Verses of Encouragement in Difficult Times

The following are verses from my daily quiet time posted to FaceBook between March 17 and April 9, 2020. When facing challenging circumstances it may be helpful to commit some of these passages to memory. Bible study classes could take one verse per week, memorize the passage or a shorter version of it and quote it together the following class period.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress. (Ps.107:28)

I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Ps. 18:1-2)

For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you. (Isa. 41:13-NIV)

Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me. (Ps. 50:14-15)

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord;
in you I take refuge…(Ps. 141:8a)

I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
For what you have done I will always praise you
in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
for your name is good. (Ps. 52:8-9-NIV)

Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. (Ps. 23:4-NIV)

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life. (Ps. 143:8)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you. (Ps. 84:11-12)

Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken. (Ps 55:22-NIV)

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me. (Ps. 86:5-7-NIV)

I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord. (Ps. 27:13-14)

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. (Ps. 118:5-6a) NIV

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace. (Ps. 29:10-11)NIV

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Ps 30:4-5 NIV)

Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge. (Ps 31:3-4 NIV

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” (Ps 91:1-2)

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Ps 32:6-7-NIV)

We wait for Yahweh;
He is our help and shield.
For our hearts rejoice in Him
because we trust in His holy name.
May Your faithful love rest on us, Yahweh,
for we put our hope in You. (Ps 33: 20-22-HCSB)

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!
You who are His holy ones, fear Yahweh,
for those who fear Him lack nothing.
Young lions lack food and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord
will not lack any good thing. (Ps. 34:8-10)

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,
and may those who love Your name boast about You.
For You, Lord, bless the righteous one;
You surround him with favor like a shield. (Ps 5:11-12-HCSB)

For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance. (Ps 66:10-12) NIV

Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;

The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
24  though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
(selected from Ps. 37-NIV)

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. (Ps. 68:19-20-NIV)

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Ps. 9:9-10-NIV)