Words of Hope for Your Weary Soul

by Lois Flowers

It was bound to happen sooner or later. My string of sickness-free years had to come to a close eventually. But who knew it would end with three different bugs in the space of a single month?

Not me, that’s for sure.

I spent a good portion of the last week coughing and sputtering and wondering how a fever that barely registers on the thermometer can make a person feel so lousy. Parts of my normal routine that are important to my mental health—reading the Bible, running on the treadmill, showering every day—often got put on hold, which certainly didn’t make me feel any better as the week wore on.

Thankfully, the fog in my brain and body has largely lifted. The fever (slight as it was) is gone, the coughs are fewer and farther between, and the people in my house who were deathly afraid of catching the plague have (hopefully) realized that the danger has passed.

I didn’t write much while I was sick. So a few days ago, I spent some time scrolling through my Tweets and Instagram posts from the past year, looking for a few words of hope, comfort and encouragement that I could share with you this week.

Not surprisingly, the best words I found were not my own.

A few holy invitations:

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

“Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care.” (Psalm 95:6-7)

A few desperate prayers:

• “I call to You for help, Lord; in the morning, my prayer meets you.” (Psalm 88:13)

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.” (Psalm 143:8)

“God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer. I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me, for You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy.” (Psalm 61:1-3)

• “If I say, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your faithful love will support me, Lord. When I am filled with care, your comfort brings me joy.” (Psalm 94:18-19)

A few thoughts about God’s restorative presence:

“He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.” (Psalm 23:2b-3a)

“God, Your faithful love is so valuable that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are filled from the abundance of Your house; You let them drink from Your refreshing stream, for with You is life’s fountain. In Your light we will see light.” (Psalm 36:7-9)

And finally, a few statements of well-placed faith:

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

“The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” (Psalm 46:7)

• “God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.” (Psalm 54:4)

Lois

The best words of hope, comfort and encouragement that I could share with you this week are not my own. Click To Tweet

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Purposeful Faith, #TellHisStory, Coffee for Your Heart, Chasing Community, Faith on Fire, Faith ‘n Friends and Grace & Truth.

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36 comments

Ruth @ plantedbylivingwater February 6, 2018 - 12:07 pm

I’m glad you’re feeling better!
Great verses! I especially love the invitations and Psalm 61:1-3! These bring joy to my soul! 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Faith ‘n Friends.

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Lois Flowers February 12, 2018 - 3:59 pm

Good to hear from you last week, Ruth. Those verses bring joy to my soul too! 🙂

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Lisa notes February 4, 2018 - 8:09 pm

These words of hope are good for all of us. Thanks for sharing your finds with us, Lois! Hope you’re feeling much better now.

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Lois Flowers February 5, 2018 - 9:40 am

I am, Lisa … thanks for your kind words!

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Sarah February 2, 2018 - 11:24 am

My husband and I both have the same illness right now. It’s hard…Thanks for the reminder that God is always there and that he always hears us.
Praying that you will be healthy again soon!

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:57 pm

Sarah, I’m so sorry you and your husband are sick. I hope you both get to feeling better very soon too. So glad you stopped by this past week!

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SUSAN SHIPE February 2, 2018 - 10:34 am

I sure hope you are feeling better now (2.2.18) xo Visiting from Lyli’s

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:56 pm

Thanks, Susan. I am … much better. 🙂 Hugs to you this week!

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Brenda February 1, 2018 - 4:21 pm

Oh no, Lois. ((Hug)) Sorry you were sick, friend. Hope no one else catches it. — Love how you found the best words you shared all year weren’t your own. That says a lot about Who you’re writing for. Love that. 🙂 ♥

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:55 pm

Thank you so much, Brenda. I don’t know how everyone else avoided all my sickness, but so far, nobody else has gotten anything! I could not be more thankful for that! Hugs, friend!

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Sarah Donegan February 1, 2018 - 6:09 am

They are never my own either. So glad you feel better!

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:52 pm

Thanks so much, Sarah! 🙂

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Jeanne Takenaka January 31, 2018 - 2:47 pm

Lois, I’m so sorry you’ve been sick! Right after Christmas, I came down with a UTI and an ugly virus that had me coughing for days and feeling pretty puny. there’s nothing like that kind of a double-whammy to remind a soul how much we need Jesus.

Thank you for sharing these great verses! This one aligns with what I was studying in God’s word this morning:

“God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.” (Psalm 54:4)

Thank you for sharing this, friend. May you continue to mend well!

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:52 pm

Oh Jeanne … what an awful way to end the year! I hope you are all better now too. I love the verse you shared too … there so many wonderful words about God in the Psalms, aren’t there? Hugs, friend!

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Lesley January 31, 2018 - 12:03 pm

I’m sorry you’ve been sick, Lois, but I’m glad you’re on the mend. Thanks for sharing these encouraging words!

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:50 pm

Thank YOU, Lesley! I hope February is off to a good start for you, my friend.

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Esther | Chosen & Cherished January 31, 2018 - 9:43 am

So glad you’re feeling better, Lois! There’s nothing like being sick – and not getting a shower 😉 I’m so glad we have a God who gives calls us to find rest in Him! Thank you for sharing these wonderful verses!

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:50 pm

Esther, you know what I’m talking about when it comes to the shower situation! 🙂 Yes, the kind of rest God offers is the best, isn’t it? So glad you stopped by this week …

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Valerie Sisco January 31, 2018 - 8:27 am

Hi Lois,
Oh there’s nothing like feeling terrible physically to make it feel as if your whole world is spiraling, but so glad you’re on the mend and hoping your spirits are lifted too! I like the verses you’ve shared that can anchor us on the lowest of days. I’m just always so eager to read your words and I’m so grateful that you share them with us! xo

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:46 pm

Thank you so much for your encouragement, Valerie. I feel the same about your words, you know! 🙂 Hugs, friend.

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Debbie Putman January 31, 2018 - 5:59 am

I needed these words today. Thank you for sharing them. Glad you’re feeling better!

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:44 pm

Thank you, Debbie. To be honest, a tiny part of me sometimes thinks filling up a blog post with Bible verses is sort of lazy, but then I always think, “If these words have spoken life and encouragement to my heart, they will do the same for someone else!” I’m glad you were among the “someone elses” this time, my friend!

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Karen Del Tatto January 30, 2018 - 8:04 pm

Lois, Glad to hear you are on the mend.

Thank you so much for sharing these words of Hope. Wonderful reminders that the Lord’s presence is always with us.

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:41 pm

Good to hear from you this past week, Karen. Thank you for your kind words … there’s such comfort in remembering that God is always with us, isn’t here? 🙂

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Linda Stoll January 30, 2018 - 12:39 pm

Sharing God’s medicine, His Words that withstand time and trauma and illness is something that saves our lives every time we read them.

I love that we’re tracking on the same theme this week, Lois. You are a kindred spirit friend.

But please, please … don’t send illness this way!

;-}

Claim plenty of grace and space for yourself, dear friend …

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Lois Flowers February 4, 2018 - 4:39 pm

Oh Linda … I totally agree. God’s words are the life-saving antidote to so much that ails us! I hope all is healthy and well in your corner of the country, my friend. 🙂

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Trudy January 30, 2018 - 12:29 pm

I’m so sorry you have been sick, Lois. It can get so discouraging. I pray God will further strengthen and recover you in every way! Thank you for sharing all these hope-filled verses! Love and hugs to you!

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Lois Flowers February 1, 2018 - 8:55 am

Thank you, my friend. I’m getting there … this week has been MUCH better than last week! Hugs back!

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Alice Walters January 30, 2018 - 10:38 am

Dear Lois, the air is definitely buggy these day! Glad you’re on the mend, your generous sharing spirit coming through loud and clear from the Great Physician. Please continue to take care of yourself, inside and out. Blessings!

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Lois Flowers February 1, 2018 - 8:54 am

Thanks, Alice. I hope you and yours have managed to stay well in the middle of all the germs and crud going around. When my girls start reporting triple-digit absences at their schools, I know something is up around here! Hugs, friend. 🙂

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Michele Morin January 30, 2018 - 7:58 am

What is that with fevers? I don’t like to blame everything on my age, but I do remember being able to “push through” an illness with a fever when I was younger, but there’s something about running even a low temp that puts me right in bed these days.
And thank you for the “medicine” words that you shared in this post.

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Lois Flowers February 1, 2018 - 8:53 am

Yes, Michele … I’m thinking this is probably another one of those joys of growing older that nobody ever tells you about when you’re 25. 🙂 Although I have to admit I’ve always been a bit of a wimp when it comes to fevers. Have a good weekend, my friend!

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Meghan Weyerbacher January 30, 2018 - 7:34 am

Lois, so thankful you are on the better end of this. It is tough when we feel lethargic. It can seem as if a day lasts a lifetime, though we know time actually flies. I often wondered if in the slow — God imagines just holding us, and us letting him. Thank you for sharing these words today. I especially enjoyed, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.” (Psalm 143:8) ~ Your #PurposefulFaith neighbor

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Lois Flowers February 1, 2018 - 8:48 am

Meghan, I think you may be on to something … I don’t like being down for the count but the thought has occurred to me that maybe my recent sicknesses have been God-given opportunities to rest after a very stressful year. He knows what we need, even if we would never choose it for ourselves. Thank you for your kind words, my friend!

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Mary McCully January 30, 2018 - 7:05 am

Lois,
Your blog message is so timely with so many friends and family members suffering from the “plagues” of this season. I have shared it with Stephanie and Morgan and two of my close friends.

May our Great Jehovah Rophe bring swift healing to your body and cover you with His Wings during this time of recuperation.

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Lois Flowers January 31, 2018 - 5:28 pm

Thank you, Mary! Much love to you, Morgan and Stephanie!

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