Hi, Sweet Circle. 

It has been a week!  I have struggled a little bit emotionally over the last couple weeks due to the accumulation of several unexpected changes.    Here are some of the changes that came my way over the last 10 days…

  • New meds to add to my routine for my autoimmune disease as the other meds are not strong enough on their own.
  • New dietary adjustments due to new meds.
  • Close Contact exposure to a COVID positive person.
  • Five days of isolation and five days of masking to ensure my safety and the safety of others.
  • Cancellation of my small group social activity due to isolation.
  • Cancellation of volunteering at church due to isolation.
  • Feelings of loneliness due to staying home and away from people during this time.

It felt like a lot of change to me and honestly, I was down in the dumps for a few days.  However, I love that my God (and my loving husband) did not leave me there.  I was not alone, and I am finding peace of mind and peace in my soul by reading some of my favorite verses in Scripture.  I wanted to share these with you too in case you need a little pick-me-up!

REST:

  • “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation.” ~Genesis 2:3
  • “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28
  • “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” ~Psalm 4:8

PEACE:

  • “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7
  • “The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” ~Psalm 29:11
  • “The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” ~Romans 8:6

THANKFULNESS:

  • “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” ~Psalm 107:8-9
  • “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” ~Colossians 2:6-7
  • “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.” ~Psalm 30:11-12
  • “The Lord is my strength , and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” ~Psalm 28:7
  • “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:18

COMFORT:

  • “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” ~Zephaniah 3:17
  • “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” ~Psalm 34:18
  • “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.” ~Deuteronomy 33:12

HEALING:

  • “‘I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security,’ says the Lord.” ~ Jeremiah 33:6
  • “He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” ~1 Peter 2:24
  • “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” ~Psalm 103:2-3

Oh, my…this barely cracks the surface of the life-giving words and truths I have found in Scripture. I have found so much comfort in tough times by resting in the arms of Jesus the words of love He shares with me in His book. I have also used it to celebrate with passages of praise and worship to honor our God. I pray that you too find the passages above to be helpful and I hope to share more with you in our time ahead.

I have come to love a good Bible concordance which provides an alphabetized list of words found in Scripture. If you are needing scripture on strength, or peace, or courage, or even scripture on finances, a concordance will lead you to those topics in the Bible. Biblegateway.com is a great online concordance and Scripture reference tool. Many Bibles offer a concordance in the back pages. We also may consult with Dr. Google…as my daughter’s professor likes to call it…to lead us to some websites that have already compiled these lists by topic. Have fun searching for Scripture that will breathe life and love into you!

QUESTIONS TO PONDER: (Please share in Comments section.)

  • What are your favorite Scripture verses?
  • Do you have any reference tools you like to use?
  • Do you remember a time when God met you in your pain through Scripture or a song? Tell us about it!

PRAYER:

Abba, Father. You are our Creator and Comforter. You desire all our praise and thanksgiving. Thank You, Lord, for Your words of love and guidance to us through the Holy Bible. Your Word give us life and hope through your Son Jesus. Help us to turn to You and your Word before we turn to worldly places and people in our time of need and in our time of celebration. You are our center, our foundation, our strength. Thank you, Lord, for Your sacrifice and unconditional love. Amen.

Hugs & blessings,

Stacy