Biblical Passages For Tough Times

We need biblical encouragement during these difficult days:

During these deeply troubling times that we are living through, with not just Covid and all that has gone with it, but now Ukraine today, and possibly Taiwan in the near future, Christians can be quite anxious and worried. It is not just non-Christians whose hearts can be troubled and disturbed by these events.

The more our world seems to be crumbling all around us, the more we need an unchanging and eternal God that we can run to, take shelter in, and depend upon. And sometimes it is best to say as little as possible, and just let God speak through his Word.

There would be hundreds of great passages that we can cling to during such times as this. Here I want to just offer some key biblical passages that have come to mind of late:

Psalm 2:1-4
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.

Psalm 34:17
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 37:1-2
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 72:26
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 94:19
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Isaiah 35:4
Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’

Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.

John 14:1
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

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.”

Romans 8:38-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Revelation 21:1-4
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Feel free to add your own favourite passages here.

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