We’ve all had days when discouragement, inadequacy, hurt, or fear want to plague our spirits. And we find our own weak efforts do little to ease the distress.
BUT!
Praise God he provides the antidote for every malady of the soul.
What follows is a list of ways he accomplishes that healing and binding [1]. I pray these declarations may be just the antidote to strengthen your inner being:
When we worry; he reassures.
When I worried about many things,
your assuring words soothed my soul.
—Psalm 94:19 GWT
When we stress, he soothes.
“Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead’s deepest sea; be lost in His immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated.
“I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead.”
—Charles Spurgeon
When we stagger; he steadies.
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken.
—Psalm 55:22 NIV
When we struggle; he strengthens.
“With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack?” — A. W. Tozer [2]
When we falter; he lifts up.
The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
—Psalm 145:14
When we fail; he forgives.
“With [God], each day—each moment—is a clean slate” — Aliza Latta [3].
When we forget; he reminds.
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you,
“Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
—Isaiah 41:13 ESV
When we doubt; he affirms.
Dismantle doubts with declarations of truth from God’s Word, truths that remind us: his character is flawless, his actions are righteous, his power is unlimited, his love is unfailing, his faithfulness unending [4].
When we regret; he forgets.
I will forgive their sins and will
no longer remember their wrongs.”
—Hebrews 8:12 GNT
When we hunger; he fills.
Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness]
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
[those who actively seek right standing with God],
for they will be [completely] satisfied.
—Matthew 5:6 AMP
When we’re bent; he repairs.
“God is mercifully shaping our lives into what is useful and beautiful” — Eugene Peterson [5].
When we desire wrongly; he directs rightly.
For it is God who is working in you,
enabling you both to desire
and to work out his good purpose.
—Philippians 2:13 HCSB
When we’re uncertain; he guides.
“Happy are those who place their hands in that of the Great Guide. He will bring them all the way and when he has brought them home to glory and has opened their eyes to see the way by which he has led them, what a song of gratitude will they sing unto God! Lord, lead your poor blind child this day, for I know not my way” — Charles Spurgeon [6].
When we’re discouraged; he inspires
He would have us know: “Nothing under My control can ever be out of control. Everything you need I know about in every detail. Remember, I am able to supply, to guide, to start, to stop, to sustain, to change, to correct in My time and for My purposes” [7] .
Again and again he provides the antidote for every need of our souls.
Our part is simply to receive.
[1] “Binding” in Psalm 147:3 intimates holding together while an injury heals. God often allows time in combination with his antidotes to accomplish healing, fostering inner strength and perseverance in the process (James 1:2-4).
[2] Knowledge of the Holy, 70.
[3] www.incourage.com, 1-19-19
[4] Exodus 32:4; Psalm 145:17; Job 36:22-23; Psalm 117:1-2; 100:5
[5] Run with the Horses, 79.
[6] Faith’s Checkbook, March 23.
[7] Based on statements made by Chuck Swindoll in Intimacy with the Almighty, 73.
Photo credits: http://www.negativespace.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.pexels.com; http://www.canva.com.
Thanks for these encouraging words.
You’re welcome, Robert. I’m delighted you found encouragement here!
Hopefully, your inspirational post will persuade arms to open for God’s antidotes! 🙂
God bless you, Nancy, for your hopes for others.
This is so powerful. I want to reread it a few times to embed it in my brain.
TT
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Praise God for the power of his encouragement and help, as well as and his passionate desire to be positively involved in each of our lives. He’s such a gracious, loving Father!
Ahh yes 🙌🏽 when we stagger, He, the Almighty God, steadies. Love this list, my friend
So glad you found this list worthwhile, Brenda. Praise God for his inspiration!
God is faithful in all things. He will lift us up when we are feeling alone or in despair. He is my strength and my shield.
Blessings for these inspiring words, Nancy!
Yes, he’s all these things and more–HALLELUJAH! “What a mighty God we serve!” (from an praise song we used to sing in the ’90s.)
Amazingly good timing, Nancy. Your words and God’s word soothes my soul today. Thank you
Praise God for that, Jean. Sending you a virtual hug over the miles!
Praise the Lord! He has a solution for any challenge we are facing! 🙌
AMEN, Bridget! With you I praise him for his acts of power and his surpassing greatness (Psalm 150:2)!
So encouraging! I cannot tell you the many, many times that the Lord reminds me that He holds my right hand every day; what a comfort it is to me! (It has become His and my ‘thing’.) And this part at well: “When we regret; he forgets. I will forgive their sins and will no longer remember their wrongs.” —Hebrews 8:12 GNT
Satan tries to get me to hold onto my guilt so that I cannot move forward with my witness to others, but I pray the Holy Spirit to intervene on my behalf to ‘let it go’!
Praise God for these victories in your life, Cheri. Indeed, “let it go” is a wise choice when it comes to rehashing sins already confessed and forgiven!
“When we stagger; he steadies.” I love the simplicity yet powerfulness of that proclamation.
No doubt inspired by our Heavenly Father himself–thank you, Dave!
That Jesus is our Enough in everything, no matter what, is so abundantly full of love, compassion, and power. Thank you so much for this, Nancy. It’s soul-filled truth that makes all the difference in the world. And I needed this today.
To see a list of God’s loving actions toward us, one after the other, does increase their impact. What a generous and compassionate Father he is! His truth DOES make all the difference in the world. So glad this post ministered to you today, Dayle!
I needed a ‘clean slate’ this morning. I messed up yesterday, so it’s comforting to know His truths are here as a reminder. Thank you…
Our Heavenly Father is beautifully gracious, ready to give us a clean slate as we come to him with our confession! Hallelujah!
Amen!
Thank you for sharing this post with us…so very inspiring! These are great verses to meditate upon. I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead!!!
Thank you, Linda. I’m so glad you found inspiration here–praise God!
Nancy,
Oh to feel that closeness. Our days are darker and things are cranking up for sure.
Thank you, Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Praise God for his truth and promises that provide strength and comfort!
Blessings Nancy for your diligence in researching this testament. Whether through God’s wisdom, witness of modern thinkers and writers, and the journey of those in the Old Testament, there are endless antidotes. God’s peace.
Thank you Richard. Indeed–praise God for that endless supply!