Jesus Verses

Proverbs 3:5–6 Context

The book of Proverbs is one of the five books of wisdom, which also include Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.

The Proverbs, many of which were “written” by King Solomon, are a collection of lessons and sayings that inspire readers to live lives guided by wisdom and a healthy fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5‑6 ESV meaning and explanation

Proverbs 3:5–6 Meaning

The chapter begins with a father imploring his son not to forget the wise teachings he is sharing.

All of the advice the father shares, whether it be how to win favor with both God and those around him or why he should honor God with his wealth.

Proverbs 3:5‑6 ESV Bible verse meaning trust in God

Circle around what he shares in verse 5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

At the center of all the father’s advice, he implores his son to trust in the Lord above all else, and the wisdom this father is passing on is not his own but from the heavenly Father.

It is by listening and leaning on God’s instruction that true peace and prosperity are possible for believers.

That is why the father tells his son not to “lean on his own understanding” or to “be wise in his own eyes” as we are all tempted to do, but to keep on the steady and true path laid out by the Lord.

What Proverbs 3:5‑6 means about trusting the Lord

Proverbs 3:5–6 Application

The thesis of the book of Proverbs is laid out in the first chapter: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (v. 7).

All of us are prone to seek wisdom from many sources, whether it is a book, an expert, or people we trust. While we can all find good advice from our mentors and peers, we should all seek God’s instruction and counsel first and foremost.

When we look to the Lord, his Word, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit within us, we can find guidance for our everyday lives.

The fruits of the Spirit and character modeled by Christ teach us how to conduct ourselves and treat others, and the parables throughout the Bible give us examples of how to walk in godly wisdom.

Ultimately, the heavenly Father is the true way maker, and he is trustworthy to guide us with his lovingkindness.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth.

Nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Proverbs 3:5‑6 commentary on trusting God’s guidance

Revelation 21:4 NKJV Context

The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation after having a vision on the island of Patmos, where he had been exiled due to his Christian beliefs and ministry.

In his vision, he hears declarations from the throne of God. One of the declarations is this verse, which may be the most encouraging in all of Scripture.

Revelation 21:4 NKJV Meaning

There’s so much pain in this world. People suffer from diseases, hunger, physical and emotional abuse, accidents, injustice, persecution, war, and all kinds of natural disasters.

It’s easy to wonder how God could let it all happen. But God is not the creator of any of it.

It all entered the world when Satan tempted mankind to sin in Genesis chapter 3. The rest of the Bible is the story of God’s work to redeem us from our sins and put an end to all pain and suffering.

He reached out to Abraham to create a nation that would follow him and bless all the other nations. He brought them out of slavery in Egypt.

He blessed them when they followed him, and he corrected them when they strayed from him again and again. Finally, he sent his Son to die for our sins and give us eternal life.

Sin is the source of all our pain, and Jesus died to forgive our sins. In heaven, sin will be no more, so pain will be no more. Suffering will be no more. Death will be no more.

Revelation 21:4 NKJV Application

In difficult times, there are many things we can turn to for help: Counseling, medication, exercise, eating healthier, physical therapy, and support groups can all improve our well-being.

But none of these solutions lasts forever. Our God is the only one who declares the end of crying, sorrow, and death. Imagine, one day all your tears will be gone.

There will be no more suffering of any kind—no more death, no more disease, no more pain.

May it encourage you today to know that no matter what difficulty you’re struggling with, it will end. God will be victorious. He will wipe every tear from your eyes.

“[F]rom the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. . . .”

John 8:32 Context

As mentioned in previous chapters, the book of John was written by the apostle John, one of Jesus’ closest friends while on his earthly ministry. It is believed that this was the last of the Gospels to be written.

In chapter 20, John states that the book was written: “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name” (v. 31).

John 8:32 Meaning

Do you ever feel trapped by your fears? As if you can’t get away from them regardless of what you do? They just keep coming back, tormenting you with thoughts of calamity or worries about what the future holds.

Jesus wants to set you free!

In this section of John chapter 8, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and other Jews. After telling them that he is God’s very Son, some of them believed.

To these believing Jews, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

But free from what? Jesus answers that question two verses later: “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Jesus says that knowing the truth and holding to his teaching will set us free from sin.

But what does that have to do with anxiety and worry, the themes of this book? Right after Jesus talks about being a slave to sin, he says that a slave is not part of the family.

In other words, when the truth sets us free from sin, it also sets us in the Father’s family forever. And being in that family is the source of peace and the only way we can be free of fear.

A slave is treated as property, whereas a family member is loved. Which one do you think has a reason to be fearful?

John 8:32 Application

Sometimes we forget that sin is the opposite of freedom. We think sin is freedom to do as we want, but it’s really a prison that keeps us from God.

Focus on God’s truth today and hold on to Jesus’ teaching. Are there any areas of your life where you’ve been ignoring him? Confess those and remind yourself that he forgives you and that you’re a member of his family forever.

“Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’”

The Life And Teachings Of Jesus Christ Jesus In The Temple

Luke 2:41-52

2:41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

2:42 When He Was Twelve Years Old, They Went Up To Jerusalem According To The Custom Of The Feast,

2:43 And When They Had Fulfilled The Days, As They Were Returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph And His Mother Didn’t Know It,

2:44 But Supposing Him To Be In The Company, They Went A Day’S Journey, And They Looked For Him Among Their Relatives and acquaintances.

2:45 When They Didn’T Find Him, They Returned To Jerusalem, Looking For Him.

2:46 It Happened After Three Days They Found Him In The Temple, Sitting In The Midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

2:47 All Who Heard Him Were Amazed At His Understanding And His Answers.

2:48 When They Saw Him, They Were Astonished, And His Mother Said To Him, “Son, Why Have You Treated Us This Way? Behold, Your Father And I Were Anxiously Looking For You.”

2:49 He Said To Them, “Why Were You Looking For Me? Didn’t You Know That I Must Be In My Father’s House?” 2:50 They Didn’t Understand The Saying Which He Spoke To Them.

2:51 And He Went Down With Them And Came To Nazareth. He Was Subject To Them, And His Mother Kept All These Sayings In Her Heart.

2:52 And Jesus Increased In Wisdom And Stature, And In Favor With God And Men.

Proverbs 12:25 Context

The book of Proverbs tells us directly in the first few verses what its purpose is: “For gaining wisdom and instruction.” Chapters 10–22 are loosely grouped proverbs of King Solomon on a whole variety of subjects.

What binds them together is less a logical argument or even a theme, and more the fact that, together, they give general principles that make for a healthy.

Whole life for someone who loves God. All of them teach very practical truths about how to live day to day.

“Anxiety Weighs Down The Heart Of A Man” Bible Verse

Proverbs 12:25 Meaning

Life can feel heavy sometimes, can’t it? Most of us expect to feel exhausted and weary when we’re battling a physical challenge like a chronic illness or recovery from an injury.

But sometimes we don’t anticipate the toll things like stress, uncertainty, and fear have on us.

Describing anxiety as weighing down the heart makes it the emotional equivalent of waking up with a barbell slung over your chest and carrying it around the rest of the day.

Bible Verses About Anxiety And Encouragement

Proverbs is a realistic book, not just about what we do and say, but also about how we feel. The amount of time devoted to our emotions in the Bible tells us that God cares about all of us, including our hearts.

And our hearts are often anxious. Instead of just describing our natural state of worrying and fretting, though, Solomon provides a solution in this passage.

Feeling anxious? A kind word will lift some of that weight away. So surround yourself with people who encourage you, instead of pushing them away.

Reread a letter or email that reminded you of something deeply true. Listen to music with lyrics that strengthen your heart.

Go to familiar, underlined promises in the Bible and soak in those beautiful words.

Overcoming Anxiety Through Kindness (Proverbs 12:25)

And don’t forget about the cheering power of giving a kind word to others too.

Sometimes, what we really need to fight anxiety is to get our eyes off our own problems and serve others.

We have an example of this in Jesus, who over and over again loved and served those around him.

After his cousin, John the Baptist, died, Jesus went to be by himself with his disciples to pray and mourn . . . but crowds of people followed him.

Instead of turning inward, and taught them, later providing a miraculous meal. He could have joy through serving others, even on difficult days.

Proverbs 12:25 Application

Is there anyone in your life who might need a kind word today? Reach out to them, telling them you’re praying for them or that you’re thankful for the role they have in your life.

Proverbs 12:25 Meaning

Remember that in doing so, you’re walking in Jesus’ steps. And if you’re in need of a kind word, reflect on what God says about you in Scripture.

He is your heavenly Father, and you are his child. What could be more cheering than that?

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Psalm 56:3 ESV Context

The heading that accompanies Psalm 56 includes this line about the circumstances that inspired David to write it: “When the Philistines seized him in Gath.”

The account in 1 Samuel 21:10–15 describes David’s actions as he fled from King Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath, ultimately feeling such great fear there that he pretended to be insane in order to escape.

Psalm 56:3-4 Esv Meaning Explained

Psalm 56:3 Meaning

In the psalms, we have a beautifully rich collection of poetry and songs. Many were written by David in response to the challenges he faced and in recognition of God’s faithfulness in the midst of them.

When I Am Afraid, I Put My Trust In You Bible Verse

In this verse, and throughout the psalms, the realities of fear and danger are not dismissed.

Instead, they are acknowledged, and from that humble honesty, David directs his own heart, and ours, to turn to God in trust.

Just before the account in 1 Samuel referenced above, David accepts from a priest the sword of Goliath, a tangible reminder of the victory God brought earlier in his life, when so many others were afraid.

Psalm 56:3-4 Commentary

Yet here again he finds himself facing fear, beginning this verse with “When I am afraid,” not if.

It is what he does with that fear that can guide and encourage us today. Let’s see those lines from Psalm 56:3–4 (ESV) paired together here:

Biblical Perspective On Psalm 56:3-4 ESV

Psalm 56:3 Application

Consider memorizing these lines. Their rhythm and structure give us help for the times when we find ourselves feeling afraid.

Like David, we can acknowledge our fear. We can turn our hearts and minds to placing our trust in God. We can praise him and His Word, perhaps even like David finding a creative outlet to express our worship.

And in so doing, as we grow in trusting the God we praise, we shall not be afraid.

Bible Study Guide On Psalm 56:3-4 ESV

And when we find ourselves having come through a victory and yet facing fear again, we can follow David’s example and turn anew to the God we trust.

“When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Isaiah 43:2 Context

This chapter of Isaiah focuses on God’s love for and redemption of his people; it looks ahead to the deliverance of the Israelites from Babylon and, further, to the coming Redeemer of all believers.

Isaiah 43:2 Meaning

The early verses emphasize that God’s people can take comfort and live fearlessly even in times of great trouble, knowing that their Creator and Savior are with them.

“When You Pass Through The Waters” Bible Verse

Isaiah 43:2 Meaning

Isaiah is both foretelling and retelling in this verse—a powerful combination for stirring up faith and confidence.

With the same words the prophet is using to assure God’s people, they can trust the Lord to see them through all their current and future troubles.

Bible Verse About God’S Protection (Isaiah 43:2)

He is also reminding them of past occasions when God miraculously proved his ability and faithfulness in delivering them: first when he parted the Red Sea.

Allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land (to “pass through the waters”), and again when he stopped the flow of the flooded Jordan so the people could “pass through the rivers.”

In a more general reading of the verse, the elements of water and fire signify all manner of danger, trouble, and calamity that can befall people. This verse assures believers that

Verse Of The Day Isaiah 43:2

1. They will not face trials alone;
2. They will not be overcome by or destroyed by the trouble or circumstances in which they find themselves; and
3. With God as their champion, they won’t even be harmed—in essence, they will come out unscathed, as proves to be the case for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace of Daniel 3. (Did those three draw strength and courage from this very verse?)

Isaiah 43:2 Application

There is no doubt that in this life we will encounter difficulties; Jesus himself tells us so.

Since we know the question is not if we will have struggles but rather when—a word used three times in this verse—our answer really must focus on how we will weather our storms.

God’s Promises In Isaiah 43:2

In light of the awesome, unequivocal promises of God’s presence in and protection through whatever troubles come our way, our how should be characterized by faith.

Fearlessness, and peace because God has assured us that we are not alone, that we will pass through, we will walk through, and we will emerge—whole.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

Genesis 50:20 NLT Context

These words were said by Joseph after returning from Canaan to bury his father, Jacob.

His brothers were terrified that, now that their father was dead, Joseph would finally use his authority to seek revenge on them for leaving him for dead when he was young.

He kindly promises to continue to care for his brothers and their families.

Genesis 50:20 NLT Meaning

There are very few people in the Bible who are spoken as highly of as Joseph. He endured some of the most difficult circumstances and betrayals and still honored the Lord in the midst of them.

He refused to see his journey as one setback after another but instead chose to have faith to believe that God was writing a much bigger story.

There was a very long time between when Joseph had a dream as a teenager and when he was appointed over Pharaoh’s kingdom as an adult.

During that time there were some setbacks that seemed like they could have been the end of his story. For most of us, our circumstance informs our confidence, which then determines the measure of our faith.

This is where Joseph took God at his word. He beautifully exemplified what it looks like to have your faith inform your confidence, regardless of the circumstance.

Genesis 50:20 NLT Application

Reading through Joseph’s story, we should take note of a couple of things. First, Joseph was determined to walk with integrity no matter what life threw at him.

And second, whether power was given or stripped away, he continued to use his gifts to glorify the Lord.

I encourage you, next time you feel unsure about the future, to set your sights on God’s faithfulness. Remember that he is writing a book about your life that is bigger than the current chapter.

Take him at his word. Allow your confidence to be informed by your faith, not your circumstance.

Walk in integrity and continue to use your gifts to glorify God. Remember, this chapter is critical to the greater story, and there are more chapters that are yet to be written.

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Psalm 94:19 Context

The psalms are songs full of deep emotion and can serve as a helpful guide as we pour out our own fears, distress, and praise before God.

The theme of Psalm 94 is how wickedness thrives on earth but God is still in control and will be victorious.

Psalm 94:19 Meaning

We’ve all had times when our anxiety was great within us. Sometimes the cause of our anxiety is outward, such as a health scare, financial distress, or relational struggles.

At other times we don’t even know the cause of our anxiety—we just feel unsettled and scared and end up wondering what’s wrong with us.

Regardless of the cause of your anxiety, there is an enemy at work that God must overcome. There are three enemies we have to deal with as Christians: the world, the devil, and ourselves.

Sometimes the world fights against us through circumstances and antagonism from individuals or the culture around us.

Sometimes the devil and his demons are antagonizing us because they hate God’s people. At other times we wrestle with what’s in ourselves—we give in to our sinful nature and fallenness.

But in all these cases, just as this psalm says, God is our fortress. He is stronger than anything we could ever face.

Today’s verse says God’s consolation brings me joy. What are God’s consolations? Other translations use the word comforts.

God comforts us when we’re facing trials, and we find joy in the reassurance that he’s there and has our back. God is our refuge in all circumstances, and his love is “unfailing.”

Psalm 94:19 Application

Name your enemy. Sometimes we forget that we even have enemies, assuming that we just have bad luck.

But your enemies are real, and it is helpful to know who or what they are so you can arm yourself and pray against them.

But the good news is, regardless of your enemy, God is always stronger.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Revelation 3:20 Context

At St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, you’ll find the most well-traveled piece of artwork in history: William Holman-Hunt’s oil painting The Light of the World.

It is a powerful image, of Christ standing in front of a curved wooden door at dusk, as if he’s been on a long journey as if he is looking for a place to rest.

He knocks softly, calling our names in a gentlemanly way. Though Christ bears his own light, you can feel the coolness of the evening descending and the shadows creeping in.

So, warm and comfortable in our homes, we should let Christ in, doing what would help him, giving him what he so desires—communion with us.

Revelation 3:20 Meaning

Yet by doing so, we forget the larger context of Christ’s words. In this section of Scripture, he is speaking to the Laodicean church, which has prided itself on being capable, self-sufficient, and accomplished.

But in truth, they have become lukewarm in walking out their faith, wealth blinding them to their own poverty in spirit. He even threatens to spit them out (v. 16) in response.

Revelation 3:20 Application

When life is going well, it is so easy to trust in our comforts, in our ability to mark off the to-do lists and control our schedules. The stable rhythms of life lull us into contentment.

It becomes easier to have our commitments discipline us, rather than us set our own priorities. As Brian Houston of Hillsong has said, we are what we allow.

Too often when crisis comes and worry rises up, what we have allowed into our lives crumbles under the pressure and us along with it.

If we look at Hunt’s painting, he actually offers viewers these cautions as well—a closer look shows the door is overgrown and lacks a handle.

Living our lives, and tending to other things, the door to our hearts has fallen out of use, and we haven’t given Christ free rein to enter as he chooses.

Fortunately, we see in this letter Christ issuing in one hand a sharp warning to keep faith as our bedrock, and in the other, deep grace.

For even if we haven’t opened the door recently, Christ still knows the way to us.

In fact, he is already present, calling out, “Here I am!” For his claim that he stands at the door knocking comes not as one needing something from us.

But instead, as one who has braved the darkness to bring his light into our most secret places.

For when the door is opened, no matter that there is chaos, that the money jar is empty, the child is absent, that one lies sick, he can mend all those things. His communion is always to our betterment.

“God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”