6 Powerful Bible Verses for Times of Trouble and Grief
There are starlings at the bird feeder this morning. Larger and more aggressive than the petite chickadees and nuthatches, they’ve come to wreak havoc on our quiet little world. The squabbling birds remind me of my own current times of trouble.
I’ve been stressing out over our budget and our health.
We’ve wept over freshly broken earth and lives taken way too soon.
Perhaps you are facing trouble or grief today, too.
We live in a broken world. However, when we face times of trouble, God offers hope.
Jesus invites us to put our hope in him, and this is how we find the strength to endure grief and trouble.
Bible Verses for Times of Trouble
I wrestle through my struggles as I watch the starlings flutter, and I return to the Truth that has the power to push out the panic, the anxiety, and the fear.
If you could use a few Bible verses for times of trouble and crisis, sit with these words awhile, and see if your heart doesn’t just shift:
1. Psalm 46:10, MSG
Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.
God is still in control.
God hasn’t stepped down from his throne. His knees are not weak and trembling. He’s not afraid. He’s not surprised by what is happening.
His arm is not too short to reach in and stop this crisis at any given moment.
Our inability to make sense of what is happening does not indicate God’s absence or his indifference.
Our inability to make sense of what is happening does not indicate God’s absence or his indifference. #seekingGod #turningtoGod Click To TweetGod cares.
He is calling each of us to draw close to him and rest in him when troubles come. Will you take just a moment to pause and look to him? He is with you, and he wants to give you peace in this troubled situation.
2. Hebrews 6:19, NIV
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
Have you put your hope in the day when your crisis passes?
I’m slow to embrace most life changes. I like to fix what feels broken in my life. I feel like I have a sense of control over my world when I put broken pieces together again. Sadly, I often put my hope in my ability to fix my circumstances instead of putting my hope in the fact that Jesus is with me in the middle of my broken moments.
Hebrews 6:19 reminds us that our hope is not in our circumstances. Our hope is in Christ with us, in the middle of our troubled times. This hope is an anchor.
As an anchor is outside the ship, our hope steadies us from a secure place outside our understanding.
Think of the role of an anchor for a ship: The anchor pulls the vessel to itself.
Christ is our anchor. As we cling to him, he will pull us close.
Our hope is found not in getting through this crisis; our hope is found in drawing near to the anchor of Christ in the middle of the storm.
Our hope is found not in getting through this crisis; our hope is found in drawing near to the anchor of Christ in the middle of the storm. #hope #anchored #storms Click To Tweet
3. Romans 8:38-39, NASB 1995
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In times of trouble, God still loves you unconditionally.
When things go south, do you ever wonder if God still loves you? When we begin to doubt God’s love for us, let’s stand on the promise from Romans 8:38-39.
Nothing can ever take God’s love away from you.
Furthermore, when we study Scripture, we often see that trouble is a sign of God’s presence, not his absence.
4. Psalm 34:18, NIV
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
In times of trouble and heartbreak, God is close to you.
You might not feel like God is close when you are hurting, but this doesn’t change the promise that he is close to the brokenhearted.
Are you feeling crushed or brokenhearted? God is near.
He loves you deeply and wants to comfort you with his love.
5. Psalm 5:12, NIV
Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Even in times of trouble, God surrounds you like a shield.
No matter what happens in the world around you, if you humble yourself before God and lean on him by faith, he will surround you with favor as with a shield.
Nothing will reach you that has not first passed through God’s protective wings. You can trust that when God permits trouble in your life, he doesn’t enjoy it. Troubles come because we live in a broken world where human beings have free will.
Trouble exists because people make ungodly choices, life is hard, and an enemy prowls around looking for people to destroy. Nevertheless, when God permits trouble in your life, you can trust that he intends to use it for your good and his glory.
6. John 16:33, NIV
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus directly told us that life would be hard at times.
Because Jesus said it, we can expect it.
But let’s not get stuck here.
We don’t have to live in fear during troubled times. Jesus promises peace. There will be tribulation, but let’s not lose heart because Jesus has overcome the world.
Jesus already won the war. Let’s not grow discouraged as we wait for him to return and put an end to the battles we are facing. Jesus will return and make all things new.
Until then, let’s cling to the peace that comes from knowing he walks with us, hand-in-hand.
A Free Resource for Your Troubled Times and Darkest Days:
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Calling All Moms and Daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find this book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or buy a print copy for 11.99 right here.
