Bible Verses for the Hurting Heart

Life is messy sometimes.  We don't like to admit it, at least not much.  As Christians in a world of social media comparisons, we love to look the part, don't we?  Let's smile for the camera, make sure the pic meets the approval of everyone represented in it, and then post it for the world to see how wonderful our lives are.  Don't get me wrong.  Life is a beautiful blessing, and when I post a wonderful moment or memory on social media, it usually is exactly as it appears at that moment.  I'm talking about the other moments, the ones between the picture frames - the hurts that happen between the smiles and camera clicks.  Sometimes, life is messy.  Sometimes life hurts . . . and sometimes it hurts bad.  Sometimes our hearts ache over petty differences that pass quickly and are long forgotten, but then sometimes our hearts hurt from wounds that cut deep, the unexpected wounds that we never saw coming - the wounds that leave deep scars that will be there even after the healing . . . if there is healing.  When our hearts hurt, our example is Jesus.  He set the example for us, taught us to forgive, and expects us to follow His teachings and His example.  But I have a problem.  I can't simply "flip a switch," so to speak, and just like that - poof, forgiveness.  God is most definitely working in my heart in this area of spiritual maturity.  Maybe we should forgive automatically, but whatever the hurt, the journey to forgiveness shouldn't take too long.  If we take too long to forgive, we leave too much room for bitterness to take root, and once bitterness takes root, it wraps around our hearts so tightly that it strangles the life right out of us, leaving no room for healing and certainly no room for allowing God to use our hurts for His glory.  So where do we turn when life is messy and life hurts?  We turn to God's Word.  In His Word, the Bible, we find comfort for hard days, rest for a weary soul, food for spiritual hunger, peace in the middle of chaos, and healing for the hurting heart.  Let's take a look at the following Bible verses for the hurting heart and begin our walk down the path of healing and forgiveness.  

One of my sweet cousins recently told me, "Hurt people hurt people but healed people heal people."

Let's begin this journey toward healing so that we can lead others to healing as well.  Read the following verses.  Write them down.  Memorize them.  Study them.  Hide them in your heart and find the sweet peace of true healing that, after such as season of hurt, can only come from Jesus.

Bible Verses for the Hurting Heart

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.  And not only this,  but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (Romans 5:1-5)

He sets on high those who are lowly and those who mourn are lifted to safety.  (Job 5:11)

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  (1 Peter 5:10)

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 righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 41:10)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  (Psalm 34:18)

But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:37-39)

Although the Lord has given you bread of deprivation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher, will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will see your Teacher.  Your ears will hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.  (Isaiah 30:20-21)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13)

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.  For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other just as God in Christ Jesus has forgiven you.  (Ephesians 4:32)

Let your gentle spirit be known to all people.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:5-7)

This Bible verse printable is available here.

As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also.  (Colossians 3:12-13)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  (Romans 8:18)

If you forgive other people for their offenses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.  (Matthew 6:14-15)

These things I have spoken to you so that in Me, you may have peace.  In the world, you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in Heaven, will also forgive you.  (Mark 11:25)

We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)

Then Peter came up and said to Him, "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you up to seven times but up to seventy times seven."  (Matthew 18:21-22)

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched.  The fire will not burn you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  (Isaiah 43:2-3a)

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine.  I will repay," says the Lord.  (Romans 12:19)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  (Psalm 23:4)

This Bible verse printable is available here.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.  (Revelation 21:4)

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  (James 1:2-4)

Do not judge and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven.  (Luke 6:37)

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  (Romans 8:26)

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in Heaven for He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  (Matthew 5:44-45)

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  (James 1:12)

Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yolk upon you and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yolk is comfortable and my burden is light.  (Matthew 11:28-30)

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  (1 Peter 1:6-7)

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

Let us not become discouraged in doing good for in due time we will reap if we do not become weary.  (Galatians 6:9)

Weeping may last for a night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.  (Psalm 30:5b)

For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.  (2 Chronicles 16:9a)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

There is an appointed time for everything.  There is a time for every matter under Heaven - a time to give birth and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)

I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 1:6)

He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."  (Revelation 21:5a)

Is anyone among you suffering?  Then he must pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  He is to sing praises.  (James 5:13)

Now as we read, study, memorize, and meditate on the above verses, let us remember what God's Word says about Scripture:

All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable and equipped for every good work.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.  (Psalm 119:11)

May the Lord guard our hearts and minds as we soak in these inspired Words directly from Him.  May we be taught, rebuked, corrected, trained in righteousness, made fully capable for every good work.  May we hide His Words in our hearts so that we will not sin against Him.  May we forgive others as He has forgiven us.

40 Bible Verse Memory Cards

I have created 40 beautiful Bible verse memory cards using the verses in this post.  You can download the cards in a PDF file format.  Print them out at home.  Cut out the cards, preferably using card-stock.  You might want to laminate them for durability and bind them using binder rings.  Other ideas for using these cards are to place a magnet on the back of each card and place them on your refrigerator, tape them to a mirror, or place them anywhere in your home where you will see them frequently.  Memorize the verses.  Hide God's Word in your heart so that you may navigate difficult times, remembering that He is with you always.

Get your cards here.

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