Life is a gift from God. It is beautiful yet unpredictable. Everyone experiences good times and goes through difficult situations in life. But in the last two years, there have been especially debilitating and serious challenges caused by COVID, which has caused a wide range of realities from deep disappointments to real-life tragedy to widespread fear.
As you face continuing and persistent problems, or as you help people in your family and churches to carry on and even to prevail in these times, there is a Bible that can be of great help. It’s the bestselling study Bible of all time: the Life Application Study Bible, available in a new, updated Third Edition.
To show how it helps today’s Bible readers, we looked at the 10 problems and fears that researchers have found trouble us the most. For each, we’ve provided Bible verses that address the issue along with notes from these passages from the new Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition. Here’s a free digital copy of Facing Our 10 Biggest Fears.
Here’s an example that explores a common problem: Anxiety and Depression.
Anxiety and depression are on the rise among Americans, and whether they personally suffer from these conditions or not, most people today see them as major problems among their peers.
Scriptures and Notes
Romans 8:38-39, NLT: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Life Application note: 8:38-39 Powers are unseen forces of evil in the universe, forces such as Satan and his demons (see Ephesians 6:12). As believers who have Jesus’ power available to us, we will experience great victory both now and for eternity (Romans 8:37). Hold these two verses deeply in your heart and mind. Claim them for yourself so you will never doubt God’s love and care for you, especially when you are facing great adversity.
Psalm 46:1-3, NLT: “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”
Life Application note: 46:1-3 The fear of mountains or cities suddenly crumbling into the sea as the result of an earthquake or a nuclear blast haunts many people today. But the psalm writer says that even if the world were to end, we need not fear. In the face of utter destruction, the writer expressed a quiet confidence in God’s ability to save us. It seems impossible to consider the end of the world without becoming consumed by fear, but the Bible is clear—God is our refuge even in the face of total destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat; he is our eternal place of safety and can provide strength in any circumstance.
Philippians 4:8, NLT: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Life Application note: 4:8 What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words, desires, and actions. Paul tells us to train our minds to focus on thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through movies, the Internet, books, conversations, television, video games, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material. Above all, read God’s Word and pray. Ask God to help you fill your mind with good and pure thoughts. This takes practice, but it can be done.
