Scripture

The following are some scripture passages that have often brought hope and comfort to me during the times of my life:

(All scripture passages, unless otherwise noted, are quoted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, © 1946 (NT) and 1952 (OT) by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.)

From the 'Joseph Cycle'

Joseph has brought his family to the safety of Egypt. While the family is there, Jacob, the father dies. Joseph's brothers fear that now Joseph will seek his revenge for their attempt to kill him. At their meeting, Joseph cries. Joseph sees beyond their deed to God's larger purpose. His reply to their concern is spoken in these words (Genesis 50:19-20):

Fear not, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

From the Flight from Egypt of the Israelites under Moses

God has done his mighty deed of deliverance for the ancient Israelites: the Passover. He has freed them from bondage 'with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm'. Yet when the people of Israel have their back's against the sea and feel the heat of Pharaoh's pursuit, they turn against God and Moses. They yearn for the 'security' of slavery. Moses calls the people to trust and reminds them of the 'insecurity' of human might (Exodus 14:13-14):

Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still.

From the words of the Prophet Isaiah:

To a people in bondage again (this time, in Babylon), God announces his impending deliverance through these immortal and powerful words (Isaiah 40:27-31)

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel,

'My way is hid from the LORD, and my right disregarded by my God'?

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

From the words of the Prophet Habakkuk:

Habakkuk reaffirms his ultimate joy even in the midst of the terrors and trials of the present (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Though the fig tree do not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

From the Emmaus road experience on Easter:

The followers of Jesus, crushed at the knowledge that their friend and leader had been crucified, dejectedly journey to Emmaus, a small town outside Jerusalem. On the journey a stranger joins them and they share their tale of woe. At their destination they invite him to stay for supper. A simple meal impacts not only the faithful who will follow, but all of history (Luke 24: 30,31,35):

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight...Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

From Paul's letter to the Christians at Rome:

In the midst of the letter, Paul drives home one of the cornestone understandings of Grace: that God acted for us not because of our innate goodness, but out of his love. In fact, he acts inspite of us. Three times within a paragraph Paul drives the point home (Romans 5:6-10):

While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one would hardly die for a righteous man - though perhaps for a good man one will even dare to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Later in the letter, Paul also cries out with one of the most beautiful testimonies to the constancy of God in Christ (Romans 8:31,32,35,37-39):

What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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