Life can get overwhelming; it’s full of challenges and obstacles we sometimes don’t know how to face. Well, have you ever thought about how Jesus would respond to the challenges that you are going through today? Though He is not physically in this world anymore, He is still constantly here with us, reminding us of His life-changing lessons and teachings that can help us foster more meaningful relationships, live with integrity, and appreciate the small things in life.
Authenticity Is More Important Than Perfection

Though we are made in the image and likeness of God, no one here on Earth is perfect or unflawed. We all have our fair share of weaknesses and shortcomings, but that doesn’t mean we are belittled by God. In fact, Jesus reminds us that instead of chasing perfection, we must strive to be as authentic to who we are as possible. Relevant Magazine explains, “Authenticity in the Church is the quality of our exposure of brokenness and adornment in God’s grace; an authentic person is one who is both privately and publicly putting off the old self and, by God’s grace, putting on the renewed self.”
What Others Think Is Not as Important as What God Thinks

Often, we find ourselves trying to fit in or act a certain way to gain the approval of others. As humans, we fear rejection and pain and thus continuously stress about what others think of us. However, we must remember that the only important thing in this life and the only thing we must strive for is God’s love, acceptance, and grace. Sunshyne Gray, a Christian counseling site, explains, “Bask in God’s approval of you: He thinks pretty highly of you; God is unchanging—nothing you do can change your approval rating before Him.”
There Is No Success Without Failure

Many are under the impression that success means never failing or making a mistake. However, Jesus wants us to know that failure is imperative to reaching success. Through Him and God’s grace, we are given a second chance to do right by His teachings. In fact, George Washington Truett, an American clergyman who was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas from 1897 to 1944, said, “There is no failure in God’s will, and no success outside of God’s will.”
Humility Is a Hidden Strength

Proverbs 11:12 reads, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” Unfortunately, humility is often viewed as a weakness, although it is the basis for strength and growth. Humility is the opposite of pride, one of the seven deadly sins, and it allows us to acknowledge that we are not perfect individuals like Him. We make mistakes, have shortcomings, need help, and more, but humility and recognizing these things will only help one improve one’s character.
With Faith Comes Hope

Throughout Jesus’s time here on Earth, He wanted to impart that blessings lie within unwavering faith amid adversity. In Matthew 17:20, He referred to someone’s fickle faith as a mustard seed as a metaphor for something miniscule—meaning, the person’s faith was small and weak. However, what Jesus calls for us to have is a faith that “can move mountains.” By relying on faith and belief in Him, we can obtain the strength, wisdom, and hope we need during the most challenging moments of our lives.
Forgiveness Sets You Free

When someone does a wrong toward you, the easiest and quickest route is to hold onto your anger and pain. However, remember that holding onto bitterness and wrath is like ingesting poison yourself while hoping the other gets sick. Holding onto negativities is a poison that will only kill you slowly. So, rather than holding onto hate, forgive and let the love and protection of God seep through the storm clouds in your heart.
Giving Leads to Happiness

Many people make the mistake of believing they’ll be happy if they get everything they want on Earth. However, as Jesus taught us, true happiness could only be attained by giving and helping others in need. The National Christian Foundation says, “When we give generously and sacrificially, it’s not because God needs anything, but because we want to show our love for him. Giving is an expression of obedience, yes, but also of gratitude, trust, and increasing joy.”
Human Connection Is Fueled by Compassion

A compassionate heart is one of the most beautiful and important things a person can have. In fact, we learn through Jesus that human connection is fueled by compassion. The Christian Church is a community of people—brothers and sisters in Christ—who are supposed to help and raise each other. Through compassion, we’re not only able to recognize others’ suffering, but we also take action to help them.
Your Prayers Matter

Prayer is a common practice in various cultures and religions, but it goes way beyond mere wishful thinking. It’s easy to get lost or feel overwhelmed in our fast-paced society, but prayer offers us a sanctuary—a respite or a peaceful haven to think or talk with God. Prayer for others does wonders, too, as it’s one of the best ways to carry one another’s burdens in life. YMI, an online platform that aims to help young Christians worldwide, explains, “When we feel helpless and inadequate to help others overcome their difficulties, do not forget that as Christians, we have the power of prayer; we may not fully understand what a person is going through, but as we pray for them continually, we learn to put ourselves in their shoes and empathize with them.”
Love Will Always Outshine Judgment

God, Jesus, Jesus’s teachings, and everything in between mean nothing without love. Love is the very core and foundation of Christianity, and Jesus calls His followers to let love take precedence over judgment. Judging other people creates negativity, divides people from one another, and keeps true happiness far away from us. On the other hand, love can lead to greater relationships through empathy and understanding.
Integrity Will Lead You to a Full Life

No matter how successful we are, we can never say we’ve lived a truly full life without integrity. After all, integrity is more than just sheer honesty; it is the foundation that allows us to lead a morally right life aligned with Jesus’s teachings. The importance of this value can be seen in various Bible verses, such as Proverbs 28:6, which reads, “Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.” Another example is Philippians 4:8, which reads, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Pursue Wisdom Instead of Wealth

Unfortunately, humans have become blinded by material things. We are often made to believe that material possessions lead to true happiness and fulfillment. However, this goes against Jesus’s teachings, which call for His people to seek wisdom instead. Proverbs 16:16 reads, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”
Perseverance Is Power

Jesus and His life are concrete examples of how powerful perseverance is. When Jesus descended to Earth, He knew of His destiny—the tumultuous road He was about to face. Even so, He powered through and never doubted His Father’s promises. Resilience takes more than grinding teeth and fighting through tough times; you must also have the faith to help you persevere through it all.
There Is Beauty in Simplicity

In today’s world, grandeur, glamor, fame, and the like are all things many people strive to have. However, keep in mind that these luxuries aren’t things that would genuinely make us happy. In fact, Jesus wants His followers to see the beauty in simplicity, and simplicity is a value we must all develop. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 reads, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world,” and Psalm 116:6 reads, “The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, He saved me.”
Service and Volunteerism Can Enrich Your Life

As a Christian, you automatically become part of a community held together by Jesus’s love. However, the workings of the world today make it so easy for people to fall into sin and get blinded by selfishness. When this happens, one must remember that serving others and being compassionate toward others are the things that would make one’s heart feel complete and fulfilled. Serving others helps us connect with something greater than ourselves, find our purpose more deeply, and feel the immense joy of giving.
Relish the Present and Live In the Now

Matthew 6:34 reads, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself; each day has enough trouble of its own.” This short but simple verse reminds us of Jesus’s teachings about enjoying life and the present. Life can move incredibly fast, and if you get too caught up in the past or the future, you’ll slowly but surely realize that you’ve let too much of life pass you by. Mother Teresa said, “Be happy in the moment; that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.”
Patience Is a Timeless Virtue

We’ve all heard of the saying, “Patience is a virtue.” Well, this saying is not unfounded; Jesus made His disciples realize how important patience is in everyday life. Patience gives us the discipline, resilience, and determination we need to achieve what we want in life. Instant gratification is not something we should strive for; instead, we should try to develop our patience and understanding.
Gratitude Will Bring You to the Doors of Happiness

As imperfect beings, we often focus on what we lack rather than what we have. However, as followers of Christ, we must remember that true happiness is recognizing that God has given you all you need at this moment in time. Many Bible verses zoom in on these lessons, but a few of those that stand out include Matthew 13:16, which reads, “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear,” and 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which reads, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Persistence Is Essential When It Comes to Matters of Faith

Faith is not linear; there will be ups and downs and moments of doubt. However, having doubts or getting lost does not mean you are a failure in God’s eyes. What’s important is that you’re persistent and steadfast in your love and belief in God and His ways, and you don’t give up no matter how hard things get. An article shares, “Faith and persistence go hand in hand; faith means you don’t give up even when you’re tired; faith means you just won’t quit—when you’re living in faith, you’re persisting.”
Riding the Waves of Change Will Help You Become a Better Person

If there’s one thing that is consistent across all religions, it’s that change will always be a part of life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” However, no matter how big of a change there is, do not be afraid. Remember that God’s love for you is the one thing that will never falter; embrace change and see how far you can fly with God’s love, guidance, and grace!