Today’s question is, “What are your GO-TO passages when life is hard?”
Give us the reference, and if you have time, write out a portion for us, and include which translation you’re using.
On Wednesday I will compile a list for you that you can print and save for future challenging days.
Here is one of mine—Psalm 62
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Ps 62:1-2 NIV
I stenciled these words on my bathroom wall to remind me where to turn when life swallows me up.
Ps 46:1 NIV
God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.
Ja 4:7,8 NASB
Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
Matt 7:33, 34 NIV
Regarding worry: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we can comfort others in any affliction with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 New American Standard
This was such a blessing to me when my Mother died in 2001 and I often send it to others who are grieving in the hopes that it will comfort them.
Thanks for asking a question that reminded me how important it is. Barb
•Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-
WHO forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
WHO redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
WHO satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
Psalm 103:2-6 NIV84
•What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 8:31-39 NIV84
KEEP MEMORIZING!
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ NASB
Mat6:13
when my mind wanders into negative stuff or criticising stuff or generally unhelpful stuff…..and it works to get me back to Jesus!!
Hard to say just one but Psalm 119 is definitely a favorite – it repeats the theme of going to the Word, meditating on and delighting in His word when confronted with circumstances or people who are provoking my earthly nature to take offense, react or just withdraw from people. God uses it to create new pathways in my brain for transformed thinking and acting.
“Rulers sit together and slander me, but your servant will meditate on your decrees.”
“Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law. Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.” Your statutes are my heritage forever…….” it all lifts my heart, mind and soul (and eyes) to Jesus and reminds me that he is the One who is, was and will be – the Alpha & Omega.
Also – Hebrews 3:1 Therefore holy brothers who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Mine is Psalm 91 KJV
(1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.(2) I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in Him will I trust.(3)Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.(4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.(5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;(6)Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.(7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.(8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. (9) Because thou has made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; (10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (12) They shall give bear the up in their hand, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (13) Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. (14) Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. (15) He shall call upon me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (16) With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
This was the first chapter that I ever memorized. It was my Mother’s favorite, she died in 2010
I love the end of Psalm 73–verses 25, 26, 28 (NASB)
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. . . But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge. That I may tell of all Thy works.”
Psalm 23
Psalm 24
Psalm 103
Psalm 139
James 1
Phil 4
Lamentations 3:22-25, KJV, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”
And Psalm 138:8, KJV, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
These verses remind me that God will show mercy in the troubles I face, He is faithful and good ALWAYS and will never forsake me. Praise His Name!
“Surely the arm of The Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” Isaiah 59:1, NIV
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–”
John 1:12 NIV 1984
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19 (NKJV)
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 (ESV)
The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV ’84)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” NKJV
Psalm 57 is a wonderful comfort to me when I am feeling overwhelmed and fearful. God hears me when I call out to Him and the storms of destruction DO pass by!
PS 91: NIV84 – “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”
PHIL 4:4 NIV84 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all”
PS 139: NIV84- “Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me”