Comforting Verses from the Psalms to Ease Your Pain
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When we are in the depths of anguish and suffering, sometimes we can receive solace from reading words from another who has been in the pit of despair
Perhaps this is why the Book of Psalms is one of the most popular in the Holy Bible. Penned by King David and other psalmists who suffered, but also rejoiced greatly in their time, the psalms contain ancient Israel's most beloved hymns and prayers, 150 in all. These were used in their worship of God and are considered to be intimate poems from the psalmist to the Lord, heartfelt and emotional.
Some of the psalms are lamentations or confessions, while others are expressions of praise, gratitude, and trust. Others still are reflective meditations on the wonder of God’s creation and vast love for us, both collectively and personally.
An earlier article explored the first 25 psalms, and this one explores some more highly comforting verses in the next set of psalms, Psalms 26-59.
If you or someone you love is in a season of grief, sadness, heartache, or loss, consider reading these aloud in a quiet place, praying on the thoughts and feelings they unleash within your own heart, and offering up your own expressions of anguish or gratitude to God in response.
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God Offers Us Divine Protection, Strength, and Courage
Alone, we often feel so weak. The world and its evils can threaten to undo all our hard work, all our hope, sometimes even our faith.
But God is always by our side, even when we cannot see, hear, or feel Him. He brings supernatural protection to us, and our knowledge of this can bring strength and courage even when all looks bleak.
Here are some verses that remind us of the protection, strength, and courage God offers us in our weakness:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27:1).
“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock” (Psalms 27:5).
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalms 27:14).
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalms 34:4).
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalms 46:1-3).
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God Is Mighty, Awesome, and Fierce
Similarly, when we are feeling weak and low, it can be immensely helpful to ponder the mighty, awesome fierceness of the Lord, Maker of the Universe. Think about it: His voice spoke light into being. His breath brought us life. He existed before time began and operates outside any boundaries and limitations we can possibly imagine.
When life is hard, simply remembering we belong to the mighty Risen King can be enough.
Here are some psalms about God’s awesome power and character to bring you peace and bolster you when times are tough:
“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic” (Psalms 29:3-4).
“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light” (Psalms 36:5-9).
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalms 33:6-9).
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth’” (Psalms 46:10).
“The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages” (Psalms 50:1-3).
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God’s Promises are Ironclad and Can Be Trusted Completely
In our valleys, it can be easy to feel so isolated, to let the enemy convince us no one understands or can be trusted, that we can only rely upon ourselves.
But that’s a lie, for we are never alone. God is near with every breath we take, in every beat of our heart. His promises are trustworthy and ironclad, and He will never leave us or forsake us—no matter what wrong we might have done. Life might not go the way we like it, and people we love may be far away or separated from us for now by death. But God is with us in it all, and we can count on Him.
Here, then, are a few psalms to remind us of the dependable, reliable, honorable, and trustworthy God we serve, a God who keeps all His promises:
“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalms 33:11).
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalms 34:18).
“But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God’” (Psalms 31:14).
“My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalms 42:6-8).
“For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end” (Psalms 48:14).
“But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself” (Psalms 49:15).
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Help, O Lord
Then there are the times when we do not have the words to utter even the simplest of emotions within our heart. If this is you today, know that God hears us even when we cannot speak the words. He hears the cries of our heart. And when we read someone else’s words and they resonate, stirring a similar plea for help in our own hearts, we can rest assured that God is listening. He’s there. And He truly does care.
Some psalms that can help remind us of this:
“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior” (Psalms 27:8-9).
“To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place” (Psalms 28:1-2).
“Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me” (Psalms 31:2-3).
“Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God” (Psalms 31:5).
“Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak” (Psalms 31:9-10).
“Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior” (Psalms 38:21-22).
“Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more” (Psalms 39:12-13).
“But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay” (Psalms 40:17).
These second 25 psalms can be a huge help when you are struggling with fear, grief, isolation, or doubt. I pray they help you know God is there, and God is always listening.
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