2022 has been an incredibly amazing year albeit emotionally-daunting. I was held together by my faith in God and my reliance on the word of God. I literally laid my bed on the promises of God. I didn’t ask for much. I trusted God “to give me today..” Matthew 6:11 – take me through each day. My dependance on God was a pivotal as He is the only I know and have known in the past to help in difficult situations.
I have a book load of scriptures but here are the thirty verses that carried me through this year. Some of these verses made me think critically, analytically and practically, and some made me question myself and my relationship with God.
1. The Christian joinery includes suffering
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/1PE.5.10.AMP 1 Peter 5:10 AMP
2. This is Faith – “the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen” – Hebrews 11:1
You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/LUK.1.45.AMP Luke 1:45 AMP
3. There is a prayer answering God and I believe in Him.
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/LUK.1.13.NLT Luke 1:13 NLT
4. This difficult time is temporary and has a purpose so do not be discouraged – God is in your suffering.
'Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.' https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/2CO.4.16-18 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
5. Joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. https://my.bible.com/bible/1849/ROM.15.13.TPT Romans 15:13 TPT
6. I experienced a lot of this in 2022. I am grateful 🙌🏽
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ACT.2.42.NLT Acts of the Apostles 2:42 NLT
7. This is an interesting verse. “The Lord has comforted..” – this is a past tense. Then comes “..and will have compassion..” future perfect tense. The comfort has already been given even before suffering, and then when suffering comes, The LORD shows compassion.
Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ISA.49.13.NLT Isaiah 49:13 NLT
8. We don’t know the “KIND” we are or will experience, hence “Pray without ceasing” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out ONLY by prayer. ”
https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MRK.9.29.NLT
Mark 9:29 NLT
9. At God’s right and appointed time, it will happen swiftly.
Even your smallest and humblest family Will become as great as a powerful nation. When the right time comes, I will make this happen quickly. I am the Lord !” https://my.bible.com/bible/68/ISA.60.22.GNT Isaiah 60:22 GNT
10. In whatever circumstance, we rejoice, hope and prayer!
constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/ROM.12.12.AMP Romans 12:12 AMP
11. The question to myself, does God like what He sees in me?
But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah. https://my.bible.com/bible/97/GEN.6.8.MSG Genesis 6:8 MSG
12. Lead me paths pleasing to you, O Lord 🙏🙏
'Let the dawning day bring me revelation of your tender, unfailing love. Give me light for my path and teach me, for I trust in you. Save me from all my enemies, for I hide myself in you. I just want to obey all you ask of me. So teach me, Lord, for you are my God. Your gracious Spirit is all I need, so lead me on good paths that are pleasing to you, my one and only God!' https://my.bible.com/bible/1849/PSA.143.8-10 Psalms 143:8-10
12. Let’s break this down. “He shields all who take refuge in Him.” Imagine God as a house which happens to be “everything-proof” i.e. waterproof, disappointment proof, tsunami proof, hardship proof, snowstorm proof, etc. The verse say if you live in that house (everything-proof house), He will shield you from them all. That is my layman’s explanation of the verse.
'As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. ' https://my.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.18.30 Psalms 18:30
13. The God I serve will personally make sure I neither fail or feel abandoned.
'So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” ' Deuteronomy 31:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/DEU.31.6
14. He cares for me
'what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? ' https://my.bible.com/bible/116/PSA.8.4 Psalms 8:4
15. So long as one lives, trouble is inevitable, hence I choose to take refuge in God.
'And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You. The Lord also will be a refuge and a stronghold for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble; '
Psalms 9:9-10
https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/PSA.9.9-10
16. A compassionate God and Father
'For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you. '
Isaiah 54:10
https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/ISA.54.10
17. Regardless of what you go through, know that He is IN IT with you. He will rescue you from them ALL. I would like to believe the key here is the RIGHTEOUS.
'Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, But the Lord rescues him from them all. The Lord is near to the heartbroken And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin). ' Psalms 34:18-19 https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/PSA.34.18-19
18. Divine rest in the Almighty. Also, divine swap of burden – He is offering to give me his easy yoke and light burden for mine.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.11.28-30.KJV Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
19. My loss HIS gain no matter the cost involved
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ https://my.bible.com/bible/59/PHP.3.7-8.ESV Philippians 3:7-8 ESV
20. God cares about me with the deepest affection. This is an incredible promise to hold on to.
casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/1PE.5.7.AMP
1 Peter 5:7 AMP
21. My all-time favourite Bible verse. He will withhold none of our needs.
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ROM.8.32.NLT Romans 8:32 NLT
22. Act responsibly
For we are each responsible for our own conduct. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/GAL.6.5.NLT Galatians 6:5 NLT
23. Patience is “not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting” and Love is the “unselfish concern for others”
'But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. ' https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/GAL.5.22-23 Galatians 5:22-23
24. Those who love God, God is deeply concerned about them and causes all things to work together for good according to God’s will.
'And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. ' https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/ROM.8.27-28 Romans 8:27-28 AMP
25. Center your mind on right things confirmed by God’s Word, and implant them in your heart
Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/PHP.4.8.AMP
Philippians 4:8 AMP
26. As sinful as I am, I am thankful He came for the likes like me.
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
https://my.bible.com/bible/111/LUK.5.31.NIV
Luke 5:31 NIV
27. Only the Father knows and has the authority to set timings, I will continually trust in His perfect timing for my life.
He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.
https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ACT.1.7.NLT
Acts of the Apostles 1:7 NLT
28. You first need to delight in the Lord before your heart desires are granted – Matthew 6:33
Take delight in the Lord , and he will give you your heart’s desires. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/PSA.37.4.NLT Psalms 37:4 NLT
29. I have everything I need (not want) because He nurtures and cares for me 🖤
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
https://my.bible.com/bible/116/PSA.23.1.NLT
Psalms 23:1 NLT
30. I will conclude with this. The word of God never fails, let’s hold on to it 🫂🫂
For the word of God will never fail. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/LUK.1.37.NLT Luke 1:37 NLT
