This is the last of a four-part series of my favorite Bible passages that have helped me on this painful journey of parenting a child who suffers from addiction, self-injury and depression. Through them I have faced my fears, replaced despair with hope and been strengthened to face the next day. As I said in part one, I encourage you to write them down on index cards and keep them with you so you can read them often.

The more I read them the deeper they get into my heart and mind. You could also write them in a small notebook and fill it up with other verses or sayings that help you. What you think affects how you feel, so think on these things.

1)  Psalm 54:4   Surely God is my help, the Lord is the one who sustains me. . . 

2)  Psalm 75:3   When the earth and all its pillars quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.

3)   Psalm 69:1-3, 13-16   Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the flood engulfs me. I am worn out calling for help . . . my eyes fail looking for my God. . . But I pray to you, O Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me . . . rescue me . . . deliver me . . . out of the goodness of your love.

4)   Psalm 68: 28   Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.

5)  2 Kings 6:12-17   . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with them . . . Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

6)   Psalm 117:2   Praise the Lord . . . for great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

7)  2 Corinthians 4:7-10   But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body . . .

Helper and Sustainer.

Rescuer and Deliverer.

Loving and faithful.

Life of Jesus revealed in us.

All-surpassing powerful One, open our eyes to see how ever–present you are. Protect us from being crushed, in despair or destroyed by filling us up with the very life of your son. Day by day show us your strength. We are relying on your love and faithfulness. In your great name, Amen.