The greatest joy we have as Christians is knowing that God loves you, sees you and is with you in whatever season of life you are in and whatever you are currently struggling with.
Recent words of encouragement from the cast and crew members of the hit ground-breaking series “The Chosen” reinforce this. Their advice uses Biblical references as bedrock and expands on the lessons they’ve learned from being a part of the one-of-a-kind series.
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We’d like to dive into their words of consolation and expand on their Biblical foundations:
Step Out in Faith
"If you ever have to make a decision to do what scares you or step out on faith, always step out on faith, because that's where the beauty lies. And as soon as you do that, it's out of your hands," said Amber Williams. Williams plays Tamar, the Ethiopian friend of the healed paralytic at Capernaum who helped lower the paralytic down from the roof to meet Jesus.
Stepping out in faith to do something that scares you requires strength and courage. Having the strength and courage to step out of your comfort zone requires faith and trust in the Lord that He is with you. There are many Bible verses that reiterate and confirm this:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. – Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
For more Bible verses about stepping out in faith with strength and courage, check out our Bible verse list on being strong and courageous every day.
The Lord is Right There With Us, In the Midst of It
"...The Lord wants us to learn how to give ourselves permission to be 'in process' He gives us permission to be 'in process,'” said Katherin Warnock, Head of Original Content for “The Chosen.” “And that means we're going to have good days, we're going to have bad days. We're going to have days when we feel like we're failing. And the Lord is right there with us, joining us in the midst of it, showing us the way through to full transformation and victory."
God knows that life is full of ebbs and flows, that we all go through cycles of consolation and desolation. The most important thing is inviting Him into wherever we might be and asking Him to stay with us and guide us through our trials as well as our successes. God gives us strength in hard times:
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” – Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)
Know that God is there with you and that He wants to journey alongside you through all seasons of life. For more Bible verses on asking God to be with you, check out our 20 Bible verses about God’s word on faith.
READ ALSO: 20 BIBLE VERSES ABOUT STRENGTH: GOD’S WORD ON FAITH IN HARD TIMES
Your Weakness is Made Strong in Christ
"Just because you're different doesn't mean you're broken," said Jordan Ross. "And sometimes the thing that you perceive as a flaw can end up being your greatest asset."
Ross plays the disciple Little James who was born with a paralysis that made him walk with a limp.
God knows each and every one of us intimately and created us all uniquely. We may desire different traits than what God gave us, but we can trust that God will use our talents and abilities to further His kingdom on earth. Here are some scriptures for when you need help overcoming the odds you’re up against:
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” - James 1:2-4 (NIV)
For more Bible verses to strengthen you during your trials, see our list of Bible verses about overcoming life’s struggles.
READ ALSO: 38 POWERFUL BIBLE VERSES FOR OVERCOMING LIFE’S STRUGGLES
Commit Every Day to the Lord
"I've been where you are, and I promise that if you just seek the Lord, no matter what you've done or your past or how far you feel from your faith, or from God, He will be there for you and just open your heart and your soul," said Lara Silva who plays Eden, Simon Peter’s wife.
We can actively choose to seek the Lord every day, no matter where we are in our faith journey. When we put our focus on God and commit to seeking Him, we are opening up our heart and our life to allow Him to enter in.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” -Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
We’ve got many more powerful morning prayers and Bible verses to start your day with God to help you commit your days to Christ.
Spread Love and Kindness
"Spread love, spread kindness. It's really tough going through things alone, but together we can get through anything," said Giavani Cairo, who plays Thaddeus on “The Chosen.”
A well-known Bible passage that talks about love and kindness is 1 Corinthians 13, particularly 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 (NIV):
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
To summarize this passage, we are repeatedly reminded by Christ’s teachings to love our neighbors more than ourselves, to help strangers and to live selflessly. Being selfless means we look out for our fellow man and journey with our brothers and sisters in Christ on the path to heaven. For a deeper understanding of this Bible passage, read our 10 powerful lessons about love from 1 Corinthians 13.
We hope this deeper examination and words of encouragement from the cast and crew of “The Chosen” strengthens you in your hope and faith in Our Lord. If you’re inspired by their words, check out Season 1 and Season 2 of “The Chosen” right here on Pure Flix!
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