Sometimes we lack the right words that address what we’re going through.
We may not even have our own words inside our heads to explain the issue at hand. But God’s Word, it always has meaning for each of us in all seasons of life.
My biggest struggle over most of my adult life has been with happiness. I was constantly reaching for the happy jar or the happy place. Instead I had happy moments, but they were fleeting.
It took a lot of heartache and searching to realize that we are not called to be happy, but we are commanded to have joy. That took a lot for me to understand in my struggles. It’s when I let go and dove into God’s Word that I finally got it.
Here is a list of verses that bring hope to those struggling to find joy and encouragement through God’s Word.
James 1:2-3 NIV “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Psalm 42:11 NIV “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Romans 5: 3-5 ESV “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
John 14:27 MEV “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Romans 8:18-21 NASB “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, [a]in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Psalm 34:18 ESV “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 30:5 ESV “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Joshua 1:9 CSB “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 118:24 MEV “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
John 16:22 NKJV “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”
