Out of the 1,189 books in the Bible, there are plenty of verses that can inspire you in many different ways. There is a special verse for each person and each unique circumstance. Here are a few of my favorite verses that have helped me get through some tough times.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Is there someone in your life who just makes you smile? It does not matter if you see them all day, or receive an “I’m thinking about you” text, they always make you smile. This is how it is for God when you send him a “text message” of praise. Take time every day to just rejoice that God is God and He is in control of your life so that you do not have to be.
When rejoicing is not enough to cheer you up when you are down, then pray constantly. Send little butterflies of prayer floating up to heaven. Your prayer does not have to be eloquent and you do not have to say all the right things. Just tell God what is on your mind. Open a continual passage way between you and God where you can talk about everything through prayer.
After you have rejoiced that God is in control, and prayed for other needs, just take a moment to give thanks. Thank God for all the good things: your home, your family, your job, that cute little purse you got on sale last week, or the football game your team actually won. It does not matter how big or how small, God gave you it all, so thank Him for His blessings!
This verse is my absolute favorite! There was a point in my life where I was depressed almost to the point of needing medication. I was on that slippery slope down into the pit. I was very negative and sad about everything. I started making it a habit that every time I thought about something negative, like I just spilled my drink all down my shirt, I would make myself say thanks for something positive, like thank you God that my drink was water and not coke so it will not stain. I listened only to music that helped me rejoice in My Creator and His control of my life. Without this verse as my guide, I never would have made it off that slope to where I am now.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
This verse is a wonderful help for anyone you know who is beginning a new journey in their life: a student starting college, a friend losing their job, or a mother losing their child. It is a promise that Christ gives about your life. He has a plan. Your life is an intricate puzzle where you cannot see all the pieces; but God can. You are not going to understand why things happen a certain way, but you can remember that you are part of God’s ultimate plan. Each piece is a part of your life that God will use to complete the beautiful picture of you: a reflection of Christ.
After my husband and I got married, we spent a whole summer just the two of us. When fall began, my husband resumed teaching, and I having finished school, realized with a jolt that needed a job. I began desperately searching, and never understood why I could not find one. I would wait anxiously for my husband who would come home exhausted. We both struggled with the difference in schedules.
Two months later, I finally found a job. We rejoiced and gave thanks for this blessing. However one week later, my husband lost his job. He spent four months looking for another position. He had to suffer twice as long as I had. What I did not realize those two months I was at home was that God was teaching us a lesson. When suddenly He reversed our roles, we were better prepared to handle it. I understood how anxious my husband was going to be when I got home, and he understood how tired I was going to be. We were better able to respect and deal with each other overall, because we had both experienced what the other was going through.
This verse always reminds me of that time. We hated those two months! How could this help us in the long run? But when we hit those four months, we realized just how in control God is. At the end looking back, those two months helped our marriage survive the four months that followed. His plans may not make sense, but they will prosper you and give you a better future than you could ever imagine.
Luke 12:22-26
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Worry. How much stress and anxiety can be packed into that little word. If you are someone like me, you worry about every little thing: how you are going to pay the bills at the end of the month, what you are going to have for dinner tonight, or if that sniffle is going to turn into a full cold. Your mind is constantly straying to the “what ifs”.
If you really read it, this verse can make you feel silly. The birds do not worry about what they are going to eat, so why do you? If the almighty creator of the universe takes the time to make sure that every little sparrow finds a worm in the morning, what makes you think He will not provide for you?
I am a natural worrier. It does not matter what how much I have planned or how ready I am, I will still worry about the outcome. This verse has helped me to reevaluate this strategy. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” When I worry, I lose hours; lots of hours. Why do I waste so much time worrying about things that I cannot control? The things I can control, like taking medicine to avoid getting a cold, I do what I can and pray about the rest. The things I cannot control, like if I will be able to pay bills, I pray and trust God to provide just like He does for the birds.
Psalm 63:7-8
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
This verse is best seen through the eyes of a child. When you fall and get hurt, what does your daddy do? He scoops you up in his arms and all your fears disappear. You are safe and secure in your daddy’s arms and nothing can bother you. The same can be said of your Heavenly Father’s wings. When He has you surrounded, you can experience peace that passes understanding. All the troubles of this world seem to melt away in His shadow. Why would not you sing of His praises?
When you were a child, and your surroundings made you nervous, what was your first instinct? You reached for your daddy’s hand and held tight. This is the same with your Heavenly Father. When you feel so small and inadequate you can reach up and grab your Heavenly Father’s hand revel in the knowledge that He is on your side, so what can stand against you?
I am a very introverted individual. I dislike big social gatherings or having to speak in front of a large audience. Now, instead of being afraid of that work Christmas party, I can walk in and hold my head high because I am imagining that God is next to me and I have a firm grasp of His right hand. With Him at my side, I can face any challenge.
James 1:2-3
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.
This verse is the hardest one to grasp. Consider it a joy when you face troubles? Yes the testing of your faith will produce perseverance, but why should you consider it a joy? The best way I have found to look at trials is to imagine that trial as a marathon. If God surprises you by throwing you into the middle of a marathon and telling you to run, how far do you think you will make it before you collapse? Not even professional runners do this! You must first train for the marathon. Runners train for weeks and weeks before they are prepared for a marathon. Now apply training for a marathon to your latest trial or hardship.
My latest example would be about trust. As I said earlier, I am a worrier, and fully trusting God to take care of everything is very hard to do. My trust marathon was trusting Him to protect my husband while he went to help with storm clean up in North Carolina after Hurricane Irene. Cutting down trees is a dangerous enough job as it is, but having my husband working six hours away from me doing that job scares me to death.
My warm-up took place while my husband was teaching. He frequently had to travel on the weekends for different competitions, and I learned to trust that God would watch over him while he was driving and protect him when he had to stay overnight. My first quarter marathon was when my husband lost his job. I had to trust that this was all a part of God’s plan. My first half marathon was when my husband began working for the tree company. It took even more strength to trust that a tree wouldn’t fall on him, or he wouldn’t cut off a limb with the chainsaw. Finally, I faced the marathon. My husband was in North Carolina for a week working tree clean up. Most I heard from him was a phone call at about ten o’clock every night. He was usually exhausted and only talked for a few minutes before going to bed. The first few nights, I watched the clock like a hawk, praying all day and waiting for that phone call to reassure me that he was still alive. The next few nights, I would make it through the day, but begin worrying as ten got closer. By the end of the week, his phone call would surprise me. I had ceased worrying about him and trusted that God was taking care of him for me.
Now, when my husband goes to work every day, I don’t fret about him. I say a little prayer, and get on with my day knowing that God is watching over my husband. If God had simply sent him to North Carolina from the beginning, I would have spent the entire week with anxiety and worry gnawing at me. Because God took me through my warm-ups and preparations for my marathon, I spent the week worry free knowing God was in control.
I hope you have been encouraged through these verses. As I said before, everyone is different, and what inspiration you get from one of these verses may be completely different than the inspiration that I got. Whatever inspiration you do receive, I hope that overall you remember that God is in control!