September 5, 2017

6 Verses To Help You Through


A couple months ago, I asked my younger daughter to pray for me about a struggle I'd been messing with for a while. I told her I just felt stuck, like I'd been going around and around in a revolving door and couldn't get out. 

My 14-year-old asked a few questions--looking for a little more detail--then promised to pray.

A day or so later, she handed me a piece of notebook paper filled front and back with her handwriting. At the top, she'd written, "Bible Verses To Help You Through." 



After I'd read just one verse and her personal commentary on it, I:
  • Thanked her in awe and gratitude.
  • Asked if I could share it. Because isn't everybody trying to get through something? 

Maybe you're just at the beginning of "through." Maybe you're feeling stuck in the middle of the middle of the middle. Maybe the end is in sight, but you're soul-weary from the journey.

Wherever you're at, I pray these verses and reflections from my sweet girl--shared here with her permission and blessing--will encourage your heart and mind. 


"But the Lord said to her, 'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about.' " (Luke 10:41, 42a, NLT)

"Your unfailing love is better than life itself." (Psalm 63:3, NLT)

"You satisfy me more than the richest feast." (Psalm 63:5a, NLT)

These verses help me to have a better perspective on things. They're a good reminder that the things we are worried about and stress over hold no importance compared to God. The things on earth we allow to hold our delight and joy do not begin to compare to Him and His love for us--His unfailing love that will never leave us empty or needing more, like earthly things do.

"God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?" (Number 23:19, NLT)

This verse puts me at ease. Naturally, as humans, we change constantly. This verse helps me to find peace in the fact that the One Who is greater than any other is constant. We never have to worry that He will change or that His love for us will change. He will always be consistently perfect.



"For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me--the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!" (Jeremiah 2:13, NLT)

Again, this verse helps me to get a better perspective. We become so upset when worldly things we take delight in fail, yet that is what they're bound to do! He is the only, only, only one who can fulfill us.

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (Psalm 139:16, NLT)

I think this verse offers peace, too. There is not one event that will take place in our lives that is too much for God. One bad event, or even many, isn't going to derail His outstanding plan for us. He has a great plan for us, immensely greater than what ours could ever be, and His plan works with the bad times, too.


And here's one add-on from me...

"The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. He lets me lie down in the fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head. My cup runs over. I am sure that your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23, NIRV)

I loved the fresh insight I gained into this familiar psalm the other day during my devotional reading from Revealing Jesus, by Darlene Zschech. She quotes the Reverend Derek Kidner about verse 4, which is often translated "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death": "Only the Lord can lead a man through death; all other guides turn back, and the traveler must go on alone." 

Maybe you feel like you're walking through a dark valley right now. Maybe you're going through loss caused by death or the letting-go of dreams or hopes or just the expectation of what your life would look like. Whatever you're going through, Yahweh-raah--God as shepherd--is with you.


Do you have a favorite "get through" verse? 
I'd love to have you share it here or over on my Facebook page.

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Previous posts that might have something to do with this one:

This post may have been shared at some of these blog link parties.

43 comments:

  1. Golly, Jeepers, you have such great girls!!! <3

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    1. Aw, thank you, my sweet friend! I can't take any credit...God made them wonderful, and I've just tried not to mess them up too much. ;) They instruct and convict me every day.

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  2. Elizabeth, you have an amazing daughter :) Just the other day I heard a great man of God say these very words "Sometimes God gives us children so that they can teach us as well " I would say in this post your daughter taught us all how to rely on the Word for any struggles we undergo.

    Blessings,
    Visiting you from jaimeweibel(#5)

    Diana
    http://dianasdiaries.com

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    1. Yes, indeed, Diana! That wonderful quote you shared has proven so true in my life as a mom. God has used my children over and over again to take me places with Him I'm not sure I could or would have gone any other way. Thank you so much for stopping by from #SittingAmongFriends!

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  3. What a blessing and encouragement to have your daughter put this list together for you!!! Warms my mama heart for sure! Thank her for allowing you to share it with us. Truly God's Word has the answer to every problem and situation we're facing.

    Continuing to pray for your older daughter and her college transition. Have a great day!!

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    1. Aw, thank you so much, Tracey! I know you know firsthand the joy and conviction of being taught by the children we as moms are supposed to be teaching. It is a full-circle thing of beauty when it happens. I'm honored to have had the chance to share my not-so-little girl's words here. And thank you SO much for your prayers...we're just a couple days in, but so far my new college student is feeling pretty good about this amazing new season. So much to look forward to, and going along for the ride as her mom is a great privilege. Blessings to you and your sweet ones in the new school year, too!

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  4. This is a treasure, Elizabeth! I always enjoy finding something new at your blog, and you have a great surprise for us today. I'm glad your daughter has a heart of faith--what a blessing!

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    1. Well, bless your heart and thank you, Sarah! Honestly, my daughter had a great surprise for me the day she casually handed me those two pieces of paper. There are no words to express how knocked-down grateful I am she has that "heart of faith," as you so beautifully put it. Thank you so much!

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  5. Elizabeth! I'm thrilled that your daughter has a deep, abiding love for our God--and that she is sharing it with those she loves! WOW! Can't wait to see what God has in store for her. What a treasure! It's beautiful that she shared *her* treasure with you. Thank you for sharing your daughter's heart with us, today. I love this: "He is the only, only, only one who can fulfill us."

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    1. Thank you, Dianne...I'm thrilled, too! I was much older than 14 before I really started to grasp the whole idea behind what a personal relationship with God looks like in daily life, and I never wanted my girls to wait that long. I'm grateful from the depths of my mom soul to see both my daughters daily drawing closer to Abba. Thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving your thoughtful feedback!

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  6. Wow, just wow!! What a wonderful blessing Elizabeth! There is nothing like the faith-filled encouragement of our babes. Thank you so much for sharing this at the Link Party! It blessed me big time!!

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    1. Yes and amen, Deb! I am blessed, humbled, and convicted again and again by my girls and the way they are growing in their faith before my very eyes. Compared to that, nothing else really matters. Thank you so much for hosting Faith'n'Friends!

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  7. This is awesome! Thank you to you and your daughter for sharing it!

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    1. Thank you so much, Laura! I was JUST reading the teaser for your own post about being stuck and letting go of dreams. In other words, the lands I'm living in right now. Blessings to you...I'm so grateful to have "met" you today!

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  8. Wow! What a blessing! I LOVE when God uses our children to remind us of His truths. Just this morning, I am crying because of something major going on in our lives and my 9 year old came up to me and said, "Mommy, let;s pray! Dear God, please make the things that are going on get better because it is making my mommy dad and I don't like it when she's sad...I know you are with us and will never leave us..."

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    1. Oh. My. Word. Linda, WHAT a moment for you with your 9-year-old! Doesn't that just prove in the most beautiful way the truth of Jesus' words about coming to God with the faith of a child? I echo that precious prayer and pray that God will be huge for you in the storm you're going through. Thank you so much for taking time to stop by and encourage me with your words and that sweet prayer!

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  9. That is just precious! I love this. It’s so encouraging. I’m sharing this with others, and a big thank you to your daughter and you for sharing this here today. My favorite go to for getting through the tough stuff is the book of Psalms and Hebrews 12:1-2

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    1. Thank you, Leslie...both for your kind words and for sharing my daughter's heart and thoughts! She pretty much blew me away, and it wasn't the first time. And yes, yes, yes to your go-to "tough stuff" resources! If that was all we had, it would be more than enough. Bless you, and thank you again so much!

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  10. She is absolutely amazing. I bet you are so very proud of her. Sometimes we need to share our struggles with our children and they can help us to see the light. Plus I think it also makes them realize we struggle just like they do.

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    1. Thank you, Tracy! I am very proud of her! :) I'm also so happy and grateful she's made the early faith her dad and I tried to pass along since she was born her own. And you are 100% right about sharing struggles with our kids...as you so wisely point out, it has benefits that go both ways. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your thoughtful comment!

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  11. You and your daughter have made me thankful for all of God's glorious prepositions: He's WITH us; He helps us get THROUGH; He's IN the struggle beside us. Such a blessing to read this mother/daughter interaction!

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    1. What a lovely observation, Michele..."God's glorious prepositions." I LOVE that! Years ago, my older daughter learned a "chant" in English class that was essentially a long alphabetical list of prepositions (above, aboard, beyond, beneath...). Thank you for your thoughtful reminder today that God is Lord of and in ALL these! Bless you!

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  12. Elizabeth, Your daughters words are such a beautiful testimony to your raising her in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

    I found so much encouragement in these verses and the added commentary. As I read Psalm 63:3, I read it as if I hadn't before. I know I have, but I found myself repeating it over and over again and just feeling such joy and peace.

    Thanks so much for sharing and it was so nice to come back for a visit! :-)

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    1. Hello, Karen...what a sweet delight to hear from you today! I'm so glad my daughter's words resonated..they certainly struck me. I have failed again and again as a mom, to be sure, but our gracious God nonetheless uses me to teach my children and, more so, them to teach me. Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  13. Love this Elizabeth! Verses can bolster everyone, and seeing your daughter in this light is beautiful. Thank you for sharing with Encouraging Hearts & Home - you've been chosen to be featured this week!

    Marissa
    Reading List

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    1. Oh my goodness, thank you so much, Marissa...both for your kind words here and for the lovely honor of being featured at Encouraging Hearts & Home! Bless you! Heading there right now! :)

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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to tell me what you really think. Years ago, I explained to my then-two-year-old that my appointment with a counselor was "sort of like going to a doctor who will help me be a better mommy." Without blinking, she replied, "You'd better go every day." All of which is just to say I've spent some time in the school of brutal honesty!