Daily Hope with Rick Warren

Humble yourself and admit that you can’t do it on your own. And you don’t have to! God made the church to walk with you in good times and help you in stressful times. And he will lead you to the people you need if you’ll just let your guard down and trust him to provide.

One day you’re going to stand before God. How will you answer him when he asks what you did with what you were given?

When you live for an audience of one, you won’t be controlled by the fear of rejection. Instead, you’ll be motivated by love and free to be the person God made you to be.

You must accept the truth about you—your strengths along with your limitations and weaknesses. God made you with all of those things, and he has given you everything you need to do his will.

Understanding how much God loves you is the basis of your resilience. If you are not convinced that God loves you at all times—unconditionally and completely—then you’re going to be easy prey for the disapproval of other people. You’re going to be a people pleaser.

The antidote to the two biggest causes of stress in your life is gentleness and humility. You learn them by reminding yourself every day that you’re not God and you’re not anybody's savior.

You keep in step with God’s Spirit by being yoked to Jesus—partnering with him and letting him set the pace. Jesus was never in a hurry, and you won’t be either when you’re connected to him.

Your soul will never find rest in anything the world has to offer.

God can use everything, good or bad, to accomplish his purposes. His good plan to grow your character and make you more like Jesus will not be changed by other people. What others intend for bad, he will use for good.

How does God teach you patience? By placing you in long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles or at a delayed doctor appointment. Anytime you have to wait, God is making you more like Jesus.

Even when nothing makes sense, you can trust that God takes it all—the good and the bitter—and uses it for his good plan.

Change will not always be easy, and you might not always understand it. But remember this: Whatever change God requires from you, you can be sure it is for your good.

If you want to be happy, you need to get up every morning and say, “God, thank you for being with me today, for being in me today, and for being for me today.”

If you can shift to an eternal perspective, then you'll be able to keep going, no matter what happens.

Even in our darkest moments, we can follow Job's example and gratefully worship God, knowing that his will for us is to give thanks in all circumstances.