JULY 31 – Strength in Every Struggle3-Year-Bible Reading: Proverbs 20:29–30; Psalms 87; Colossians 3–4//3-Year Bible Devotional Book (Year Two) Available on Amazon//________________________________________“The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray hair. The blueness of wounds cleanses away evil; so do stripes the inward parts of the heart.” — Proverbs 20:29–30 (ESV)“Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God!” — Psalm 87:1 (ESV)“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” — Colossians 4:5–6 (ESV)________________________________________Life can feel tough, right? Between school stress, friendships, and the pressure to fit in, it’s easy to feel weighed down. Proverbs 20 reminds us that our challenges, mistakes, and even our “wounds” can teach us strength and shape our character. Psalm 87 reminds us that we belong to God’s city, His family, where we are valued and celebrated. And Colossians 4 encourages us to handle relationships and conversations wisely, using our words to build bridges and reflect God’s love to everyone around us.Being strong isn’t just about muscles or popularity—it’s about resilience, wisdom, and using your experiences, good or bad, to grow. Every challenge you face, every hurt you endure, is shaping you for a purpose. And God is right there with you, cheering you on and giving you guidance for how to interact with the world in a way that honors Him.________________________________________THINK ABOUT IT1. Strength Through Trials: How can you view challenges or “wounds” (Proverbs 20:30) as opportunities to grow stronger and wiser?2. Identity in God: What does it mean for you to belong to God’s city and be celebrated by Him (Psalm 87:1) even when peer approval feels uncertain?3. Wisdom in Action: How can your words and actions (Colossians 4:5–6) reflect God’s love in your daily interactions with classmates, friends, and even strangers?________________________________________BOTTOM LINETrue strength comes from God’s guidance, learning from challenges, and using wisdom to reflect His love in every part of life.________________________________________PRAYERHeavenly Father, thank You for being my strength and for shaping me through every challenge. Help me to see struggles as opportunities to grow, to walk wisely, and to use my words and actions to reflect Your love. Remind me that I belong to You and that my life can shine for Your glory in every situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.