“The greatest good suffering can do for me is to increase my capacity for God.”
-Joni Eareckson
“Christianity at any given time is strong or weak depending upon her concept of God.”
– A. W. Tozer
“God does not come to us in nicely defined, rationally explained, thought categories. God does not fit Himself into our theological text books. The Hebrew God breaks all the rules. He is near, yet transcendent; clothed in human form, yet holy; more terrifying than can be imagined, yet compassionate; invisible, yet revealed; judging, yet merciful; sovereign, yet humble. No matter where you look, God breaks the molds.”
– Skip Moen
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch Your hand. Against the wrath of my enemies. And Your right hand will save me.”
– Psalm 128:7
“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a broken spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him from them all.”
– Psalm 34:18-19
“Be happy when you are blamed and accused wrongly, for then you have the chance to see all the bitter, hostile or self-pitying responses that your sinful soul wants to spew out – as if these puny things could in any way defend you! Watch and see if any of these poisons come out of you when your spirit is pricked by an accusation. Only then can you see yourself as you are, and confess thy sin that is within you and forsake yourself again into the Lord’s care.”
-Teresa of Avila (15th century
“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
– Psalm 9:9-10
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ will rest upon me.'”
– 2 Corinthians 12:9
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the work of Your hands.”
– Psalm 138:8
“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 23:4
“You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
– Psalm 56:8-11
“God is faithful, by who you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
–1 Corinthians 1:9
“When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”
-Kahlil Gibran (The Prophet )
“Death leaves a heartache, no one can heal,
love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
– An Irish headstone
→ Hope for the Hopeless by Mike Woodard
“I trust in you, Lord, but keep helping me in my moments of distrust and doubt.”
– Henry Nouwen
“I learned to trust that, through God’s grace, something beautiful and new would emerge even in the face of my weakness, tears, pain and hopelessness. I too would live again.”
– Bethel Crockett (Pooky’s Triumph)
“What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”
– Helen Keller
“Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength.”
– Frederick Buechner
→ From Victim to Victory – Physically and emotionally abused as a child, Sharon stopped crying at 6 and stopped talking at 9.
“Most of us have faced times of experiencing an abrupt and unhappy ending to a chapter of our lives. Even though we are not ready to move on, we are forced to.
David wrote Psalm 3 when he was forced to flee from his son, Absalom. David at this stage was a mature but still highly capable king. He had made mistakes and people were aware of his flaws, but to be evicted by his upstart son was initially beyond belief.
This is a good Psalm to read in moments of internal pain and painful public humiliation. It reminds us that when we get knocked off our secure pedestal, the God of all hurts is there to nourish us. No matter what happens to us, God’s comfort can still reach down and touch us.”
– John Grant
“Love wills the good of all and never wills harm or evil to any”
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear. Fear is a painful emotion that arises at the thought that we may be harmed or made to suffer. As long as we must trust for survival to our ability to out look or out maneuver the enemy, we have every good reason to be afraid. Fear is torment. To know that love is of God and to enter into the secret place leaning upon the arm of the Beloved, this and only this can cast out fear.”
– A. W. Tozer
“God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain. But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”
– Unknown
“Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.”
– Mother Teresa
“Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you.”
– Deuteronomy 31:6 (TLB)
“All who are oppressed may come to Him. He is a refuge for them in their times of trouble. All those who know your mercy, Lord, will count on you for help. For you have never yet forsaken those who trust in you.”
– Psalm 9:9-10
“He is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trusted in Him, and he helped me. Joy rises in my heart until I burst out in songs of praise to Him. The Lord protects his people and gives victory to his anointed king.”
– Psalm 28:7-8
“Why then be downcast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise Him again. Yes, I shall again praise Him for His help.”
– Psalm 42:5 (TLB)
“When I pray, you answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.”
– Psalm 138:3 (TLB)
“Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will bring me safely through them. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies! Your power will save me. The Lord will work out His plans for my life — for your loving kindness, Lord, continues forever. Don’t abandon me — for you made me.”
– Psalm 138:7-8 (TLB)
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'”
– Jeremiah 29:11 (TLB)
“We are saved by trusting. And trusting means looking forward to getting something we don’t yet have — for a man who already has something doesn’t need to hope and trust that he will get it. But if we must keep trusting God for something that hasn’t happened yet, it teaches us to wait patiently and confidently.”
– Romans 8:24-25 (TLB)
“These things that were written in the Scriptures so long ago are to teach us patience and to encourage us so that we will look forward expectantly to the time when God will conquer sin and death.”
– Romans 15:4 (TLB)
“So I pray for you Gentiles that God who gives you hope will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in Him. I pray that God will help you overflow with hope in Him through the Holy Spirit’s power within you.”
– Romans 15:13
“You can be sure that the more we undergo sufferings for Christ, the more He will shower us with His comfort and encouragement.”
– 2 Corinthians 1:5
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with lights so that you can see something of the future He has called you to share. I want you to realize that God has been made rich because we who are Christ’s have been given Him!”
– Ephesians 1:18 (TLB)
“And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until His task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.”
– Philippians 1:6
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and hope, which we don’t deserve, comfort your hearts with all comfort, and help you in every good thing you say and do.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (TLB)
“All honor to God , the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is His boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead.”
– 1 Peter 1:3
“Do not be afraid to suffer… It is from being shaken apart and not being destroyed that we become strong and courageous.”
– Laura Lewis Lanier (All Things Bright and Beautiful )
→ Overwhelmed by Negative Feelings?
“For me, laughter is how we take a much needed break from the heartache, such that when we turn to face it again, it has by some miracle grown smaller in size and intensity, yet not disappeared altogether.”
– Liz Curis Higgs (Only Angels Can Wing it)
“Our Lord did not ask us to give up the things of earth, but to exchange them for better things.”
“God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
– Max Lucado
Further Reading: Articles for those Struggling with Despair