasure

16. The Hiding Place

17. The Gift of the Spirit

18. Fretting over Evil

19. The Family of God

20. Slow Down

21. Your Heart’s Throne

22. Do Your Best

23. Rest for Your Soul

24. God’s Free Gift

25. Leaving the Ninety-Nine

26. God’s Ways

27. You’re the Guest of Honor

28. Keeping Good Company

29. Obedient Trust

30. Seeking Peace

31. Jesus Knows

32. Never Give Up

33. Your Future Is Planned

34. Jesus’s Touch

35. Daily Choices

36. God’s Whisper

37. Forgive Yourself

38. Stay Close to God

39. Sharing Life

40. The Struggle for Peace

41. Believe God’s Love

42. Mind Control

43. Living in Community

44. Courageous Faith

45. Glorifying God

46. Loving Others

47. Peaceful Words

48. Lessons from Discipline

49. Be Thankful

50. The Battle for Your Heart

51. Cherish Obedience

52. Staying Strong

53. No More Fear

54. Self-Talk

55. Heart of Kindness

56. Security

57. Danger of Pride

58. The Privilege of Prayer

59. Singing Praise

60. Memorizing God’s Word

61. Life Experiences

62. Stop Looking Back

63. Your Secret Weapon

64. God and . . .

65. Real Peace

66. What Is Peace?

67. The Good Shepherd

68. True Relationship

69. Fighting Temptation

70. You’re Not Perfect

71. Scary Requests

72. Uniquely Gifted

73. Connected to the Vine

74. God Is Good

75. Friend or Acquaintance?

76. The Things of the World

77. Active Faith

78. Doing Your Part

79. Think Positive Thoughts

80. Stopping the Free Fall

81. Time-Out

82. No Yo-Yo Faith

83. Spirit Guided

84. New Creation

85. Believe Jesus

86. The Plan

87. Think Before You Speak

88. Helping One Another

89. Hope in the Lord

90. Time to Move

About the Author

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Back Cover

1

Never Alone

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So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

ISAIAH 41:10

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Fear, defeat, and hopelessness can make you feel alone. It may seem like no one understands how constant and oppressing your emotions are. Ugh. If only someone really got it and would just be with you. They might not be able to solve your problem, but you wouldn’t feel so alone if someone was with you. A friend’s presence would be such a comfort.

Here’s some great news—you’re not alone. Ever. God promised to be with you all the time. Not only that, he also promised to give you the strength to make it through all you’re dealing with. He doesn’t just show up when you have a problem; he’s with you all the time. That means nothing takes him by surprise. So, when life gets messy and you feel like you can’t hold on, keep putting one foot in front of the other. One day you’ll realize that things are better. You’ll realize that you made it because God was quietly walking beside you, and each time you needed a boost of strength, energy, or hope, he gave it. Each time you needed a spiritual hug or pat on the back, he gave it. His presence brings comfort, strength, hope, and perseverance just when you need it.

2

When You’re Weary

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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

MATTHEW 11:28

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You know what Scripture says . . . the ways that God instructs you to live in obedience to him and in community with others. Sure, you know. You do try to obey what Scripture teaches. But face it . . . living the Christian life is not a one and done thing. It’s a journey. That means there are days of excellent success and days when you stumble. The longer you follow God, the more discouraged you feel when you fail to be obedient. After all, you don’t want to disappoint God, and of course, you’re trying your best. Your heart’s desire is to truly live for him so that you become more and more like Christ.

What’s God’s response to your failures? Does he give up on you? Not at all! God understands the temptations and struggles you face. He knows that Satan constantly tempts you to turn away from God. He knows you need an oasis in the desert of temptation, and he offers himself as a place of comfort and rest. He invites you to come to him, so tell him what you’re struggling against. Give it to him, and trust him to get you through it.

3

One Step at a Time

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Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

COLOSSIANS 3:2

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Worry, pray, worry, stress, worry, obsess, pray, stress . . . you know the cycle. Your mind locks onto something, and you can’t think about anything else. So you worry, stress, and pray, then go right back to worrying and stressing. Why doesn’t God do something? That’s the million-dollar question. Is he paying attention? Yes. Doesn’t he care about what’s going on? Yes. Why doesn’t he fix things? He will.

Recently a mother was angry on her child’s behalf. Her son had been the victim of some very bad treatment and he was suffering emotionally. The mother obsessed about why God allowed this to happen. Why didn’t he turn things around for her precious child? She was looking for answers and comfort from God.

Late one dark night, God spoke into that mom’s heart: Take comfort. I know that what’s happened is hard, but it’s just step one. There’s more ahead. From then on, when worry threatened to overwhelm her, she focused her thoughts on God’s promises. She remembered his love. She believed that he wasn’t finished with the plans for her child’s future. God’s step-by-step plan brought her great comfort.

Never give in to despair; instead remember God’s promises. Wait patiently for his step-by-step plan to develop.

4

Where Does Comfort Come From?

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May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

2 THESSALONIANS 2:16–17

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Sometimes life is just plain hard. A job loss, an investment failure, health issues, broken relationships, a prodigal child . . . and on and on. Some things are so painful that you may feel you simply can’t make it and that this will be the thing that breaks you.

Your help, strength, and comfort will come from God. You know that. But the thing about God is that he won’t force his way into your spirit or change your attitude. He will wait for you to ask for his help and comfort. Now, he may not take the problem away, but he will be right beside you as you go through it. He will guide you, strengthen you, teach you, and comfort you. It’s important to pay attention to the ways God comforts you. His comfort may come through a calming of your spirit. It may come through a timely encouraging phone call from a friend or through a loved one simply sitting with you. Remember, especially in dark times, that God loves you. He wants to help you with the pain, loneliness, and stress of today and tomorrow. Call on him. He’s waiting, and he will help.

5

Where’s Your God Place?

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I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

PSALM 121:1–2

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The place where I feel closer to God than anywhere else is on the beach of any ocean he created. Sitting on the shore, staring out at the ocean with its lapping waves, sparkling water, leaping dolphins, and massive whales seems to put any problems I’m struggling with into perspective. I see the bigness of God in the bigness of the ocean.

I used to think I needed a special word from God in order to feel comforted. I wanted him to speak into my heart or make important words jump from my Bible’s page to answer the problem causing my struggle.

One time I sat on a beach, thinking about a situation that was causing big-time angst and wishing God would just show me how he was solving the problem or at least how to get through it. Suddenly it dawned on me that the ocean’s gentle waves were bringing me peace. The beauty of God’s creation was giving me comfort. He had been speaking and comforting through creation; I just hadn’t noticed it was him at first.

Where do you feel closest to God? Is there a place that gives you comfort just by its beauty or peacefulness? God’s comfort can come in many ways. Don’t dismiss the beauty around you—it may be his gift to you.

6

Remember

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You make known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

PSALM 16:11

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Spiritual memory loss happens when you get so stressed out that you forget the times when God has been there for you in the past. You forget that he helped you through a crisis, gave you strength, comforted you . . . did everything he promises to do. The urgency of what you’re currently facing washes away anything God did in the past. When you sink into the cycle of stressing, then forgetting, panic