Faith is always listed as a protective factor that can help someone at risk of suicide. We all experience dark days that require reminders of hope. The Bible offers many valuable quotes and verses on strength. It also encourages us to be strong in our faith and our daily walk with God.
September is suicide prevention month. Take time to review a few Bible verses that can help you or someone you know during the tough times of life. They are a great reminder that we are not alone.
Tell everyone who is discouraged, be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue. Isaiah 35:4
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23
Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119:28
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Psalm 22:19
For he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with testing he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Psalm 28:7-8
The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:14
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. Isaiah 33:2
For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7
Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
God Squad 
Dry Summers Make Strong Trees and Better Christians
Posted in Christian Living, News & Commentary, Spiritual Practices, tagged chaplain, christian, faith, hardship, kansas, pastor, post traumatic growth, post traumatic stress disorder, resilience, resiliency, trials on August 22, 2014|
A Kansas summer can feel horrible. It often has searing heat, strong wind, and humidity that makes us all crave air conditioning or an ice-cold lemonade. Our conditions are harsh and demanding every year. These challenging elements try us and yet there are old trees standing in every community.
The heat, wind, and drought like conditions allow certain trees to develop a strong root system. One where they dig down into fertile soil and become an anchor when storms, tornadoes, and gales unleash their worst across Kansas. The trials, torment, and tough times produce strong trees that can survive truly horrible conditions.
People are the same way. No one desires a season of pain, anguish, or torment in life, but it often finds us. This tough season of life is often seen in the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, a serious illness, financial difficulty, a broken relationship, terrorist attacks, war, and other traumatic events. These are all examples of very challenging life experiences that hurt when they happen, but can produce stronger roots.
James writes to the Jerusalem church in verses 2-4 sharing:
While it does not feel good when it happens, trials can ultimately yield endurance and strength to our faith and our life. When life seems dark and difficult, be like David and pray to God for strength. When you are scared, reach for your Bible and take comfort knowing that God will not forsake you. When you grieve, know that Christ also wept with hurt and loss as He consoled a community of mourners. Endure. Stay strong. Keep your faith. Maintain your trust in the Lord and you will find a new season of life through Christ.
Science and psychology has finally caught up with this lesson from James. Study after study now document resilience and post traumatic growth for people who have weathered trauma and a hard season of life.
While trauma can impair people in many ways, it turns out that there is routinely a higher percentage of people who demonstrate the ability to bounce back and learn from a hard season of life. And yes, they are often people of faith who rely on their religion, faith, or spiritual practice for healing and recovery. Today, faith is often embraced as a central and beneficial means of coping with tragedy.
Consider how trees survive in England. The climate is wet, damp, and dreary. Spend a week there and you will pray to see the sun. The soil is often moist because of the frequent rain showers. This climate prevents trees from establishing deep roots in the soil. The root system instead stays near the topsoil, hardly ever going deep into the ground. A strong wind storm will often topple multiple trees in England provoking a community clean up in villages across the country. Trees that have not been tested with hardship do not produce deep roots. They are instead the first to fall when the storms of life come their way.
While summer conditions feel bad now they make deep roots, bring hope for tomorrow, and deliver a new season of life.
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