Ten Bible Passages to Cheer Your Soul
By John A Carroll
Week 39 in the Word—September 24-30, 2021
Do you ever wake up before daybreak with sad or fearful thoughts? I do. How do you handle gloomy thoughts in the dark hours of the night?
I often turn to Bible verses that I have memorized to quiet my heart and mind. One verse which brings me comfort is Psalm 94:19:
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
Recently while I was tossing and turning, I thought about God’s consolations that cheer my soul. I began to list some that often help me in those grim times. These consolations are grounded in God’s promises, not mere wishful thinking.
1. God knows us, cares for us, and will get us safely home. Psalm 23. It begins “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want” and ends “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
2. He assures us of the gift of eternal life. John 10:27-29. Continuing with the shepherd motif of our relationship to God, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand…and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”
3. We stand secure as forgiven children. Romans 8. The whole chapter consoles but especially these verses.
v. 1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
v. 28-39
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it is written,
“For your 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 rulers, 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.
4. He gives us peace when we bring our worries to Him in prayer.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
5. God told Aaron to give His blessing to His people. Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
6. If we trust God, He knows us and keeps us safe in trouble. Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble and He knows those who trust in Him.”
7. Through Christ’s blood (not our good works) we are forgiven and cleansed. I John 1:7-9
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
8. All that we need has been provided by a wise and gracious God. II Peter 1:3-4
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
9. God is always with us.
Isaiah 41:10 “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 righteous right hand.”
10. In the depths of darkness, He welcomes our cry.
Psalm 130: 1-4
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.”
So, this is my go-to list of Bible passages that cheer my soul. How about you? Do you have a list? Which verses give you reassurance? How many can you quote from memory?
Have a great week in the Word and may His consolations cheer your soul!
Week of September 24-30, 2021
September 24/Day 267 Legalism Dies Hard (Isaiah 1-3; Galatians 2)
September 25/Day 268 Heart Check Time (Isaiah 4-6; Galatians 3)
September 26/Day 269 Amazing Grace, Indeed! (Isaiah 7-9; Galatians 4)
September 27/Day 270 Unquenchable Joy (Isaiah 10-12; Galatians 5)
September 28/Day 271 Judgment—Maybe Today? (Isaiah 13-15; Galatians 6)
September 29/Day 272 God’s Re-purpose Project (Isaiah 16-18; Ephesians 1)
September 30/Day 273 Spiritual Desperation—Are You There? (Isaiah 19-21; Ephesians 2)
This schedule and devotionals are taken from my book Concealed and Revealed: a year in the old and new testaments. Available here.