Life seems to move at a much faster pace these days; and family stability is coming under increasing pressure from a variety of economic, educational, and emotional factors. The Bible can be helpful in eyeopening ways for people concerned about families who are trying to cope with the stresses of life together today. In this book you will find a helpful collection of Scripture passages that speak clearly and forcefully to families dealing with difficult conditions. These passages reflect Jesus’ teaching that God’s kingdom comes into our lives, not in those times when everything seems rosy, but precisely when everything seems to be falling apart. As you read these passages you will be reminded that God’s powerful presence may always be counted on, especially at those points in life where people feel the most pressing need and anguish. The passages assembled in this booklet start at the Bible’s beginning in Genesis and end at the Bible’s conclusion in the book of Revelation. Together, they remind families living in stressful times of how God created us and of God’s final promises that await us. Some passages are related to the unexpected changes that occur in our lives, some illustrate different kinds of families, and some help us to see God’s direction for renewal of family life· A final group of passages helps us see how God welcomes us all through Christ, and how we can all enjoy our membership in God’s family. So, read and rejoice that God believes in you and can be counted on to stand by you and everyone in your family in times of difficulty.
The Bible is an unusual book in so many ways. The Scriptures have sometimes been described as an instruction book for life, and they do indeed provide important wisdom and guidance from our Creator about the best way to live fulfilling and happy lives. But while most instructions booklets and self-help guides presume quite a bit from those who read them, the Bible speaks to us exactly where we are, with a striking realism about how difficult life so often is. It speaks to the hurting, the broken and those who have little apparent hope. It’s stories, promises and advice were not meant for the wealthy and educated who have it all together and feel like they are on top of the world. Many of the words of comfort it contains are spoken by individuals who met with loss, calamity and heartache themselves – and surprisingly, they often speak these insightful words from the midst of their greatest trouble. You may well recognize your own circumstances as you read about theirs, and as you do, we pray that the comfort they found in God would also be an encouragement to you. Many of the passages from the Scriptures we have included in this booklet will sound familiar because they have helped so many others before you and have often been quoted, alluded to in great literature and sometimes even made into song. We pray that in your life now, they may point the way to a better path ahead.
Dear friend, If you have been hit or physically harmed by someone you love and trust, or endured the humiliation of abusive language and accusations, or lived in fear because of threats made against you or others you love, then you know the peculiar mix of fear, confusion and guilt that surrounds domestic violence. In your pain, you may experience many feelings – disbelief, shock, anger, guilt, fear. Opposing feelings can be present at the same time: perhaps anger and dependency, love and pain, and hurt with neediness. All these feelings are natural and must be sorted through, you need to allow those feelings to be expressed in a safe place. By honestly evaluating all your feelings, whatever they are, you will be helped to find a solution to your situation that is right for you. Whatever the solution, the abuse must be stopped. Domestic violence is always potentially deadly, so the practical concerns you have for shelter, safety, intervention, and treatment are vital. The issues that surface when domestic violence occurs are never purely religious or secular. It is important to avail yourself of both religious and secular sources of help. Use of medical, legal, and psychological community resources is strongly encouraged to help you work out all the practical issues surrounding you when you attempt to rebuild your life. The community of faith and God’s immeasurable help are just as critical when you try to understand the emotions evoked in you and the questions you naturally ask God when you experience such intense suffering. Seek out a cooperative harmony of effort between religious and secular sources of help to change your situation away from abuse, and help you to regain control of your life. Beyond the help of qualified professionals and a community of support that can help provide some of the practical resources you may need, that process should also include the support of close friends with whom you might be able to pray and read the Scriptures. As you do that, we pray that the words from the Bible that have been assembled in this booklet will help to give you comfort, courage and strength for the days ahead. Those who wrote these texts expressed their pain to God from the middle of their own despair and pain. These are not easy pat answers from someone wearing rose coloured glasses, but rather the honest words of men and women who in the midst of great hardships found a solace in God. Jesus himself carried the heavy burden of the cross when he walked the road to his death. Jesus understands your suffering because he himself has suffered. As you place your trust in him, he promises to lift your heavy burden and to make it light. He will always be your rest as you come to rest in him, for he gave his life because of his love for you. Psalm 10.17
There are days when our world feels increasingly dangerous – and small! Even those who have not witnessed acts of terrorism or violence first hand, or who have not lived through a dramatic natural disaster and its consequences, are made aware of the tragic cost and painful aftermath through the ever present media. These experiences have a profound effect on each one of us, often bringing feelings of fear, anxiety, helplessness or abandonment. Trained caregivers tell us that these emotions, accompanied by some very physical symptoms – recurring nightmares, panic attacks, difficulty in concentrating, nervousness at sudden noises, difficulty in establishing relationships and hypervigilance (a heightened sense of awareness) – can be indications of post traumatic stress disorder. If this is what you are living, you should take comfort in the fact that these are very normal reactions and that your struggles are real. Taking the brave step of seeking support from a trained counsellor, and perhaps a few close friends, will in turn help you to be a solace to loved ones who may also be suffering with you. In the midst of your fears, you also need to know that God is with you – comforting and strengthening you, and assuring you with words that are repeated frequently throughout the Bible: “Don’t be afraid!” This Scripture booklet contains a selection of some of the best loved words of comfort and assurance from the Bible that we pray will remind you about the love of a God who promises never to let go or abandon you.
Today, all over the world, more and more people are able to read and understand the Holy Scriptures in their mother tongue. Bible translators of the 16th century gave their lives to give us the Scriptures in English. They would be delighted with the current emphasis on making the Bible available in the common language of the people. Yet as we read, we do not often think of the amazing story of how the Bible came to us. This booklet offers a brief history of the Old Testament, the New Testament, the first Bibles ever printed, and the development of the English Bible. Here, you can find an answer to the question: "Which is the best Bible version for people today?" along with an exploration of the important criteria for evaluating the various Bible translations that exist today.
There are few things more difficult than watching a loved one being slowly transformed by an illness. As their body weakens and their personality changes, there will be days when it will be difficult to recognize the one we love. As a caregiver, the struggle to cope with the challenges involved in providing love, care, and a secure environment for a loved one can be overwhelming. Beyond seeing to your loved one’s physical and emotional needs, you are faced with acknowledging your own feelings as you maintain a steadfast and compassionate vigil during your loved one’s physical and/or mental decline. Your loved one’s illness inevitably transforms your life as well. As the illness progresses, a cycle of doubt and worry may take hold. You may become anxious and fearful of the difficulties to come; you may find yourself grieving the loss of a relationship that can no longer be what it once was. In these challenging days, your own sense of well-being is important, and you will need others to whom you can turn for support, strength, and comfort. God’s Word offers great encouragement to those caring for others, beginning with the affirmation that caregiving is an extension of Jesus’ own ministry of compassion, love, and care. Jesus said, “ ... whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!” (Matthew 25.40b) This booklet is a collection of Scripture passages from which you can draw strength and comfort through the power of God’s Word. While it is designed specifically for you, we encourage you to share it with the one for whom you are providing care-perhaps by reading passages aloud at a designated time each day and inviting your loved one to join with you in repeating the comforting words of assurance. Reading and listening to God’s Word is an activity you can do together.
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