CHAPTER 1

ASSURANCE

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."

Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV

"I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you."

Joshua 1:5

"But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction."

Job 36:15 NIV

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for thou alone, O Lord, makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 RSV

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9:10

This God—his way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:30

You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

Psalm 30:11-12

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.

Psalm 34:17-19

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22 NIV 1984

One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.

Psalm 62:11-12 NIV 1984

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Psalm 68:5 NIV

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

Psalm 85:10-11 NIV

Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Psalm 97:11

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.

Psalm 116:15

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; ... he upholds the widow and the fatherless.

Psalm 146:8-9 ESV

He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.

Isaiah 40:29

I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:13b

I will satisfy the weary, and all who are faint I will replenish.

Jeremiah 31:25

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."

John 11:25-26 RSV

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

John 15:7

"Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

John 16:22 NIV

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 RSV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

"For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39 RSV

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9a

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

James 4:8

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10-11

"[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more."

Revelation 21:4

CHAPTER 2

COMFORT

"It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed."

Deuteronomy 31:8 RSV "As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause. He does great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number ... he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety."

Job 5:8-9, 11

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Psalm 16:7-8

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23 RSV

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.

Psalm 31:9

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

Psalm 46:1-3

But I am lowly and in pain; let your salvation, O God, protect me.

Psalm 69:29

You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my honor, and comfort me once again.

Psalm 71:19b-21

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Psalm 119:28

This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life.

Psalm 119:50

For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

Isaiah 49:13b

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Matthew 5:4

"Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

John 14:1-3 RSV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

CHAPTER 3

ENCOURAGEMENT

"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread ... for it is the Lordyour God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 RSV

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 RSV

Indeed, you are my lamp, O Lord, the Lord lightens my darkness.

2 Samuel 22:29

Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually.

1 Chronicles 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

Psalm 25:4

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:13-14

Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Psalm 30:5b

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Psalm 32:8

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Psalm 36:9

Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

"Be still, and know that I am God!"

Psalm 46:10

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4 NIV 1984

Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor.

Psalm 73:23-24

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.

Psalm 105:4

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:5-7

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:2 NIV 1984

And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21

Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31

Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 RSV

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Do not fear, I will help you."

Isaiah 41:13

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

Isaiah 60:19 NIV

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted ... To comfort all who mourn ... Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1-3 NASB

When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:34 NIV

"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

Romans 5:3-4 RSV

To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 NIV

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

Romans 12:12

We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

Romans 14:7-8

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.

Ephesians 6:10

But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV

The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

1 Timothy 5:5 NIV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 NIV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV

CHAPTER 4

FAITH

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts.

Psalm 28:7

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say "You are my God."

Psalm 31:14

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:1-3

But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.

Psalm 141:8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.

Proverbs 16:9

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord GOD you have an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:4

In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.

Isaiah 30:15

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-3

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness ... For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.

2 Peter 1:3-7