With every season comes an opportunity to experience God in a whole new way.
When we're doing well in life and every day seems bright and hopeful, we get to experience His goodness and abundant blessings. When we're walking through the valley of shadows and everything seems dark and uncertain, this too is an opportunity to experience His goodness—even though it doesn't seem like it!
No matter what, your life experience will ultimately connect you with God in a unique way. Your specific trials and triumphs will draw you closer to Him. While we can certainly take comfort in this, it's hard to let this reality sink in when we're in desperate need of restoration, or when a loved one needs to be healed. We need reminders of God's healing power, and we need it every single day.
We live in a broken world. We exist in the messy in-between where Jesus has defeated death but we're still waiting for Him to return. His kingdom is here but not yet here. Sin and illness still exist and we must face this reality every day. So how do we move forward in a world like this? How do we have hope when our hearts are aching, when we're faced with a grief too heavy to bear? We must turn to the Bible.
Without further ado, here are our favorite Bible verses for healing and comfort.
"Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 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." ~ Psalm 143:7-8
The Psalms are always a go-to resource for prayers. Oftentimes we don't have the words to fully express the deepest cries of our hearts. That's where the prayers of David come in. With beautiful poetry and vivid metaphors, the Psalms truly serve as templates for prayer when we need it most. Consider the passage above. Like the promise of each new morning, of each new daybreak, we can count on the Lord to reveal His love to us. He is worthy of our trust, no matter what we're facing.
"'I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel's mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,' says the Lord, 'And I will heal them.'" ~ Isaiah 57:18-19
While this Old Testament passage is addressing the Israelites during their exile and persecution, we still find it extremely timely. The God of Israel back in the Old Testament is the same God we serve today. While the book of Isaiah largely relays God's judgment on His rebelling people, it also is a tremendous testament of hope. The prophet Isaiah is reminding the Israelites that no matter what current trials they're encountering now, God's covenant promises will be fulfilled and His blessings will follow. This is true for you, too. We can always count on God to right our wrongs, even though we can't see it yet.
Just as Isaiah reminded the Israelites that redemption was coming, (Jesus, the future king would deliver them) we're reminding you of God's future glory which will be made manifest. The trials you're experiencing will come to an end and the healing you've been looking for will be presented to you.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~ Matthew 11:28
This familiar passage is a much-needed reminder from Jesus Himself. He knows how our broken world takes a heavy toll on us. Since He sacrificed Himself and bore the sins of the world on His shoulders, we have a Savior who can relate to our struggles. In times of hardship, we often turn to this passage. We encourage you to meditate on it, too. Let these words remind you of how accessible Jesus is to you, even now.
"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise." ~ Jeremiah 17:14
This petition for God to heal and redeem us is a powerful plea. Similar to the book of Isaiah, Jeremiah once again is about God sending a prophet to the people of Israel to warn them of His impending judgment. While Jeremiah warns the people in Jerusalem of their sin, urging them to repent and hold fast to their covenant with God, there is an element of hope to be found here, too. Despite the impending tragedy of Israelites being punished and exiled for their sin, God is still reaching out to them, giving them another chance at redemption. This second chance is available for you as well. No matter what you've done, you can always turn to God and find peace in Him.
The book of Jeremiah also showcases how He is a jealous God. He wants to be close to you. He wants a relationship with you. Just as God continually pursues the Israelites, He is pursuing you. He won't let you go.
"LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress." ~ Isaiah 33:2
This is a wonderful passage to meditate on first thing in the morning. The next time you're overwhelmed, turn to this verse. We're tired in our bodies. We're tired of this broken world. We long for restoration. We long for Jesus.
Remember How Loved You Are
Whatever you're facing, God loves you more than we could ever begin to express. Sometimes, the best thing we can do to make it through the day is set up reminders of this great love. Consider reading the Bible, reaching out to God in prayer, or connecting with your loved ones. Through His power and ability, you can make it through this storm. Looking for a powerful reminder of this? Check out our collection of Christian t-shirts.