Encouraging Through the Word of God

As a shepherd of God’s flock, I meet regularly with those who are hurting in hopes of comforting them with the encouragement and promises from God’s Word.  One of the best ways to face the darkness of tomorrow is to understand the character, promises, and the ways of our Great God.  Before making hospital or home visits to those who are hurting I strive to have a verse or two prepared that I can share as an encouragement to those that I am visiting. 

You see, God’s Word is capable of bringing about comfort, hope, and joy in ways that I could never begin to do so.  We are told in Isaiah 55:11 by God that His Word, “it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”  Praise God!  Others need more than our personal encouragement to help them make it through the trials of this life.  God’s Word always points others back to Him and it’s only through God’s Word that we can speak with any true confidence. 

I would like to share with you 10 verses that have become very dear to me in times of turmoil that you can share with others as well:

1.     Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

2.     Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

3.     Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

4.     1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

5.     Psalm 94:19, “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

6.     Luke 12:22-26, “And he said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?’”

7.     Psalm 27:1, “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?”

8.     Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

9.     1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

10.  2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of  love and of a sound mind.”