“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” -1 Corinthians 13:13-
There are seasons when faith feels like a confident stride. And there are seasons when it feels like one foot in front of the other, breath by breath, prayer by prayer. The Lord knows the difference, and He does not shame you for being human.
This verse is not a sweet closing line at the end of a wedding reading. It is a lifeline. Paul is saying that when everything else shifts, when plans change, when people fail you, when the future feels uncertain, three things are still standing when the dust settles: faith, hope, and love. These are not temporary emotions. They are lasting realities God grows in you, and they endure because He endures.
If you are in a hard stretch right now, here is a simple picture: faith gives you footing, hope gives you horizon, and love gives you direction.
Faith for today
Faith is not the absence of questions. Faith is choosing to trust God with your questions.
Sometimes we think faith means we must feel sure. But biblical faith is often shown as obedience in the middle of uncertainty. Faith is saying, “Lord, I do not see the whole road, but I trust the One who does. I will take the next step You put in front of me.”
Faith is also practical. It is the decision to keep showing up. Keep praying. Keep opening the Word. Keep doing the next right thing. When you cannot carry tomorrow, faith helps you carry today.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” -Hebrews 11:1
If your faith feels small, do not despise it. Jesus spoke of mustard-seed faith for a reason. Even a small faith is powerful when it is placed in a great God.
A question to sit with: Where am I being asked to trust God today, not with the whole future, but with this one next step?
Hope for tomorrow
Hope is not pretending things are fine. Hope is refusing to believe that pain gets the final word.
Christian hope is anchored to who God is and what He has promised. That is why hope can exist alongside grief. Hope can exist alongside waiting. Hope can exist alongside disappointment. Hope is not denial, it is resilience rooted in God’s faithfulness.
You may not know how God will answer, when He will provide, or what the next chapter looks like, but hope says, “God is still writing. God is still working. God is still good.”
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Notice the order. Trust leads to joy and peace. Joy and peace make room for hope. And hope is strengthened by the Holy Spirit, not by your willpower. If you feel drained, you are not disqualified. You are invited to ask for supernatural hope.
A question to sit with: If God is truly the God of hope, what would it look like to stop rehearsing the worst-case scenario and start praying with expectation?
Love for always
Love is the greatest because it is the clearest reflection of God Himself. Faith will become sight one day. Hope will be fulfilled one day. But love continues forever, because God is love.
This is where our lives get very real. Love is not just a feeling, it is a choice. Love tells the truth. Love protects what is sacred. Love forgives when it is costly. Love serves when it is inconvenient. Love stays tender without being weak.
And love starts closer than we think. It starts with how you speak to your own soul. Some women are fierce with everyone else’s healing but harsh with their own. The Lord does not talk to you that way. His conviction is clear, but His voice is kind. Love means you can take responsibility without drowning in shame.
Love also shapes how we treat people who are difficult, disappointing, or simply different. It does not mean you allow harm. It means you refuse to become hard. You can hold boundaries with a soft heart. You can say no without bitterness. You can walk away without hatred.
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
A question to sit with: Where is God asking me to practice love today, in a way that costs me something but makes me more like Jesus?
When one feels weak, lean on the others
There are days when faith feels thin. Hope feels far away. Love feels hard. In those moments, remember this: you do not have to manufacture these things on your own.
If you cannot feel hope, practice faith.
If you cannot feel faith, practice love.
If you cannot feel love, ask the Holy Spirit to soften your heart and give you strength.
These three remain because God remains. He is faithful when you are tired. He is near when you feel alone. He is patient while you learn to trust Him again.
Today, keep it simple. One act of trust. One prayer of expectation. One choice of love.
Prayer
Father, thank You that faith, hope, and love are not fragile ideas, they are lasting gifts from You. Strengthen my faith for today. Fill me with hope for tomorrow by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Teach me to love the way You love, with truth, courage, and grace. Help me take the next right step, even if it is small. I give You what I cannot control, and I receive what only You can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Republished with Permission
