Varied emotions, worries, fears, and anxieties can really take hold of us at the coming of new seasons. What starts as an exciting new year filled with hope can quickly be overshadowed by the challenges and realities of life. Should we allow these challenges to overwhelm us, leading us to question whether God really exists or if he cares for us? Or should we choose to fight for our faith and remember the promises found in Scripture?
Psalm 119:114 states, “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” And still the Psalter echoes, “My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word” (Psalm 119:81). The Bible uniquely offers hope and protection from life’s difficulties. Ultimately, this hope is rooted in God, as Scripture is his word—final and true.
In this article, I aim to offer you words of encouragement that will bring you hope, especially when challenges seem overwhelming, in the New Year. The emotions and experiences listed below, along with the corresponding scriptures, are by no means exhaustive, but memorizing and applying them to your respective seasons throughout the year will do your soul good.
1. Should You Feel Worried About Getting Old
“…even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (Isaiah 46:4)
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
2. Should You Find Yourself Weighed by a Trial or Challenge
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10)
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4)
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
“For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.” (Job 5:18)
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)
3. Should You Fear Evil
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Romans 16:20)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)
“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” (Psalms 61:1-3)
“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 rulers, 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.” (Romans 8:37-39)
4. Should You Be Tempted to Doubt God’s Word as True
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19)
“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” (Psalm 119:160)
“Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” (Joshua 21:45)
“Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise.” (1 Kings 8:56)
“If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
5. If Struggling with the Basics of Life
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
“The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10)
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:13-14)
6. Should You Question if God is Good
“I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.” (Jeremiah 32:40-4)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
7. If You’re Ever Anxious About Life
“O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.” (Isaiah 26:12)
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalms 55:22)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
8. If Struggling with Your Past
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” (Joel 2:25)
10. If Anxious About a Decision
“…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“With an upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” (Psalms 78:72)
“and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalms 50:15)
“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.'” (Isaiah 48:17)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)
11. If Wondering if God is Really there for You
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“For he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5)
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.” (Isaiah 57:15)
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.” (Isaiah 43:2)
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28-29)
“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:26)
12. Should You Wonder if God really Hears your Prayers
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.” (Psalm 34:15)
“In my distress, I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” (Psalm 18:6)
“The people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant.” (Exodus 2:23-25)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13)
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26-27)
13. Should You Question Your Calling
“Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.” (Psalms 32:9)
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” (John 15:16)
“…[He] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace.” (2 Timothy 1:9)
“Now may the God of peace… equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)
“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth?… Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.'” (Exodus 4:11-12)
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant.” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)
14. Should You Find Yourself Struggling with Your Work or Ministry
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” (Proverbs 10:4)
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
“Everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” (Ecclesiastes 3:13)
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength… they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped.” (Psalm 28:7)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
15. If Wondering if Obedience to God is Worthwhile
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” (Psalms 121:1-3)
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalms 16:11)
“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.” (Malachi 3:16-18)
“Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (Psalms 81:13-16)
“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” (Psalms 37:23-24)
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” (Psalms 84:11-12)
“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.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)
16. Should You Be Fearful
“…be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Psalms 27:14)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“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?” (Psalm 27:1)
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'” (Psalm 91:1–2)
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.” (Psalm 56:3-4)
“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8)
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord… The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28-29)
17. Should You Be Struggling with Sin
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
“And we all… are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
“If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:13-14)
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you… I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
“We know that our old self was crucified with him… so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity… He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot.” (Micah 7:18-19)
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses… Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)
“For the righteous falls seven times and rises again.” (Proverbs 24:16)