Hi world! Chris here. I hope everyone is still making it through quarantine alright. I know sometimes it can feel like it’s never going to end. It instantly makes any bad thing feel ten times worse just because it’s stacked on top of what’s already going on. At least, that’s how it feels right now.

My family recently underwent the tragedy of loosing a beloved pet. She was a very special dog and we all loved her so much. It made it incredibly difficult to deal with her death to the point that we’re still trying to deal with it.

For some this may sound dumb, and I know there’s a lot of people that are going through so much worse. I’m sorry for those people, but it still doesn’t lessen the sadness we feel. Especially because we were already struggling with quarantine and how it’s impacted all of our former plans. However, lingering on these upsetting events and the hurtful thoughts they cause isn’t going to make any of it any better. That’s why I’m here with this post to try and get back into a regular writing routine and move on in a healthy way. Of course, none of that will be possible without relying on my relationship with God.

Because of that, I want to use this post to share some of my favorite verses. Some of them are popular verses that get passed around on the internet a lot, some of them aren’t. It doesn’t really matter either way because as long as it’s from God, it means something.

Hopefully these verses will bring you comfort the way they comfort me. And maybe the pictures I’ve included will help some too. We all need a little love in this strange and scary time.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

This verse is actually my favorite verse. As someone prone to anxiety, I am always in need of a reminder that everything will turn out the way God plans it. It also doesn’t hurt to know that the way God plans it involves being prosperous and hopeful. That makes it a lot easier to turn any fear of the future into excitement.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

This is one of those verses that gives me a little thrill to read. Knowing that I have the God of the whole universe backing me up wherever I am is super empowering. Instead of feeling like I can’t do anything, I feel like I can do everything.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4

I remember hearing this verse a lot as a child because I was constantly scared of imaginary monsters and ghost stories. My parents used this verse to remind me that I shouldn’t be afraid of the dark because God was still with me there and He would keep me safe. The same goes for the theoretical darkness of bad days. I’m not alone then either.

“So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Matthew 10:31

Coming from a family that has always loved and cherished animals, this verse has a lot of meaning to me. We give up so much of our time, money, and affection to the animals we keep either as pets or on our farm. However, no matter how much we give, it still can’t compare to what God gives us. Obviously we don’t keep sparrows for the farm or for the house, but I think you could substitute any animal into this verse and it would still have the same meaning.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:18

This is a verse I always turn to when things seem to be the absolute worst that they can be. It’s a nice reminder that even though something feels like it’ll never get better, there will be a time when everything is perfect in Heaven. It might not come for years, but knowing that it will eventually come is enough of a reassurance to keep moving forward.

“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Proverbs 23:18

I think this verse really speaks to the dreamer in me. I love coming up with big ideas for my future that will either take me to different places or teach me new things. This verse is like a friend telling me that it’s okay every time one of these dreams falls through because there will be another one coming that will come true.

“So now Faith, Hope, and Love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is Love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

At first, this verse might not make sense as one that is supposed to be comforting in times of trouble; but it actually says a lot about how to deal with life. You have to have faith, hope, and love to make it through. So, whenever it feels like you’re not making it through, try reaching out to the people that you love and that love you. And most importantly, seek God’s love too.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7

I’ve already mentioned how I struggle with anxiety, so clearly this is a verse I really love. Always stressing about things makes it hard to find any semblance of peace ever. I an in constant need of the reminder that I can easily find peace in God as long as I stop worrying about the world that He made and just trust Him.

“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 21:1

This is another verse that just radiates power. It’s the perfect comeback for any enemy or anyone that tries to bring you down. It’s also a good mantra to remember if the world itself seems to be turning into an enemy. God is still defending you, even then.

“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 40:31

I wanted to end on this verse because I really think it applies to the insane state of the world right now. It seems like everyone is in a panic either wanting to immediately reopen everything or do the exact opposite and stay in quarantine for longer. There’s a lot of confusion and tension everywhere. This verse is a reminder that instead of making our on decisions on these matters, it’s important to wait for God’s guidance. Keeping faith in His will and being patient until He shows it will result in our best interests.

I’m not going to lie, I’m a bit of a hypocrite about that because I have 0 patience for everything. However, that’s why this is a good verse to keep up with; it reminds me that I really need to work on that.

Like I said before, I hope you are all doing well while you survive the beginning of the apocalypse (Just kidding! I hope) . Now that the semester is officially over and my summer job has been canceled because of the virus, I should have plenty of time to entertain you with whatever I come up with while I stuck at home. The current plan is to finally finish my New York post (which will be accompanied by another YouTube video!) next week. After that, who knows?

Until then, stay safe out there!