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Don’t Carry Your Stresses

Featured, Serene Sunday

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I was listening to one of my favorite garden radio shows based in
Atlanta. Callers present their problems and the host helps identify the issue
and propose a course of action.
One of the callers was concerned about a 20+ year-old
Dogwood tree that was suffering. Its bark was peeling, its leaves were few and
so were the blooms. According to the gardening expert – Dogwoods have a short
life expectancy. He told the caller that the tree held on to all the stresses
that occurred in its lifetime and after a while it had taken its toll. The tree
was now old and dying.
This made me wonder – if we as humans hold on to our
stresses, does that make us age faster – does that cause some illnesses maybe
even death.
As Christians we are told to trust and to wait upon the
LORD. But do we. Do we ‘carry our stresses’? Do we let those things that have
occurred in our past affect our present and our future. Bad things happen to
all people. What we do with those bad things, I think has direct impact on our
health – spiritually, mentally and physically.
 
People say the phrase, ‘let go and let God’ so much that I
wonder if they really understand and take to heart the truth of it.
 
There are numerous Bible verses that addresses trust and
waiting on the LORD as well as instructing us not to worry. Isn’t it a
wonderful thing, that we have a God who cares about our whole self and who
promises He will carry us through.
 
When we are stressed it shows in our countenance, in our
spirit and affects us physically. We have great examples in God’s word of those
facing very stressful, strenuous situations. We can completely understand what
that person was feeling – these expressions are without reservation – revealing
the heart of the individual.
 
Psalm 42
 
As the hart panted after the water brooks, so panteth my
soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when
shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night,
while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these
things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went
with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise, with a
multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why are
thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the
help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore
will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites, from the
hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves
and billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in
the daytime and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the
God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why has thou forgotten me? Why go
I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones,
mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou
in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my
God.
 
This Psalmist was in deep distress and under constant
persecution. This person remembered when things were good – when he was
surrounded by those who also trusted and praised God, then he found himself
surrounded, persecuted by those who did not have a relationship with God – who
constantly badgered him saying, “Where is your God”?
We may face similar circumstances and people, whether they
be those who have no faith or whether you face physical illness, the death of a
loved one or financial troubles. People may say to you, ‘Where is your God”?
 
When things in our life are going well – it is easy to
praise God – it is easy to sing songs of joy. When things are not going well in
our life – if we don’t have the foundation of trusting and a relationship with
God – it is difficult because those people and or events that are causing our
‘disquiet’ can overcome our minds and hearts. Two words can change everything
“But God…”
I think it is important to completely grasp and to
understand that we are not bound by our circumstances. The most important thing
in our life is to understand the depth of the love of God and his desire to
have a relationship with him. When things happen in our life, we are not alone
– God is there – It is through God and our relationship with Jesus Christ that
can carry us through the events in our life. In everything – had it not been
for God loving us and wishing to have a relationship with us – where would we
be.
We cannot control what events we may have to face in
our lifetime – we can control how we respond to those things. Living our faith
is an act of will –
Consider, meditate and put to memory some of these verses.
 
My
presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. (Exodus 33:14)
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be
with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
(Deuteronomy 31:8)
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are
the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect
those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be
with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will
satisfy them, and show them my salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16)
Trust in the Lord and do good; so
you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight
in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your
way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before
the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:3-5, 7a)
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a
stronghold in times of trouble. (Psalm 9:9-10)
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he
is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)
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?
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up
against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from
trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7-8)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and
delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)
Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm
34:10b)
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17)
Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in
the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the
desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will
act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:3-5, 7a)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you
disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my
God. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his son is with
me, a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42: 5,8)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present
help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the
mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and
the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the
ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the
rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against
the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of
your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4)
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. (Psalm 62:1-2)
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who
abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and
my fortress; my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget 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. (Psalm 103:2-5)
Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the
Lord. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the
Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid. (Psalm 112: 1a, 7-8a)
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build
it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in
vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the
bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved. (Psalm 127:1-2)
When I called, you answered me; you made me bold
and stouthearted. (Psalm 138:3)
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee
from your presence? If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far
side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold
me fast. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting. (Psalm 139: 7, 9-10, 23-24)
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all
who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he
hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145: 18-19)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not
on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the
righteous run into it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
Fear of others will prove to be a snare, but
whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not
be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my
salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah
12:2)
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because
they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an
everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26: 3-4)
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in
quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is
the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow
tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to
the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall; 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 40:28-31)
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 41:10)
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have
called you by name, you are mine. 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. For
I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a)
O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in
time of distress. (Jeremiah 16:19)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with
all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have
drawn you with loving-kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)
Ah Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and
the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard
for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)
See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is
anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)
Your father knows what you need before you ask
him. So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For
the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you
need them. 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. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew
6:8b, 31-34)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke
is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11: 28-31)
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet
not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head
are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Luke 12:6-7)
Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to
your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why
do you worry about the rest. (Luke 12:25-26)
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your
Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
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. (John 14:27)
Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch
cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you
unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in
me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. If
you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it
will be done for you. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John
15:4-5,7,10)
And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution
or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 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.
(Romans 8: 31b, 35, 37-39)
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Do not worry 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. Finally, beloved, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there
is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things. (Philippians 4:6-8)
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what
it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation . . . . I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4: 12-13)
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen
and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but
a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been
tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of
grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time
of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and
be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or
forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not
be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’ (Hebrews 13: 5-6)
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who
gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in
faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven
and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for
you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the
devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in
your faith
. . . . And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of
all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself
restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5: 7-10)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives
out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made
perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4: 18-19)
Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the
deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you
need only to be still. (Exodus 14:13a,14)
My presence will go with you, and I will give you
rest. (Exodus 33:14)
Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them,
because it is the Lord your God who goes before you. He will be with you; he
will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy
31:6,8)
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are
the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength. (Nehemiah 8:10b)
You will forget your misery; you will remember it
as waters that have passed away. (Job 11:16)
By his light I walked through darkness. (Job 29:3)
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone,
O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a
stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for
you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:9-10)
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he
is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)
You show me the path of life. In your presence there
is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God,
lights up my darkness. (Psalm 18:28)
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? Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out
against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is
what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the
day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the
shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:1,3-5)
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart
take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14)
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from
trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7-8)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and
delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who
fear him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)
Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm
34:10b)
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the
brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the
righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. (Psalm 34:17-19)
Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in
the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the
desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will
do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of
your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently
for him. (Psalm 37:3-7a)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you
disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my
God. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with
me, a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:5,8)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present
help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the
mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and
the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10a)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new
and right spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy
Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing
spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12)
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the
ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the
rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against
the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of
your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4)
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. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may
continually resort: thou has given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock
and my fortress. (Psalm 71:3; KJV)
Though you have made me see troubles, many and
bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will
again bring me up. (Psalm 71:20)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who
have set their hearts on pilgrimage. They go from strength to strength, till
each appears before God in Zion. (Psalm 84:5,7)
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who
abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and
my fortress; my God in whom I trust.” You will not fear the terror of the
night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in
darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. Because you have made the
Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that
you will not dash your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:1-2,5-6,9-12)
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect
those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be
with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will
satisfy them, and show them my salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16)
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your
love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation
brought joy to my soul. (Psalm 94:18-19)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget 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. (Psalm 103:2-5)
Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the
Lord. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the
Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid. (Psalm 112:1a,7-8a)
Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has
been good to you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes
from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land
of the living. (Psalm 116:7-9)
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what
the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me
over to death. (Psalm 118:17-18)
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me
according to your word. (Psalm 119:28)
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise
preserves my life. (Psalm 119:50)
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build
it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in
vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the
bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved. (Psalm 127:1-2)
When I called, you answered me; you made me bold
and stouthearted. (Psalm 138:3)
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you
preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with
your right hand you save me. (Psalm 138:7)
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee
from your presence? If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far
side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold
me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become
night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night
will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Search me, O God, and
know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any
offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm
139:7,9-12,23-24)
My eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you
I take refuge–do not give me over to death. (Psalm 141:8)
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all
who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he
hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:18-19)
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their
wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not
on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when
you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the
righteous run into it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
Fear of others will prove to be a snare, but
whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not
be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my
salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah
12:2)
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace–because
they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an
everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4)
Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have
accomplished you have done for us. (Isaiah 26:12)
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in
quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your
ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in
it.” (Isaiah 30:21)
Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong,
do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine
retribution he will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:4-5)
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is
the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow
tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to
the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and
weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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 40:28-31)
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 41:10)
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have
called you by name, you are mine. 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. For
I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a)
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort
you. (Isaiah 66:13a)
O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in
time of distress. (Jeremiah 16:19a)
“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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with
all your heart. I will be found by you,” delares the Lord, “and will
bring you back from captivity.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14a)
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have
drawn you with loving-kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)
Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes
from tears, for your work will be rewarded. (Jeremiah 31:16)
Ah Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and
the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard
for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)
See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is
anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not
consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is
your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I
will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the
one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
(Lamentations 3:22-26)
For the Lord will not reject forever. Although he
causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his
steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.
(Lamentations 3:31-32)
Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I
shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. (Micah 7:8)
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)
Your father knows what you need before you ask
him. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or
what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothing? So do not worry, saying, “What
shall we eat?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after
all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 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. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:8b,25,31-34)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke
is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-31)
If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you
will say to this mountain, “move from here to there,” and it will
move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet
not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head
are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Luke 12:6-7)
Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to
your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why
do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:25-26)
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your
Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
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. (John 14:27)
Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch
cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you
unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in
me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. If
you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it
will be done for you. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John
15:4-5,7,10)
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your
mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)
I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. (Romans
8:18)
And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution
or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 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.
(Romans 8:31b,35,37-39)
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your
feet. (Romans 16:20)
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to
everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your
strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may
be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
For we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we
despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of
death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He
who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we
have set our hope that he will rescue us again. (2 Corinthians 1:8b-10a)
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it
may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not
come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not
destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of
Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer
nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this
slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory
beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot
be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new
creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2
Corinthians 5:17)
And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound
in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9a)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer
live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the
proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places. (Ephesians 1:3)
Do not worry 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. Finally, beloved, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there
is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things. (Philippians 4:6-8)
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what
it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians
4:12a,13)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on
things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be
revealed with him in glory. (Colossians 3:2-4)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
(Colossians 3:15a)
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen
and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace
at all times and in every way. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but
a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and
will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and
ever. (2 Timothy 4:18)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been
tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of
grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in
time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work
and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to
help them. (Hebrews 6:10)
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and
be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or
forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who
gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in
faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven
and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)
Let those suffering in accordance with God’s will
entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good. (1 Peter
4:19)
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for
you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the
devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in
your faith. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all
grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,
support, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:7-9a,10)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives
out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made
perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19)
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the
victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes
the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:4-5)

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