God's Promises in Trials

It was the 1990s, and my husband had just been diagnosed with a non-curable (at the time) form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The children were 16, 14, 10, and 7. An envelop arrived in the mail ... and it did immeasurable good.  (Well, immeasurable by me, anyway. I'm sure the angels are still keeping track.) A reader had sent me a copy of something her pastor gave to people facing tough times. A few pieces of paper stapled together. A promise from the Bible and Scripture illuminating the promise. The verses had been typed out. No effort needed. Just read. Be comforted. Hang on. 

I carried that gift with me for years and referenced it countless times. By God's grace, I hung on. All these years later, that gift still speaks to me personally. But it's gone further. When I speak on the subject "Got Hope?", I offer that hand-out ... with a slight change. I encourage others to select the verses that are most meaningful to them ... in the version they are most familiar with ... and then to write those out so that they, too, will have a lifeline ready when it's needed. No effort. Just read. Be comforted. Hang on.

So today, I offer the content of that hand-out below, along with a few of my favorite verses. But you will find your own.

 "Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance." 2 Thessalonians 3:16

God's Promises in Trials

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

          Romans 8:28-39            2 Corinthians 4:16-18

            Philippians 4:19             Ephesians 1:22-23

            2 Corinthians 9:8           2 Timothy 4:18

            Ephesians 1:13-14         I Peter 5:6-7

            John 1:16-17

                   

OUR LIFE IS NOT OUR OWN

          Colossians 3:1-3            I John 5:4-5

            Ephesians 2:6               John 5:24

            Galatians 2:20               John 16:33

            I Corinthians 6:19-20

GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR

          2 Timothy 1:7               John 3:17-18

            I John 4:18                   2 Corinthians 3:17

            Luke 12:25-26               Psalms 118:5-6

            Matthew 6:31-34           Hebrews 4:9-10

            Psalms 34:4                  Matthew 6:25-26

            John 14:27                    Philippians 4:6-7

            Matthew 10:29-31

WHEN WE ARE FAITHLESS, HE IS FAITHFUL

          I Corinthians 1:9           Matthew 6:28-30

            I Corinthians 10:13        Hebrews 6:17-20

            Hebrews 10:23              James 1:5

            2 Timothy 2:13              Romans 5:3-5

            Hebrews 13:5-6             John 6:35

            2 Thessalonians 3:3      Psalms 68:19

WHEN WE ARE WEAK, HE IS STRONG

          2 Corinthians 12:9-10    Isaiah 30:21

            2 Corinthians 1:3-4        I Peter 1:6-7

          Hebrews 4:16               Ephesians 3:20-12

            Matthew 11:28-30         James 1:2-4

          2 Thessalonians 2:16-17    Jude 1:24-25                 

           Ephesians 3:12