10 Bible Verses for Desperation: Don’t Give Up
We all face desperate situations in life. During these times, we need anchors to hold us in life’s storms. Today, we’ll explore 10 Bible verses for desperation. I’ll also share a message to every mom who feels like she is barely hanging on.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you turn to God and find him in desperate moments.
Bible Verses for Desperation
Let’s dig into God’s Word as we soak in these comforting Bible verses for desperation.
Bible Verses for Desperation
1. Isaiah 41:10 ESV
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.
God is with you, and he will uphold you and give you strength.
We can overcome life’s struggles by remembering that we are never alone.
2. Psalm 23:4
Even 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.
This verse reminds us that even in the darkest valleys, God is with us. He comforts us and protects us. Nothing reaches us without passing through him first.
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.
Rather than embracing anxious thoughts, God calls us to pray. When we do, his peace guards our hearts and minds.
Worrying creates the illusion of controlling life’s challenging situations; prayer actually makes an impact.
4. John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus promised peace to his followers. When our hearts are troubled, we can cling to this promise of peace.
5. Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
This simple phrase can become a mantra in fearful moments. Our kids have memorized it and speak it when they feel afraid. No matter what fear you face, these words remind you of God’s truth. He is trustworthy.
6. Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Cling to this promise. God is near. He will not abandon you.
Resist the temptation to turn away from him in anger or offense. He wants to help you and bless you.
7. Ecclesiastes 11:5
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
We simply cannot understand all of God’s ways.
Ask God to help you trust him with what you cannot understand. This is where faith is tested.
8. 1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
God is inviting you to cast your worries onto him. He wants to help you live with the deep trust that he will fulfill his purpose.
9. John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
How do we discern the difference between the work of the enemy and the work of God? Satan steals, kills, and destroys. God brings life and goodness.
God permitted this trial, but he is not a God of destruction and death.
This can be a difficult grey area to discern, but rest in this: God is always good. He wants to use this situation for your good and his glory.
10. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
As you walk this out, God is gently inviting you to climb higher in trust.
In the meantime, he will help you know him in a deeper, more experiential way. He will also make your paths straight and heal your heart. Will you turn to him today?
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Let’s now apply these Bible verses for desperation to our lives. These words are specifically for the mom who is barely hanging on.
Applications of These Bible Verses for Desperation
I drove past you in the dusky light this evening. You looked like you were barely hanging on.
With an infant strapped to your chest, the handle of a stroller in your left hand, and the leash of your small and energetic dog nearly yanking your right shoulder out of the socket, your face said it all.
Your face told me that you’re barely hanging on.
I wonder if you were stuck in the house all day.
Maybe the walls started closing in, and you grew weary from changing diapers and cleaning up the same fifteen toys a dozen times.
You were barely hanging on, and you needed some fresh air, even if it required work to get there.
Barely Hanging on
Most likely, you can’t remember the last time you had a night out or ate with both hands in your very own kitchen. For that matter, you probably can’t recall the last time you actually sat down to enjoy a meal.
Perhaps you sometimes wonder if you and your husband live on two entirely different planets.
The most obvious needs like hungry toddlers, wailing newborns, and poopy diapers seem to completely elude his attention. (Oh friend, if this is you, join me right here for more encouragement.)
In addition to living in different worlds, he still holds onto pieces of his life that you lost years ago. He has time for Saturday morning golf, Friday afternoon happy hour, and career development seminars. He has time for football games and haircuts and morning workouts at the gym.
Meanwhile, you’ve laid down every hobby and every personal passion for this season.
You gave up your gym membership for baby yoga in the living room.
You now cut your own hair using a complicated system of tilted mirrors.
You’re not sure what you’d even want to do if you had three hours to yourself. Most likely, you’d crash into a long and uninterrupted slumber.
So You’re Barely Hanging on, Now What?
I know about these struggles because I have been where you are, weary woman.
I’ve made it to the other side, and I’ve found space to reclaim the parts of my life I once lost for a season.
Here’s what I wish I’d known in the middle of the most wearying season of motherhood:
You don’t have to keep a perfect house. Learn to let the messes go. You have a lifetime to enjoy the serenity of a spotless living room. This season feels like it will never end, but it will end.
You will one day have space to rediscover your passions. You’ll be able to return to your hobbies, take Sunday afternoon naps, and eat with both hands.
You can invest in a career at any time in your life. Your kids will only be young once. It will go faster than you realize.
Don’t aim to be perfect at anything in this season. You won’t be the perfect mom, the perfect housekeeper, or the perfect wife. Give your best effort and leave the results in God’s hands.
Soften. You don’t need to hold your world together.
Slow down. Hurrying will be your number-one joy-stealer in this season. Absolutely refuse to hurry.
The grit that served you well in prior seasons has possibly stopped serving you well in this season. Instead of being grittier, ask God to help you become a woman of grace. Grace will serve you much better (read about this journey to a life with less grit and more grace right here).
Don’t Give Up
And so, dear woman with the kids and the yanking dog, I applaud you.
I applaud you for trying, and I applaud you for showing up.
I also see that you’re barely hanging on.
This season won’t last nearly as long as you expect. When you emerge on the other side, the woman you have become will look back at the journey with a tender smile.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
A Free Devotional for the Woman Who Is Barely Hanging on:
Lastly, I have a gift for you. Would you like to connect with God in ways that breathe fresh life into your weary soul? The Weary Woman’s 20-Day Devotional is my free online devotional to help you connect with God in your worn and weary seasons. You will find 20 daily readings to help you find refreshment in God’s presence. Click here and I’ll send it to your email inbox today! I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
This post was originally published at Parent.co.
