Elizabeth Laing Thompson's Blog
May 12, 2023
When Mother’s Day Is Hard
Mother’s Day is a beautiful concept: Let’s honor the women we admire! Let’s love up on our mothers and grandmothers and aunts and mother-figures and mama friends—yay, moms! Mother’s Day sounds so simple, but for many of us, it’s not. It’s… complicated. It’s a day all atangle with confusing feelings of disappointment, heartache, loneliness, loss, and even regret.
Mother’s Day can be difficult for a million reasons:
Maybe your mom, or a woman you love, has passed.
Maybe your relationship with your mother is strained or nonexistent.
Maybe you long to be a mother, but you can’t get pregnant, or you’ve suffered a miscarriage. All you can think about is the baby you should be holding.
Or maybe you have the blessing of little ones, and you wish motherhood was all sticky-fingered hugs and smiles and cuteness, but right now it’s mostly messy and exhausting and overwhelming (and that makes you feel guilty).
Maybe you secretly long to feel loved and valued by your family, to know they appreciate all your sacrifices—but instead you feel overworked and overlooked.
Maybe your relationship with your children is difficult or distant, and Mother’s Day only highlights how much you wish things were different.
The list of difficult feelings could go on. I’ve walked through several painful Mother’s Days: the years we lost my grandmothers, the years we couldn’t get pregnant, the year we’d lost a pregnancy, and now my parents and family are suffering as my father’s memory fades.
If you already know this Mother’s Day is going to be difficult for you, I encourage you not to just grit your teeth and muscle through the weekend. Please begin taking care of your heart by taking your feelings to God in prayer. These words in 1 Peter remind us that we can take all our anxieties—and any feelings—to God: “Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). If it matters to you, it matters to God. He wants to hear about it. Share your sorrows with God, asking him to find ways to soften your pain this weekend, then keep an eye out for the ways he shows up to comfort you. If you pay attention, I bet you’ll experience quiet moments of kindness or encouragement when God whispers, “I’m here and I see you. You’re not alone.”
And my friend, I encourage you to find at least one person you can open up to: a friend, a family member, a spouse, a therapist. Tell them why your heart is heavy, and ask them to pray for you and check on you this weekend. I know this is hard. I don’t always want to be vulnerable and share my sorrows with people—maybe I don’t want to be selfish or draw attention to myself when I feel like I “should” be joyful, or maybe I don’t want to burden others with my pain, or maybe I just don’t want to talk about a hard thing—but I always feel better when I push through and share my feelings. The burden feels lighter, like maybe I can carry it after all, now that I’m not carrying it alone.
If you have friends or loved ones who may find Mother’s Day difficult, here are a few ways you can support them:
* Simply acknowledge their pain. Make a call, write a card, send a text… You don’t have to be eloquent—just say something simple like, “I know this day may be hard for you, and you’ll be in my prayers. I’m here if you need to talk.” Don’t underestimate the power of a small gesture. Your words won’t take away their hurt, but they may soften it a little.
* Send a friend a digital gift card so they can splurge on their favorite cup of coffee. (You know I am a huge believer in the healing power of coffee. Even if the healing is only temporary. ;-))
* Send flowers to a woman you know is lonely or hurting.
* Express admiration to your mom friends who may be feeling a bit tired or unappreciated in their mothering. What a gift it is to feel seen by your friends!
* Ask your pastor to consider setting up a table at your Mother’s Day service where people can pause to pray. Every Mother’s Day, our church lights a candle in honor of the loved ones we have lost and the heartaches we carry, and we place it on a table. All throughout the fellowship, people stop by that table. They may take a private moment to remember a loved one or a lost pregnancy, or to say a prayer for themselves or for someone else who is hurting. It’s a simple thing, but it allows meaningful space for grief and remembrance for those who need it.
This Mother’s Day, here are a few scriptures to read on your own or share with a friend who may be hurting.
If you’re grieving…
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:17-18)
If you are estranged from your mother…
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)
If mothering is hard…
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
If you need hope while you’re waiting…
I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him. (Lamentations 3:19-25)
If you need to feel seen, loved, and appreciated by God this weekend, take comfort from the beautiful words of Psalm 37. Not only does he direct your steps and pick you up when you fall, he delights in you. Imperfect as we are, our Father still sees the best of who we are—the people we are striving to be—and we make him happy and proud:
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand. (Psalm 37:23-34 NLT)
Want to share this article with a friend? Thank you!
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April 19, 2023
Scriptures to Help Kids Deal with Friend Problems
“Mama, something happened at school today. A problem with a friend.”
My girl’s eyes fill with tears, and out pours the story.
Honestly? We haven’t just had this conversation once; we’ve had it many times. And it almost always comes up in those quiet, just-before-bed moments when we’re alone and her mind is finally uncluttered enough to look back on the day.
More honesty? I treasure these conversations. I don’t want my girl to face issues at school, but I’m thankful she’s willing to share the real stuff with me. To invite me in to her friend world and let me speak into it.
I’ve learned to slow down and lean into these conversations. To not just jump in with my pre-loaded Mama Wisdom, my two-minute, let’s-fix-this-fast-before-bedtime advice. I’ve learned to dig deeper with questions like these:
How did it start? Did something else happen before this situation happened? Does this kind of thing happen often?
What do you think the other person was feeling?
What did you say? And what else did you say?
What did she say? And what else did she say?
How did you feel afterward? How do you feel now?
What do you think you should do from here?
Questions like these draw our children out. They help us get a fuller picture of what’s really going on with their friendships. They help us not jump to conclusions before we uncover the whole story. When we feel angry because we think our kid was wronged, clarifying questions can help us uncover the other side of the story, discovering ways our child may have unintentionally contributed to a problem or exacerbated a conflict. Clarifying questions may help us discover some other factors at play beyond the one argument: maybe a bully keeps pushing our child’s buttons, or a gossip-loving friend keeps pulling them into drama, or our child is being tempted by the pull of popularity.
Conversations like this give us opportunities to teach our kids social skills, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. They also give us opportunities to shepherd our children’s hearts into godly ways of thinking, speaking, and acting. Whatever the situation—whether the problem is our child’s fault or not, whether it’s an easy fix or not—we can always apply a scripture to the situation and invite God into the conversation with prayer. Opening the Bible in real-world conversations teaches our kids that God’s Word is not just a book we read at church; it is truly useful—it has real meaning, power, and help for their everyday life. And praying about friend issues teaches our kids that God cares about their daily problems and relationships, and that even when we can’t change or fix a situation, or we don’t know what to do, we can invite God to work… then watch what he does.
Here are some scriptures our family has found helpful in various friendship situations:
When your kid has a gossipy friend group or needs to resist the temptation to gossip:
A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. Proverbs 16:28
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. Proverbs 18:8
Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Proverbs 26:20
When your kid needs to be patient and forgiving toward a friend (or sibling!) who still has some growing to do:
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)
When your kid feels picked on by a kid who is jealous of them or has it out for them, try reading this verse, then putting it into practice by regularly praying for the other child:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
When your kid needs to keep a healthy distance from a “friend” who keeps hurting or manipulating them, these verses are helpful:
Bad company corrupts good character. 1 Corinthians 15:33
There are six things the Lord hates—
no, seven things he detests:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family. (Proverbs 6:16-19)
A few thoughts on this passage: God doesn’t want us to be self-righteous, but there are times we need to stay away from harmful situations or people. We don’t need to be besties with bullies or kids who are habitually dishonest and destructive. As parents, let’s teach our kids to show compassion and grace toward children who are struggling, but also help them determine how and when it’s time to draw boundaries in friendship. (And when we aren’t sure what to do, we can pray for wisdom and invite input from other godly parents.)
“Do not give to dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, then turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6)
There’s some debate over what, exactly, Jesus meant by this metaphor. But we can encourage our kids not to repeatedly offer the pearls of their trust and friendship to kids who are cruel and manipulative—kids who abuse their trust and kindness. We can and should pray for those children to change, and we can always be kind, but we can also keep a healthy distance.
I hope these clarifying questions and scriptures prove helpful to your family as you equip your children to cultivate healthy friendships and as you teach them to bring God into every area of life. What a privilege and joy it is to shepherd our children’s hearts in faith and in friendship!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
10 Bible Verses to Read When You’re Overwhelmed
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June 11, 2021
When You Need to Embrace Vulnerability
He has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. . . . He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:7, 16)
I wake up weeping, though I can’t remember why. I open my eyes—harsh light, white walls, masked nurse—and as the tears slide hot into my ears, memory comes crashing back: The surgery. The pregnancy. The tiny heart, flat and still.
“Oh love.” A nurse tut-tuts, bustling overhead, closing curtains around me. As if they could contain my cries. As if they could block the pain. As if they could raise the dead.
A week after my miscarriage, a job change moved us away from family, friends, and all that was familiar. We were living a tsunami of losses, wave on wave of heartache.
For a while, devoted friends checked in to ask how I was feeling. But months passed, life resumed the appearance of normalcy, and people stopped asking. At first, I was tempted to feel hurt, but then I realized: They haven’t forgotten; they aren’t being callous; they just don’t know if it’s okay to bring it up anymore. They’re afraid of sending me into a tailspin.
I remembered Jesus on the night of His arrest, how He invited friends into His heartache. No one knew what was about to happen or how much Jesus was suffering emotionally, so He invited them in: “Stay here and keep watch with me,” He begged. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38).
Inspired by Jesus’ example, I ended up writing an email to my closest friends, saying, “This is me, giving you permission to ask me about my miscarriage. I know you are trying to be sensitive and respectful of my privacy, and I so appreciate that, but I still want to talk about it. I still need to talk about it.”
Within minutes, I got back multiple responses. Relieved responses, grateful responses. Everyone had been wondering how I was doing, but they’d been unsure if it was okay to ask.
Sending this email not only initiated the healing conversations I still needed; it also protected my heart from bitterness. The Enemy loves to whisper doubts that undermine our relationships: Why isn’t anyone asking me how I’m doing? Does anyone even care? Choosing to speak up with a vulnerable confession protected me from harboring unfair, secret expectations and allowed me to get my needs out in the open. It allowed me to get the support I needed as I continued to mourn and to heal.
When we are hurting—when God has said “no” to something in our lives—we need encouragement and support, but people can’t encourage us if they don’t know we are hurting. Sometimes we have to find the courage to tell people what’s going on. Sometimes people need permission, maybe even an invitation—to support us.
I bet you have people in your life who would be honored to keep watch with you. . .to listen. . .to serve. . .to do whatever you need. They just need an invitation. They just need you to open up.
If you struggle to admit weakness or accept help or encouragement, I hope you’ll consider a new perspective: when you gratefully accept kindness from others, you are actually giving something. You are giving other Christians an opportunity to honor God with their gifts. When you are vulnerable, you allow other people to fulfill their God-given roles. To use their gifts.
Being needy for a season is not burdensome. We all have times when we need. Your turn to give will come around again one day. And when it does, I bet you will give with a generous and glad heart because you know how much the help means to those who receive it. You’ll remember your own desperation and gratitude, and those memories will inspire and fuel your own giving.
As Ephesians 4 tells us, our wise Father envisioned a church where we would all meet one another’s needs, where we would be family—giving what we can and receiving what we need. He envisioned an intricate body, with each part playing a role all its own. And He intentionally equipped each member of His body with special talents and resources.
So, go ahead. Don’t be afraid to let someone buy you coffee. . .bring you dinner. . .give you comfort. What goes around comes around—sometimes in the best possible ways.
This article is adapted from my book When God Says, “No”: Facing Disappointment and Denial Without Losing Heart, Losing Hope, or Losing Your Head.
If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
10 Bible Verses to Read When You’re Overwhelmed
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January 15, 2021
5 Bible Verses to Give You Hope
These are hard times for hope. And yet hope is vital—it fuels our resilience and perseverance; it’s the reason we get up and fight on. Hope is powerful—the force that sustains us through hardship, disappointment, injustice, and pain—because we know that better things lie ahead. That all is not lost. That God is good, and He is with us.
Every time we turn on the news or log into social media, our hope takes a hit. We are weary, disheartened, bewildered, perhaps tipping toward cynicism and hopelessness.
I keep returning to this:
Our hope is not in politics or policies.
Our hope is not in people or presidents.
Our hope is not in circumstances, or in anything we can see.
Our hope is in God, who never changes, never fails, and is bigger than all the madness the world manufactures.
If you’re feeling down, searching for a spark to rekindle a flickering hope, here are a few Bible verses to help.
5 Bible Verses to Give You Hope1.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
Our hope is indestructible. We may feel hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, even struck down. But thanks to Jesus, we are not crushed, despairing, abandoned, or destroyed. Thanks to Jesus, we live on, we fight on, we hope on.
2.
We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6: 16-18)
Our hope is firm. Our hope is in God, our hope is an anchor, and our anchor is secure. It can weather the wildest of storms.
And take a look at this verse in the J.B. Phillips translation—there’s a nuance in it I adore:
We who are refugees from this dying world might have a source of strength, and might grasp the hope that he holds out to us. This hope we hold as the utterly reliable anchor for our souls, fixed in the very certainty of God himself in Heaven.
We who are refugees from this dying world… If you’ve felt like a stranger here lately, adrift in a world where you don’t fit, it’s because you no longer truly belong here. You are but a refugee awaiting entrance into your heavenly home. And your anchor is “utterly reliable,…fixed in the very certainty of God himself.” Now that’s reason to hope.
3.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Our hope is eternal. It can outlast the longest seasons of struggle.
One day, hard as it is to imagine, we will look back on these earthly sufferings as merely light and momentary troubles—heaven with all its joy and peace is forever.
4.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:18-25)
Our hope is unseen, but it is real, and it is worth the wait. If you’ve been groaning in your spirit (or groaning aloud!), take heart: creation groans with you. The very earth resists and laments the pain and struggle of this sin-broken life. The whole world is weary.
But liberation awaits. Renewal is already bought, coming soon. And so we hope for what we do not yet have, and we wait in confidence for the day we know is coming: the day our hope becomes reality.
5.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare…. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation. (2 Peter 1:9-10, 13-15)
Our hope is in God, and our God is good. Maybe you’ve wondered, “Where is God in all this? Why are things getting worse, not better?” We may not understand his timeline, His will, or His ways. We may not feel like He is working even when He is. He will see us through, counsel us through, love us through, the darkest of days.
In the end, He will set all things right:
He will conquer sickness and death.
He will bring justice to all—and for all.
He will bring His children home. Home to a place where love reigns and joy triumphs.
This is our promise. This is our future. And so we hope on.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
10 Bible Verses to Read When You’re Overwhelmed
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The post 5 Bible Verses to Give You Hope appeared first on ELIZABETH LAING THOMPSON.
November 2, 2020
Five Bible Verses to Read When You’re Lonely
This article originally appeared on Crosswalk.com.
We’ve all been there: lonely. Longing to feel connected, needed, known. Wishing relationships weren’t so hard—or so hard to find. Wanting closer friends, people who “get” us in that deep-down, soul-mate, friends-forever way. Wishing people knew us well enough to sense what we are going through and what we need. Searching for a place to pour out all the stored-up love in our hearts—a place to serve, to give, to offer our precious gifts.
For some of us, loneliness is an occasional struggle; for others it’s a constant shadow. Loneliness has been especially prevalent during this season of isolation, quarantine, and social distancing. We have all felt the pangs of loneliness as never before.
The Bible offers deep encouragement for our seasons of loneliness. We find examples of men and women in Scripture grappling with loneliness and bringing their hurting hearts to God. We find prayers to pray, encouragement from our Father, and ideas to help us move forward. If you are feeling isolated, here are five Bible verses to read when you’re lonely:
1. Psalm 139:1-12
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
You are interesting. Your relationship is valuable.
You are worth knowing. Almighty God, the Creator, has taken the time to examine you—to get to know your inmost heart! And God doesn’t waste his time.
Now drink in a few more astounding truths we glean from this passage:
You may feel alone, but in truth, you are never alone.
God is always with you. Always watching, listening, and supporting.
You are protected.
God goes before you and behind you. He walks with you, guiding, comforting, and strengthening you.
You can’t escape God’s love.
Sometimes we choose loneliness—we isolate ourselves because of fear, anxiety, or shame. But even in the darkest of places, even when we try to hide, our loving God is there.
2. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 26-27 NLT
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.… If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
You have gifts to share. You were made to give.
Sometimes the best cure for loneliness is finding places to give. Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God has equipped you with particular strengths because he has good works for you to do. Is there someone in your neighborhood in need? Someone at work, school, or church you can encourage? Someone in your family who needs comfort?
Sometimes we find friendship and connection when we stop searching for them—and start looking instead for people we can serve. Somewhere along the way, our joy and sense of purpose reignite, and we find that we aren’t as alone as we thought!
3. Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
You are not alone in your struggles. Jesus understands.
Sometimes we feel lonely because we are painfully aware of our own weakness and sin: I am the only one who has ever sinned like this, struggled like this. We feel isolated by the shackles shame: If anyone knew who I really was, they’d never be my friend, and they certainly wouldn’t let me in the church. But that’s why Jesus came. He came to battle sin so that he might understand the struggles we face. He knows how powerful Satan is, and he remembers the intensity of the spiritual battle. Romans 8:34 reminds us that Jesus stands before the Father to intercede on our behalf: “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
You are not alone in your weakness, nor are you abandoned when you sin. Through Jesus, God has provided a way back to him, and he is always waiting for us with open arms and a grace-filled heart.
4. Psalm 63:3-5
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Our relationship with God can fill us.
God’s love is better than anything else we try to fill ourselves with—better than life itself! God’s love doesn’t just take the edge off our loneliness; it fills us until we are “fully satisfied.” And God doesn’t just offer a hungry person a nibble of food so they don’t starve; he offers a feast! Even when human relationships are scarce or imperfect, we can find fulfillment, comfort, and connection in our walk with God.
5. Psalm 73:23-26
Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
We belong to God always, no matter what life throws at us.
If you read Psalm 73 in its entirety, you see that the psalmist was struggling in his faith, wondering if perhaps the world was a better place than God’s kingdom. The world’s way looks easy, while God’s way is harder. But as the writer enters the place of worship, a godly perspective returns. He remembers, I am God’s, and God is all I need.
We still have God’s love and care even when the worst happens—even if our health fails; even when our spirit grows weak from discouragement or loneliness. Even in those dark places, God is there, eager to strengthen us. Human relationships can be limited by distance, time, and mortal frailty, but our relationship with God has no limits and no expiration date.
Our feelings are sometimes at odds with the truth. We may feel alone, but we are not alone. We may feel worthless, but God has great purposes for us. When loneliness strikes, let the scriptures remind you: We have God, always with us. We have strengths, a God-given purpose. We have Jesus, understanding us, defending us, and providing a way back to God for us. We have a divine relationship, one that never fails and fully fills. We have a place at God’s side even when the world shuts us out or lets us down. God is ours and we are his…forever.
This post originally appeared on Crosswalk.com.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
10 Bible Verses to Read When You’re Overwhelmed
8 Scriptures to Read When You’re Anxious
When Mugs Break: Lessons in Fear
The post Five Bible Verses to Read When You’re Lonely appeared first on ELIZABETH LAING THOMPSON.
March 16, 2020
10 Bible Verses to Read When You’re Overwhelmed
“Overwhelming” doesn’t quite do justice to what the world is going through, does it? The whole planet is wary, weary, and uneasy. Stress levels are high, the future is uncertain, and daily life is disrupted. In times like this, how blessed we are to have Scripture to guide us. If you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed, these ten scriptures can help you draw close to God and find a measure of peace and hope to see you through.
1.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT
Sometimes we unconsciously expect Jesus to take away all our troubles. Life in Christ is supposed to be a peaceful piece of cake, right? Unfortunately, nope. That’s not the deal. We aren’t promised freedom from trouble and sorrow, but we are promised communion with the One who can ultimately set things right. We are promised joy and peace in him even as chaos (and the coronavirus) rages on. Even as the world shuts down and toilet paper runs out.
And because of his promise, we take heart. We find courage. We fight on. And we find peace in him.
2.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
God invites you to cast all your anxiety onto His almighty shoulders. ALL. No care is too small. From your sick cat to your work deadlines to your family strife; from your virus fears to the challenges of working from home with kids underfoot, to your dwindling supply of toilet paper, God wants to hear about it. He welcomes it. If it matters to you, it matters to Him. So go ahead. Cast away.
3.
God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Psalm 46:1–3 HCSB
“A helper who is always found in times of trouble.” God is always here—He will never, ever practice social distance! Need we say more? And yet there is more to say! Sometimes the earth trembles. Mountains fall. Waters roar. But God stays the same. And He is ready to listen, ready to help, ready to support.
4.
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life…. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19:3–9
Elijah, one of the most mighty of all the prophets, once became utterly overwhelmed and discouraged—so overwhelmed and discouraged that he asked God to end his life. Did God rebuke Elijah, “fire” him as his prophet, and banish him from salvation? No! God was gentle with Elijah, sending him an angel and food to strengthen him, giving him the time he needed to rest and recover physically and emotionally. Our God is gentle, compassionate, and kind.
You know what else I love about this story—and our God?
Our God does not roll his eyes when we make melodramatic statements.
Our God does not throw up his hands when we fall apart—he draws near. He comes out to meet us in the cave.
And when we are ready, he helps us walk out of that cave to face life again.
5.
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way. Psalm 18:32–36
When life is overwhelming, let us remember the source of our strength: God. He equips us and sustains us, He shields us and trains us.
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6.
So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12: 7– 10 NLT
Why is God letting this happen to me? Why isn’t He taking it away? Why doesn’t life ever seem to get any easier? We can’t pretend to know the mind of God, but we can draw comfort from Paul’s experience: God doesn’t always take away our troubles, but He does support us through them. Amazingly—mysteriously—His power is revealed in our weakness. And like Paul, when we are vulnerable and brave enough to admit—to ourselves and to others—“Hey, this is a tough time for me. I’m struggling”—we give people the chance to show compassion and God’s power the chance to shine.
7.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba,Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:32–36
It’s not wrong to be sad, afraid, or in need. Even Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow. Even Jesus fell to His knees, overcome with emotion. Even Jesus needed God and friends to sustain Him in His hour of need.
8.
I am worn out waiting for your rescue,
but I have put my hope in your word.
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true.
When will you comfort me?
I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke,
but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.
How long must I wait?
When will you punish those who persecute me?
Psalm 119:81–84 NLT
Sometimes we wait so long for rescue that it wears us down and wears us out. We strain to see God, to find hope, but the view stays the same. And yet we continue to pray. Like the Psalmist, we continue to seek God, to make our case, to plead for help.
9.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears….
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Psalm 18:5–6, 16–19
This is it. The most suffering I can bear. If you have ever hit that rock-bottom breaking point, take heart. It doesn’t mean you’re faithless or weak. It means you need God—and He is ready. Ready to step in to support you however He sees fit. Why? Because He delights in you.
10.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:7–10 NLT
Paul and his companions were “pressed on every side by troubles”—but not crushed. Perplexed, hunted down, knocked down…talk about an overwhelming series of events! And yet they soldiered on, finding connection with Christ’s anguish in their own suffering; finding hope in God’s sustaining hand as they struggled on.
*****
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed—but the Bible can help.
When we put all these scriptures together like this, we see that it’s not sinful or faithless to experience times when we feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. Sometimes life is hard. And sometimes, just when we think we’ve reached our maximum pain threshold, life hits a new level of hard.
But that doesn’t mean we are not loved or seen by God.
It is in times like these that we are invited to cast our anxieties, our sufferings, and our fears on God—every last detail, every agonizing tear.
Even if God doesn’t swoop in to turn our circumstances around, we can know that we have his ear, his concern, and his heart. We can draw on his strength when ours runs out. We can draw from his hope when ours is gone. And we can draw near to Him when we have nothing else left, confident that He draws near to us in return.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
8 Scriptures to Read When You’re Anxious
When Mugs Break: Lessons in Fear
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February 14, 2019
When God Says, “I Love You”
When God says, “I love you”: In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s take a look at the one place in the Bible where God actually says those three precious words we all long to hear: “I love you.” (He says them, and shows them, of course, ten thousand different ways throughout Scripture, but this passage has the exact words “I love you,” in nearly every translation.) These are words God spoke to comfort the nation of Israel during a difficult time, and these words transcend time and circumstance to proclaim God’s love for us, His people, today:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you…” (Isaiah 43:2–5)
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When we know how loved we are by God, it takes away our fear: fear of hurt, fear of abandonment, fear of the unknown future. It’s not that we think, “God loves me; therefore my life should be a walk in the park: no struggles, no dangers, no losses.” This scripture doesn’t say, “If you pass through fire and water, I will be with you”—it says “when.” Everyone endures struggle, danger, and loss, even the most righteous of people. Hardship is not a sign of God’s disapproval or punishment—it is an inescapable part of life in this fallen world. But Christians can walk through life confident and joyful, knowing that God will see them through, and love them through, whatever hardship may come. He will guide and protect, comfort and console. That’s how God says, “I love you.”
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
8 Scriptures to Read When You’re Anxious
When Mugs Break: Lessons in Fear
February 5, 2019
A Worship Playlist When You’re Waiting
So what if you have been doing all this—praying, pouring out your soul, praising through pain—but the silence on God’s end is still killing you? When we are navigating a waiting season and the journey takes unexpected detours, Satan tries to run his cruel soundtrack in our minds—God doesn’t like you; God is against you; God is not listening—but God has a soundtrack, too. Maybe it’s time to put together a new spiritual playlist. Let’s choose to fill our minds with God’s playlist: scriptures and songs that fuel our faith and protect our relationship. God is not silent, as He sometimes seems; He has already given us His Word to tell us how He feels and how He works. It’s up to us to use the Bible [and worship!] to fill in God’s half of the conversation.
–When God Says, “Wait,” chapter 5: When Prayer Becomes a Battleground
Music and worship are powerful, God-given blessings that profoundly affect our spirituality, our emotional wellbeing, and even our theology. They can keep us connected to God even when He feels far away. Why not put together a worship playlist that ministers to you in your wait?
Here are eight songs on my waiting playlist. These songs have cracked open places in my heart I didn’t even know existed, given words to prayers I didn’t know how to pray. Some give me hope; some help me surrender; others help me praise God even through pain. I share them here with deepest gratitude to the writers and artists who gave them to us:
Trust in You —Lauren Daigle
“When you don’t move the mountains
I’m needing you to move
When you don’t part the waters
I wish I could walk through…
I will trust in you”
Ever Be —Kalley Heiligenthal
“Your love is enduring through the winter rain
and beyond the horizon with mercy for today;
Faithful you have been and faithful you will be;
You pledge yourself to me and that’s why I sing…
Your praise will ever be on my lips”
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Good Good Father —Chris Tomlin
“‘Cause You know just what we need
before we say a word
You’re a good, good Father; it’s who you are…
And I’m loved by you; it’s who I am…”
Praise You in This Storm —Casting Crowns
“I was sure by now,
God, you would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say amen,
and it’s still raining…
Though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm”
Even If —MercyMe
“I know you’re able and I know you can
Save through the fire with your mighty hand
But even if you don’t
My hope is you alone”
It Is Well —Kristene DiMarco
“And far be it from me
to not believe even when my eyes can’t see…
Through it all, through it all,
my eyes are on You”
One Thing Remains —Passion (Kristian Stanfill)
“Your love never fails, it never gives up,
it never runs out on me….
I never, ever have to be afraid”
I Am Yours —Lauren Daigle
“Let the waters rise
I will stand as the oceans roar
Let the earth shake beneath me
Let the mountains fall
You are God over the storm
And I am yours”
How about you? What’s on your waiting playlist? I’d love some to hear some new recommendations!
If you are waiting on God, you might also like:
My books:
When It’s Okay to Tell God What You Want
8 Scriptures to Read When You’re Anxious
**Don’t forget to sign up to receive 7 free family devotions and a free ebook! (Click here.)**
December 18, 2018
When you want to live on purpose
It’s mid-December, which means in the past ten days alone, our family has had middle school orchestra concerts, piano recitals, a kindergarten Christmas performance, kindergarten crafting, two elementary school auditions, three basketball games, a church Christmas party, an out-of-town Christmas party involving a night away, family visiting from out of town, a youth group event (at our house!), a Christmas worship service, a kids’ choir performance, nursing home caroling…plus, you know, school and work and dirty-floor mopping and food-eating and just life. I bet your life has run at similar holiday-fueled warp-speed! This time of year is so hectic, it’s tough to remember your own schedule for the day, let alone your entire last year of life! If we’re not careful, life flies so fast we barely have time to eat, much less stop to think. But what an opportunity we miss if we don’t make time to stop. To think. To pray.
Last week Kevin and I were looking for a way to help our little mission church to look back on the past year and truly see all God has done in their lives as individuals and in our lives as a church family. December—especially those precious days between Christmas and New Year’s Day, when school is out and the shopping and parties are finally done, praise the good Lord—is the perfect time to look back and reflect…and look ahead and dream. To help our church do this, Kevin and I came up with a list of 25 thought questions to help us look back on the last year with gratitude and intentionality—to actually process the things we experienced and put them into spiritual perspective, instead of simply surviving them and moving on to the next thing. (Spoiler alert: scroll down to find the questions!) And then we included a few questions to prompt us to look ahead to next year with purpose and faith.
We started working through them at one of our midweek services, and I plan to think through the rest in my early morning times with God over the next week or so. Journaling my way through these questions has been such a faith-building and even healing process! It’s reminded me of prayers I had prayed and forgotten all about, of gifts God has given that I still want to celebrate, of hard things we suffered and how God brought comfort even through heartache and delay. I share this list of 25 questions here in the hopes that sometime over the next few weeks you can steal a few moments to ponder these questions and write down your answers. I hope it helps you to put words to lessons you’ve learned that you didn’t even realize you’d learned, ways you have grown that you didn’t realize you’ve grown. I hope it helps you to remember all God has done. To see ways He has worked, gifts He has given, and prayers He has answered that you might not have noticed until now… and then to step into the new year confident that the God who saw you through last year will do the same next year.
If you’d like to download printable worksheets with these questions and space for journaling, click here!
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How to Find God—and Joy—When Life Is Hard
Looking Back with Gratitude, Looking Ahead with Faith
Reflections on the Past Year
1. Name some of the greatest blessings you are grateful for this year.
2. What are some of the hardest things you experienced this year?
3. How did God use some of your hardships or losses to help you grow?
4. In what other ways did God bring good out of your hardships?
5. What are a few of your favorite memories from this year?
6. Name a new friendship(s) that you made this year, or an old friendship(s) that was made stronger.
7. Who have you learned from this year and what did you learn from them?
8. How did God use you to help someone else this year?
9. How did God surprise you this year?
10. Name a few scriptures that have meant the most to you this past year.
11. What have you cried about this year?
12. How has God comforted you?
13. Who were you able to comfort this year?
14. What have you laughed at this year?
15. What have you celebrated this year?
16. Who were you able to celebrate with?
17. What songs, books, films, or shows have drawn you closer to God this year?
18. When do you think God was especially proud of you this year?
19. How has God called you higher in the past year?
20. Name some things, events, or people that inspired you this year.
21. What have you accomplished that has brought joy both to you and the Lord?
22. Who are some people God is calling you to touch in the coming year?
23. What are some projects you believe God is calling you to accomplish in the new year?
24. What are some weaknesses God wants you to grow in this coming year?
25. What memories do you want to make or experiences do you want to have in the new year?
Download your printable worksheets—these 25 questions, plus room to journal your thoughts: Lizzy Life Year in Review Worksheet. Merry Christmas from my crazy house to yours!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
My books:
When It’s Okay to Tell God What You Want
When You Can’t Fix It for Your Kids
8 Scriptures to Read When You’re Anxious
**Don’t forget to sign up to receive 7 free family devotions and a free ebook! (Click here.)**
November 28, 2018
When God Shows Up
This Sunday at church, we enjoyed a casual, family-style service in which we expressed our gratitude by sharing our God Moments—stories about times when God has shown up to reveal His love or to see us through hard times. I cried like 18 times, because our God is so good. It was one of those wondrous times when you can actually feel your faith growing. We heard about…
-God sending strangers to encourage and strengthen a young, scared couple as they arrived at the hospital to witness the birth of their soon-to-be adopted child.
-The night before the first day of school, a nervous kindergartener and her even-more-nervous mom ask God to help the girl find a friend before the mom drops the child off the next day. The next morning, they walk up to the school hand in hand, join the back of the registration line, and are immediately greeted by the girl standing in front of them. She spins around, flashes a grin, and says, “Hi! I’m Sophia! Can I be your friend?”
-A ten-year-old girl announcing, “I am going to be a missionary in Africa one day.” She feels it in her heart like a promise from God. But years pass. She has no idea how she could ever end up ministering in Africa—she’s from the Midwest and she’s not in the full-time ministry—but the promise and dream never leave her. And then in her fifties, God opens up a dream job…in Africa. She and her husband spend years there strengthening a small church.
-And this one—this from a faith-filled 11-year-old boy who had us all in a puddle on the floor: When he was three, he asked God for a dad because his own father had abandoned their family. He also asked for a brother and a sister. Within two years, God gave him all three.
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What’s your story? We all have them—those moments big and small where God shows up to whisper (or maybe shout), “I’m here and I care.” He shows up in myriad ways: through small kindnesses from other people, through crazy turns of events we never saw coming, and even—every once in a while—through surprise checks in the mail when our need is most dire! This week as we continue to thank God for blessings big and small, I encourage you to take a moment to look back on your life. To remember. To look for God’s hand in the pages of your life. To thank him again for his countless kindnesses over the years. To share them with others who may need a boost in their faith.
Then I encourage you to watch for more God Moments. They happen every day, if we’ll only keep our eyes and hearts open enough to notice. To rejoice. To savor. And then, like the leper who came back to Jesus, let us come back again and again to thank and to praise.
Want to give God glory by sharing a God Moment in the comments? How has He shown up to reveal His love for you? I’d love to hear!
We all have them—those moments big and small where God shows up to whisper (or maybe shout), “I’m here and I care.”
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If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
My books:
When It’s Okay to Tell God What You Want
When You Can’t Fix It for Your Kids
8 Scriptures to Read When You’re Anxious
**Don’t forget to sign up to receive 7 free family devotions and a free ebook! (Click here.)**
