On the hard days, I collect Bible verses on a paper I’ve ripped out of my journal. I fold that paper up and tote it around everywhere I go.
When anxiety hits, I pull my verses right out and finger the edge of the paper nervously as I whisper the God-Words aloud. The aloud part is important; it helps drown out the noisy voice of worry, fear and disbelief in my head.
I have shut myself in the bathroom before, shoved my hands over my ears and read those verses aloud over and over until I really didn’t need the paper anymore. They were etched so deep on my heart and mind.
I collect more verses everywhere I go, and I scribble them down on that same page like any other greedy collector bidding for treasures at an auction or sifting through junk in a thrift store to find a true prize.
Seasons of life change. Sometimes I have a paper in my pocket. Sometimes I don’t.
Years ago, I toted that paper around and then I was done. The hard days were past for a while. God had answered my prayer and provided and come through.
But then a friend shared her heart. She was struggling and I had just been there myself. So, I copied the verses on my paper and sent them to her so she could carry them around in her own pocket.
God comforts us so we can comfort others.
Here are just some of my favorite verses for the hard days, pieces of my collection that I share with you because the truth is, we all have hard days and we all need the reminder of His faithfulness and His love.
- Exodus 14:14 NIV
The Lord your God will fight for you, you need only be still. - Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:8 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.” - Joshua 1:9 ESV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 3:5 ESV
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” - Psalm 3:4 NIV
I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain. - Psalm 5:11 ESV
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you. - Psalm 9:9 NLT
The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble. - Psalm 16:8-9 NIV
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure - Psalm 18:2 NIV
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 20:1 NLT
In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. - Psalm 23:1-4 NKJV
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 31:1-3
In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. - Psalm 33:20-22 ESV
Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you. - Psalm 34:18 NIV
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 40:1-3 NIV
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him. - Psalm 46:1 NIV
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:10 NLT
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.” - Psalm 50:15 ESV
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” - Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. - Psalm 56:3 ESV
When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you. - Psalm 57:1-3
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. - Psalm 62:1-2 ESV
For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. - Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah - Psalm 62:11-12 NIV
One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.” - Psalm 73:26 NIV
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. - Psalm 86:7 ESV
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me. - Psalm 91:4 NIV
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. - Psalm 116: 1-9
I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.Then I called on the name of the LORD:“LORD, save me!” The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has be
en good to you. For you, LORD, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living. - Psalm 121: 1-8 ESV
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore. - Psalm 145:14 NLT
The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. (Psalm 145:14) - Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. - Isaiah 40:31 NIV
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 41:10 NIV
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 43:1-2 ESV
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you. - Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
3 To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory. - Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. - Ezekiel 34:26 NIV
I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. - Nahum 1:7 NIV
The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him, - Mark 5:36 NIV
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” - Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” - John 14:27 NIV
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. - 2 Corinthians 1:10 NLT
And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. - Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. - Philippians 1:6 ESV
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19 NLT
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. - James 1:12 NLT
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - 1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:10 NIV
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Heather C. King - Room to Breathe 