Someone dear to me was caught in a storm of conflicts that had been going on for weeks. I was a thousand miles away, but I called to see how she was doing. I could hear her voice break as she said, “It’s so good to hear the voice of someone who loves me.”

This post is for those who need to hear the voice of someone who loves them.

When we are feeling battered, overwhelmed, besieged, brokenhearted, trampled … often we need only two things: to hear how much God loves us and to know how He cares for those He loves.

And the one place you will hear that is in the Scriptures. I know that we sometimes seek comfort in other people, in music, in distracting activity, in … all sorts of things. But the one lifeline that can reach to the depth of our pain or worry or despair or exhaustion is the Word of God, the very words of the One who made you, speaking to you through the Scriptures.

If you feel like your boat has capsized and you’re drowning today, you need to know that

…unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.   (Psalm 32:10)

God tells us over and over again that He loves us. He comes to our rescue. He cares about the brokenhearted. He provides protection and refuge. And it’s all there, in the Word that gives us hope.

You are my refuge and my shield;
   your word is my source of hope.
(Psalm 119:114)

Once you start looking, you’ll find God’s promises and assurances and comfort everywhere in Scripture. I was going to use some of my favorites, but then I had far too long a list. So, I’ll give the references at the end of this post. Read the Scriptures yourself, and hear the voice of one who loves you.

The verses from Psalms say we are always under God’s watchful eye. He will be our refuge, our rescue. Isaiah’s passages talk about God never leaving us, holding our hand, answering our cries for help, making us strong. You are mine, He says, and I will be with you.

The LORD says, “I will rescue those who
        love me,
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer.
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.”
(Psalm 91:14-15)

Our Father has promised that when you walk through the fire you will not be burned or when the floods threaten to wash you away, He will be with you, holding you fast (Is. 43:1-2), because you belong to Him!

And during those times, it is so good to hear the voice of Someone who loves you.

***

This is just a short list of some of my favorites. But it’s a place to start when you don’t know where to go. And don’t stop with Psalms and Isaiah! The Spirit will have passages just for you in your time of trouble.

Psalm 9:10; Psalm 13:5; Psalm 16:1, 8; All of Psalm 18; All of Psalm 25; Psalm 27:4-5; Psalm 31:2,4; Psalm 33:18-22; Psalm 34:17-18; Psalm 44:5; Psalm 62; Psalm 73:23-26; Psalm 77:14; Psalm 84:5-7; all of Psalm 91; Psalm 103:11-14, 17; Psalm 119:76; Psalm 143:3-4,6; Isaiah 40:29-31; Isaiah 41:10, 12-14, 17-18; Isaiah 43:1,2; Isaiah 43:18-19; Isaiah 53:5; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 58:9,11; Isaiah 61:1-3; Lamentations 3:19-25