I smiled hopefully at the doctor as he felt my right knee for structural damage. "You'll be fine,” he said, to my relief. "Nothing that seems beyond repair. Just skip soccer practice next week.”

A few days later, I began to warm up for my next match. But as soon as the ball arrived at right foot, I heard a loud pop!—and fell to the ground in overwhelming pain.

This time, the doctor's optimism disappeared. "You’re going need at least a year of rehab,” he began. “I hate to say it, but your soccer career might be over.”

My torn-up right knee reminds me of the difficult situations I encounter. Sometimes, I face challenges that seem within my control. I put a bandage on the situation and move on; I wait for my anxiety to pass until I’ve forgotten about the struggle. But over time, the challenge grows. I hear a loud pop! and wonder if I can possibly repair the damage.  

Have you ever felt this way? Maybe, after fighting with your son for the fifth day in a row, he walks into his bedroom and slams the door. The next morning, you pretend the fight never happened, though he refuses to speak to you. Will I ever restore our relationship? You wonder.

Or maybe, after losing your job and failing to find an adequate replacement, you find yourself in a financial crisis. You mask the situation by overcharging your credit card, but your response only makes the situation worse. Will I ever recover? You wonder.

When a solution to your problem feels beyond reach, grab your Bible and dive into God’s word. Meditate on promises of hope, peace and love. And rely on his strength as you seek to overcome your trials.  

These four Bible verses will get you started:

1. In challenging circumstances, seek God’s strength.
   The LORD gives strength to those who are weary. Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. But those who trust the LORD will find new strength.– Isaiah 40:29-31
2. In challenging circumstances, seek God’s peace.
   I pray that the Lord, who gives peace, will always bless you with peace. May the Lord be with all of you.– 2 Thessalonians 3:16
3. In challenging circumstances, seek God’s wisdom.
   Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The LORD is the eternal God, Creator of the earth. He never gets weary or tired; his wisdom cannot be measured.– Isaiah 40:28
4. In challenging circumstances, seek God’s love.
   But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God’s wonderful kindness is what saves you. – Ephesians 2:4-5