Your favorite bible verses / prayers for grief, worry, etc.

I am so sorry for your loss. I too have those days I cry about our little pup we lost in May last year. Here is what I wrote about it on my blog. I pray it speaks to some of you. I also did some Bible art, and I will link the post in case you want to see that. Hugs to everyone that is worrying right now. May this help you in some small way!

triplethescraps.blogspot.com/2016/05/glory-art-2016-scripture-challenge-5.html

"Happy Mother's Day Weekend sweet blog readers! I am posting the May study a day early. I thought that if some of you had time to yourselves on Mother's Day or even today, that you might enjoy this study as a time for renewal and to prepare for the week ahead. Enjoy!

The Study
This past Tuesday as I was driving, I heard this on KLOVE:

"Worrying about tomorrow robs today of its strength."

And I would add to that that worry robs us of today's joy. I immediately thought how perfect that was for my girls as they had final exams this past week. We also lost one of our precious dogs this week suddenly and unexpectedly. After I had written most of this post, I realized God did not want me to worry about how or when to tell our girls. He gave me the words, the perfect timing, and has comforted us all. I also realized that each of you also have a lot going on in your lives—end of school year craziness, job difficulties, family issues, or maybe you too just needed this reminder.

So, what is worry? Well, dictionary.com says "to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret." When I look at that definition, it is perfect. When we worry about something, we are tormenting ourselves instead of experiencing the joy that God may have for us at that moment. When we worry about something, we are suffering from disturbing thoughts. Have you ever worried about something so wonderful that it wasn't disturbing? I doubt it. In that case, we would be looking forward to it with great expectation instead of it being disturbing. When we worry about something, we fret or become eaten away by the subject of our worry. We become bound to that worry, and it eats us up. God does not want us to be chained down by worry and fear. He died so that we might be free from that. Listen to this song by Lauren Daigle called "How Can It Be."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt5X91ciE6Y

Chorus
"You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be
How can it be"

Give your worries and your fears to Him so that you can be free from the chains of worry and experience the strength and joy of the day He has given you today! He tells us to pray, give our worries to Him, and we will then experience His peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 "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."

The Life Application Study Bible says this about Philippians 4:6-7 "Imagine never being anxious about anything. It seems like an impossibility. We all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray!"

So perfect—pray, and I would add to that to listen during that time of prayer too. As I began to worry about what to tell our girls about our precious pup's passing, I turned to prayer. In that quiet moment, God told me exactly what to tell our girls. It was perfect, and as I shared the words He gave me, they were comforted. If I would have continued to give into worry and fretting over what to say, how to say it, when to say it, I would have missed the beautiful words He had for all of us. So, don't miss out on the joy, comfort, and strength He has waiting for you by worrying and fretting. Turn to Him!

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Luke 12:25 "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"

Here's my coffee mug that I use every morning.

My favorite that I cling to is Proverbs 3:5,6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. That verse got me through some dark times.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

You will call and the Lord will answer. You will cry for help and He will say: Here am I. Isaiah 58:9

Psalm 139, the entire chapter.

Phil. 4:8 - KJV - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Isaiah 49:15, 16 - NASB - Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

These are two of my favorite songs that carried me through a very, very dark season in my life.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqpJp4hD9Rg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoqN7IOijJ4

I also found the movie "The Shack" very healing.

Lisa

Romans 8:26- 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

what a perfectly timed thread. thank you for starting this.

I love this! 

I'm not a huge bible person, but this helps me from Julian of Norwich: All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of all things shall be well.


Hugs

The past 3 months have been so rough for me, health wise. I have cried and cried but I know God is always with me. Thank you all for the Bible verses!! Songs seem to help me the most when I am scared and worried. I love Lauren Daigle, Casting Crowns, Mandisa, just to name a few.

Oh, that is AWESOME. Thank you! I have shared with my girls, and will post on my FB page too. Thank you, thank you!

Oh how absolutely beautiful!!!! Thank you for sharing your experience too. I can't wait to have some down time to listen to the full thing!

scrappintoee - I don't have any Bible verses, but I do have a book that has helped me through the death of my beloved brother. It is Healing After Loss, by Martha Whitmore Hickman. I'd link it to Amazon, but I don't know how hahaha.

The book has short meditations, some are Bible verses, but most are just good words to ponder and apply to your particular grief. Brief enough not to bore, but long enough to make me think every single day about the way I want to spend my time.

After each verse/quote, she has a couple of brief paragraphs that analyze the words. It's really remarkable how helpful it has been to me over the years. I will type a quote, but not her paragraphs.

Here is one, this by Washington Irving: "The sorrow for the dead is the only sorrow from which we refuse to be divorced. Every other wound we seek to heal, every other affliction to forget; but this wound we consider it a duty to keep open; this affliction we cherish and brood over in solitude."

At the end of the page (and they are only 4x6), she states a resolution of sorts to go by. Here is the one for the Washington Irving quote: "My hope is found in my love, not in the degree of my grieving."

Like our fearless dinner thread leader, I would also encourage you to not just think about counseling, but actually take a step toward going. Make the appointment so you can get to the bottom of why you are not getting the much-needed surgery. And then go to the appointment. You'll keep going, and then one day, you'll be ready for the surgery. Readiness takes time, but you have to work toward it.

And eat a great dinner each night!!!