Evangelist Joshua Orekhie Ministries

EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL:

July 6, 2026

Topic: What to Do When Life Gets Hard

Opening Scriptures

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Psalm 46:1-3

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”

Memory Verse

James 1:2-4

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Praise and Worship

Sing songs that remind you of God’s faithfulness, unfailing love, and power to sustain His children through every storm. Worship Him as your Refuge, Deliverer, and Ever-Present Help in times of trouble.

EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL: July 6, 2026 -What to Do When Life Gets Hard

Life is not always easy. There will always be challenges, storms, disappointments, and seasons that test our faith. No one is exempt from difficulties.

Whether we are rich or poor, young or old, a new believer or a mature Christian, life will always present situations that stretch our patience and our trust in God.

Hard times are also opportunities to examine our priorities. Sometimes God allows us to slow down so we can evaluate what truly matters in our lives. During seasons of success, we can become so busy pursuing wealth, recognition, and achievements that we neglect our relationship with God, our family, and our spiritual growth.

There are also times when life becomes difficult because of decisions we have made. Not every hardship that comes from the devil. Some are the consequences of our poor choices, impatience, disobedience, or neglecting God’s instructions. The good news is that God’s mercy is greater than our failures.

When we sincerely repent and return to Him, He is able to restore what was lost and redirect our lives toward His purpose. If you are facing difficulties today, refuse to conclude that your story is over. Your present situation is not your final destination.

God specializes in bringing beauty out of ashes, joy out of sorrow, and victory out of defeat. He can open doors where none exist, provide when resources are exhausted, and make a way where there seems to be no way. God never promised us a life without problems. He never said there would be no tears, no trials, or no battles.

What He promised is something far greater – His presence. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Notice that He did not promise to remove every burden immediately, but He promised to carry us through it and give us rest in the midst of it.

Every challenge in your life will either become a stumbling block or a stepping stone. The difference is determined by your response. Some people allow hardship to destroy their faith, while others allow the same hardship to strengthen theirs.

The storm that sinks one person’s boat can become the wind that pushes another person toward God’s purpose. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a violent storm arose. The waves beat against the boat until it began to fill with water.

The disciples panicked, believing they were about to perish, but Jesus remained calm. He stood up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still.” Immediately, the storm ceased.

The storm did not stop Jesus from reaching His destination, and it should not stop you from reaching yours. Because the same Christ lives in you, you can overcome every challenge in your path.

The Apostle Paul confidently declared in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Your ultimate strength is not found in your abilities alone but in Christ, who empowers you to keep moving forward.

What to Do When Life Gets Hard

1. Run to God, not away from Him

The first thing you should do when life gets hard is to run to God. Many people do the opposite. They stop praying, stop reading their Bible, stop going to church, and isolate themselves because they believe God has abandoned them. But difficult times are not the moments to leave God; they are the moments to draw nearer to Him.

David wrote, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Notice that God is a present help, not a distant help. He is closest when you need Him the most.

2. Continue praying even when you do not feel like it

One of Satan’s greatest strategies is to make believers stop praying during difficult seasons. He knows that when prayer stops, the enemy can increase their attacks against us.

Jesus taught in Luke 18:1 that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Prayer does not always remove the storm immediately, but it gives you the strength to survive the storm. Hannah prayed through her pain until God changed her story. Blind Bartimaeus continued crying despite opposition until Jesus answered him.

3. Hold on to God’s promises

Challenges will always speak, but God’s Word speaks louder. Do not allow your circumstances to become your final authority. Let God’s promises determine your expectation.

When Satan tempted Jesus, He responded with the words, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4). If Jesus overcame temptation through the Word, then you must also hold firmly to Scripture during difficult times.

4. Do not isolate yourself

Hardship often tempts people to withdraw from everyone. While quiet moments with God are necessary, complete isolation can become dangerous. God created us to encourage one another.

The Bible says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Allow trusted, godly people to pray with you, encourage you, and remind you of God’s faithfulness when your own strength becomes weak.

5. Give thanks in every situation

Giving thanks does not mean you are happy about the pain. It means you believe God is still in control despite the pain. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks.” Thanksgiving changes your focus from what you have lost to the God who is still with you. A grateful heart always finds hope.

6. Refuse to quit

Many miracles happen just after people are tempted to give up. The enemy wants you to abandon your faith before your breakthrough arrives. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Your due season is connected to your willingness to keep going.

7. Learn from the challenge

Every difficult season carries a lesson. Ask God, “What are You teaching me in this hard times?” rather than only asking, “Why is this happening to me?”

Joseph learned leadership style in prison. Moses learned humility in the wilderness. David learned dependence on God while hiding in caves. God never wastes pain. He uses it to prepare us for greater assignments.

8. Protect your mind

Do not allow negative thoughts to control your life. Fear, anxiety, and hopelessness only grow when we give them space to dwell.

This is why Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8 that we should intentionally focus our minds on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Your thoughts directly shape your attitude, and your attitude ultimately dictates your actions.

9. Be patient with God’s timing

One of the hardest lessons in life is waiting. We often want God to answer immediately, but He works according to His perfect timing. Abraham waited for Isaac. Joseph waited for his promotion. David waited for the throne. Their waiting was not punishment, but it was preparation.

If God has made you a promise, do not lose heart because it has not happened yet. “Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:3).

10. Keep serving God faithfully

Do not allow hardship to change your commitment to God. Its important that you continue to worship God, give, help others, envangelizing and continue serving in His house. Job did not stop worshipping God. Daniel did not stop praying. Paul did not stop preaching. Their circumstances changed because their devotion never changed.

Remember this: The challenge you are facing today is temporary, but the God who is carrying you is eternal. If you continue to trust Him, obey Him, and walk with Him, what looks like your greatest battle today will become your greatest testimony tomorrow.

11. Do not compare your life with others

One of the quickest ways to become discouraged during difficult times is by comparing your life with other people. You may look at someone else’s success and conclude that God has forgotten you. Remember, you do not know the full story behind another person’s life.

Everyone has a different journey, a different assignment, and a different timetable. Peter once asked Jesus about John’s future, but Jesus replied, “What is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:22). In other words, “Keep your eyes on Me and the assignment I have given you.” Your breakthrough will come in God’s appointed time.

12. Speak words of faith

When life becomes difficult, be careful what you say. Your words have power. Many people unknowingly strengthen their problems by continually speaking defeat over themselves. Instead of saying, “I can’t make it,” begin to declare God’s promises of blessings over your life.

David declared, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD” (Psalm 118:17). Speak life over your situation. Let your mouth agree with God’s Word rather than your circumstances.

13.  Do not stop doing good

Hardship should never change your character. It is easy to stop helping others when you feel life has treated you unfairly, or to become bitter and unforgiving because of what you have experienced. But you must not allow your pain to rewrite who God has called you to be.

As the Bible reminds us, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Keep showing kindness. Keep forgiving. Keep being generous. God sees every good deed, even when the people around you fail to appreciate it.

14. Remember that God specializes in impossible situations

There is no situation beyond God’s power. The Red Sea looked like an dead end to the Israelites until God parted the waters. The walls of Jericho seemed completely impossible until they fell. Lazarus’ situation looked entirely hopeless until Jesus called him out of the tomb. Your present challenge may seem far beyond human help, but it is never beyond God’s ability.

As Jesus said, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Never allow your current circumstances to limit your expectation of what God can do.

15. Keep your hope alive

Hope is the anchor that keeps you standing during life’s storms. The enemy wants you to believe that nothing will ever change, but God’s Word says otherwise. As long as God is alive, your situation can change.

The Psalmist encouraged himself by saying, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?… hope thou in God” (Psalm 42:11). There is always hope for the person who continues to trust in the Lord.

16. Remember that every season has an end

No storm lasts forever. No night continues indefinitely; morning always breaks. No trial is eternal. God works in seasons, and every difficult period in your life has an appointed end.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” If God has permitted this season, He already knows exactly when it will close. Hold on until your season of rejoicing arrives.

17. Fix your eyes on the reward

The enemy wants you to focus only on your pain, but God wants you to focus on His promise. Every believer in Scripture who endured their trials eventually witnessed God’s faithfulness. Joseph walked into the palace after the prison. Hannah held Samuel after years of tears. Blind Bartimaeus received his sight after a lifetime of darkness.

Do not stop just because the journey has become difficult. Keep looking beyond today’s struggle. There is a breakthrough waiting on the other side of this challenge, a testimony beyond these tears, and a victory beyond this battle.

Whatever you are facing today, remember this: God has never abandoned His children in the middle of a storm. He may not remove the challenge immediately, but He will give you the grace to overcome it. Therefore, be strong. Remain faithful. Keep praying. Keep believing, and never give up. Your present trial is preparing you for a greater testimony and by the grace of God, you shall come out stronger, wiser, and victorious.

18. Learn to cast your burdens upon the Lord

Many people carry heavy burdens that God never intended for them to bear alone. They lose sleep worrying about tomorrow, replay yesterday’s mistakes, and become completely overwhelmed by today’s problems. But God never asked you to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. He explicitly invites you to cast your worries over to Him.

As 1 Peter 5:7 commands, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” God cares deeply about every single detail of your life; absolutely nothing is too big or too small for His attention. Instead of letting your worries weigh you down, intentionally release them to the Lord in prayer.

19. Do not allow fear to control your decisions

When life becomes difficult, fear often becomes louder than our faith. Fear tells you that you will never recover. Fear tells you that the future is hopeless. Fear magnifies the problem and minimizes God’s power.

God repeatedly told His people, “Fear not.” He said to Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage… for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9). Courage is not the absence of fear; it is choosing to trust God in the presence of fear.

20. Remember that God can use your pain for His glory

The greatest testimonies often come from the greatest trials. The very situation that makes you cry today may become the testimony that encourages someone tomorrow.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Notice that the Bible does not say all things are good. It says God works all things together for good. He has the power to turn your pain into purpose, your mess into a message, and your trial into a testimony.

21. Stay connected to God’s people

When you are going through difficult times, do not disconnect from fellowship. The enemy likes to isolate believers because isolated believers are easier to discourage.

Hebrews 10:25 encourages us not to forsake gathering together. There is strength in fellowship. Sometimes God will answer your prayer through the encouragement, counsel, or support of another believer. Do not fight your battles alone when God has placed you in a spiritual family.

22. Keep praising God

Praise is a weapon many believers forget to use during difficult seasons. It is easy to praise God when everything is going well, but true worship is revealed when life becomes difficult.

Paul and Silas were beaten, imprisoned, and chained, yet at midnight they prayed and sang praises to God (Acts 16:25-26). Their praise did not change because of their circumstances. Instead, their circumstances changed because they continued to praise God. Your praise invites God’s presence into your situation.

23. Trust God’s process

Every great man and woman in the Bible went through a process before reaching their destination. Do not reject the process because it is uncomfortable. God is using it to prepare you for responsibilities you cannot yet see. If He gave you the blessing before preparing your character, the blessing might destroy you instead of helping you.

24. Never stop believing that your best days are ahead

The enemy wants you to believe that your greatest days are behind you, but God specializes in giving His children new beginnings. No matter how many disappointments you have experienced, God is still able to restore, rebuild, and renew your life.

The prophet Joel declared, “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25). God is a Restorer. He can restore lost opportunities, wasted years, broken relationships, damaged health, and forgotten dreams.

Therefore, hold on to your faith. Refuse to surrender to despair. Keep trusting God’s promises even when you cannot trace His hand. Your tears are not wasted. Your prayers are not ignored. Your waiting is not in vain.

In Conclusion 

When life gets hard, never conclude that God has forgotten you. The silence of God does not mean the absence of God. There are moments when He seems quiet, but He is still working behind the scenes. Just because you cannot see His hand does not mean He is not directing your life.

Remember that every season has a purpose. There are seasons for planting and seasons for harvesting. There are seasons of waiting and seasons of celebration. If God allows you to pass through a difficult season, it is because He knows it will produce something valuable in your life.

James wrote, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3). God is more interested in building your character than simply making your life comfortable.

Do not define your life by one difficult chapter. One disappointment is not the end of your destiny. One failure is not the end of your future. One delay is not the end of God’s promise. Many of God’s greatest servants experienced painful chapters, but those chapters did not become the conclusion of their stories.

When you become weary, look unto Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He understands your pain because He also suffered for our sake. He understands rejection because He was rejected.

He understands betrayal because He was betrayed. He understands sorrow because He was called “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). There is nothing you are experiencing that Jesus cannot understand.

Keep trusting God even when the answer is delayed. Keep praying even when you feel weak. Keep believing even when the situation looks impossible. Keep obeying even when others choose to compromise. Your faithfulness today is preparing you for tomorrow’s testimony.

Therefore, be encouraged. Lift up your head. Strengthen your hands. Keep your hope alive. Your present challenge is not your permanent address. The God who brought you through yesterday will sustain you today and lead you into a better tomorrow. Hold on to Him, for He is faithful, and in His perfect time, your mourning shall be turned into dancing, your tears into joy, and your trials into lasting testimonies.

Prayer Assignment (Morning)

1. Father, I thank You because You have been my refuge and strength in every season of my life, in Jesus’ name.

2. O Lord, strengthen me to overcome every challenge confronting my life, in Jesus’ name.

3. Father, give me the grace to trust You even when I do not understand what I am going through, in Jesus’ name.

4. Every spirit of discouragement assigned against my destiny, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

5. O Lord, let every storm in my life hear Your voice and become still, in Jesus’ name.

6. Father, fill my heart with faith and remove every spirit of fear, in Jesus’ name.

7. Every burden weighing down my heart, I cast you upon the Lord today, in Jesus’ name.

8. O Lord, give me the strength to keep moving forward despite every challenge, in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, let every trial I am facing turn into a testimony, in Jesus’ name.

10. Every mountain standing before my breakthrough, be removed by fire, in Jesus’ name.

11. O Lord, help me never to give up in the face of adversity, in Jesus’ name.

12. Father, let Your peace rule over my heart in every difficult situation, in Jesus’ name.

13. Every power using affliction to weaken my faith, be destroyed by fire, in Jesus’ name.

14. O Lord, teach my hands to fight and my knees to remain strong in prayer, in Jesus’ name.

15. Father, let every delay in my life become a testimony of Your faithfulness, in Jesus’ name.

16. Every voice of hopelessness speaking into my life, be silenced by the blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name.

17. O Lord, grant me divine wisdom to overcome every challenge before me, in Jesus’ name.

18. Father, let every impossible situation become possible by Your mighty power, in Jesus’ name.

19. Every evil agenda behind my present challenges, be exposed and destroyed, in Jesus’ name.

20. O Lord, let Your grace be sufficient for me in every season of my life, in Jesus’ name.

21. Father, restore every good thing I have lost through life’s challenges, in Jesus’ name.

22. Every spirit of frustration and disappointment, lose your hold over my life, in Jesus’ name.

23. O Lord, renew my strength like the eagle and help me to run without growing weary, in Jesus’ name.

24. Father, let my faith become stronger through every trial I face, in Jesus’ name.

25. Every door that hardship has closed against me, open by the mercy of God, in Jesus’ name.

26. O Lord, let every battle I face produce a greater blessing and a greater testimony, in Jesus’ name.

27. Father, surround me with people who will encourage my faith and strengthen my walk with You, in Jesus’ name.

28. Every challenge that is delaying my destiny, bow before the power of God, in Jesus’ name.

29. O Lord, let my life glorify You in every circumstance, whether in abundance or in lack, in Jesus’ name.

30. O Lord, arise and fight every battle that is beyond my strength, in Jesus’ name.

31. Father, let every dry season in my life come to an end today, in Jesus’ name.

32. O Lord, strengthen my heart so that I will not faint in the day of adversity, in Jesus’ name.

33. Every chain of repeated failure, break by the power in the blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name.

34. Father, turn every disappointment in my life into divine appointments, in Jesus’ name.

35. O Lord, let every evil report concerning my life be reversed for my good, in Jesus’ name.

36. O Lord, restore every wasted opportunity and every lost blessing in my life, in Jesus’ name.

37. Every challenge designed to make me abandon my calling, fail by fire, in Jesus’ name.

38. Father, give me the grace to rejoice even before I see the manifestation of my miracle, in Jesus’ name.

39. O Lord, let Your divine presence never depart from me in the days of adversity, in Jesus’ name.

40. Every chain of stagnation, delay, and limitation, break by the blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name.

41. Father, let every challenge working against my destiny begin to work in my favour, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Assignment (Night)

1. Every power saying I will not recover from this challenge, be put to shame, in Jesus’ name.

2. Father, give me the grace to remain joyful even in difficult times, in Jesus’ name.

3. O Lord, let Your light shine upon every dark area of my life, in Jesus’ name.

4. Every arrow of sorrow and depression fired into my life, come out by fire, in Jesus’ name.

5. Father, remember me for good and visit me with Your mercy, in Jesus’ name.

6. O Lord, give me divine wisdom to overcome every difficult situation, in Jesus’ name.

7. Every enemy rejoicing over my present condition, their joy shall come to an end, in Jesus’ name.

8. Father, let Your mighty hand lift me above every challenge confronting my life, in Jesus’ name.

9. O Lord, let every closed door before my breakthrough open by Your mercy, in Jesus’ name.

10. Every satanic delay assigned to prolong my suffering, be cancelled by fire, in Jesus’ name.

11. Father, let every bitter experience produce a sweet testimony, in Jesus’ name.

12. O Lord, restore my hope where I have become discouraged, in Jesus’ name.

13. Every burden too heavy for me to carry, I hand over to You today, Lord, in Jesus’ name.

14. Father, disappoint every expectation of the enemy concerning my life, in Jesus’ name.

15. O Lord, let my weeping come to an end and let my season of rejoicing begin, in Jesus’ name.

16. Every evil power using hardship to weaken my prayer life, be consumed by the Holy Ghost, in Jesus’ name.

17. Father, grant me divine favour in the midst of every difficult situation, in Jesus’ name.

18. O Lord, let every obstacle standing before my progress become a stepping stone to my promotion, in Jesus’ name.

19. Every storm threatening my peace, hear the voice of Jesus and be still, in Jesus’ name.

20. Father, make a way for me where there seems to be no way, in Jesus’ name.

21. O Lord, let this trial end in praise and let my testimony glorify Your holy name, in Jesus’ name.

22. Father, let every impossible situation in my life receive a divine turnaround, in Jesus’ name.

23. O Lord, uphold me with Your righteous right hand whenever I feel weak, in Jesus’ name.

24. Every evil load assigned to crush my spirit, catch fire, in Jesus’ name.

25. Father, let Your mercy speak for me in every difficult situation, in Jesus’ name.

26. O Lord, turn my valley of trouble into a door of hope, in Jesus’ name.

27. Every challenge that has stolen my peace and joy, release them back to me now, in Jesus’ name.

28. Father, let every battle I am facing become a testimony that will glorify Your name, in Jesus’ name.

29. O Lord, strengthen me not to make wrong decisions because of pressure, fear, or frustration, in Jesus’ name.

30. Every yoke of heaviness and despair upon my life, break by fire, in Jesus’ name.

31. Father, let every tear I have shed become a seed for abundant joy, in Jesus’ name.

32. O Lord, arise and vindicate me in every area where I have been falsely accused or oppressed, in Jesus’ name.

33. Every spirit of hopelessness working against my faith, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

34. Father, let Your grace sustain me until my breakthrough manifests, in Jesus’ name.

35. O Lord, remember me as You remembered Hannah, Joseph, and Jabez, in Jesus’ name.

36. Every long-standing problem that has refused to leave my life, receive divine judgment, in Jesus’ name.

37. Father, give me the courage to face every challenge with confidence in Your promises, in Jesus’ name.

38. O Lord, let my faith remain unshaken even when the answers seem delayed, in Jesus’ name.

39. Every satanic roadblock standing before my next level, be removed by the power of God, in Jesus’ name.

40. Father, let my life become a living testimony of Your goodness and faithfulness, in Jesus’ name.