Comfort
Scriptural comfort for some common causes of discouragement
Anxiety
See “Anxiety”
Bitterness; resentment
Some are embittered by a hardship or a series of adversities
See also Ps 142:4; Ec 4:1; 7:7
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Relevant Bible account(s):
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Comforting scriptures:
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Comforting Bible account(s):
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Ru 1:6, 7, 16-18; 2:2, 19, 20; 3:1; 4:14-16—Naomi draws closer to God’s people and accepts and gives loving help, after which her bitterness is replaced with joy
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Job 42:7-16; Jas 5:11—Job endures in faith, and Jehovah blesses him greatly
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Some are embittered by the unkind conduct of others
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Relevant Bible account(s):
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1Sa 1:6, 7, 10, 13-16—Hannah is deeply hurt by the unkind treatment from Peninnah and is misjudged by High Priest Eli
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Job 8:3-6; 16:1-5; 19:2, 3—Job’s three would-be comforters are self-righteous and judgmental, making Job feel worse
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Comforting scriptures:
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Comforting Bible account(s):
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1Sa 1:9-11, 18—After Hannah pours out her heart to Jehovah, her pain eases
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Job 42:7, 8, 10, 17—After Job shows a forgiving spirit, Jehovah restores him to health and happiness
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Crushing guilt
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Relevant Bible account(s):
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2Ki 22:8-13; 23:1-3—King Josiah and his subjects become aware of their great guilt after the Law of Moses is read aloud to them
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Ezr 9:10-15; 10:1-4—The priest Ezra and the people are crushed with guilt because contrary to Jehovah’s will, some have married foreigners
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Lu 22:54-62—The apostle Peter is deeply grieved by guilt after he three times denies knowing Jesus
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Comforting scriptures:
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See also Isa 38:17; Mic 7:18, 19
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Comforting Bible account(s):
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2Ch 33:9-13, 15, 16—Manasseh is among the worst of all the kings of Judah; yet, he repents and is granted mercy
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Lu 15:11-32—Jesus relates the parable of the lost son to illustrate how generously and completely Jehovah forgives
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Disappointment when others have let us down, hurt us, or even betrayed us
See “Disappointment”
Disappointment over our own weaknesses and sins
See “Disappointment”
Doubts about our own worth
See “Doubts”
Feelings of inadequacy in the face of a daunting challenge or assignment
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Relevant Bible account(s):
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Comforting scriptures:
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Comforting Bible account(s):
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Ex 3:12; 4:11, 12—Jehovah patiently reassures the prophet Moses that He will help him in his assignment
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Jer 1:7-10—Jehovah reassures the prophet Jeremiah that He will make him equal to the challenges ahead
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Jealousy; envy
See “Jealousy”
Limitations imposed by illness or advancing age
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Relevant Bible account(s):
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2Ki 20:1-3—King Hezekiah weeps profusely over a deadly illness
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Php 2:25-30—Epaphroditus is depressed because the congregation heard that he was ill and he worried that they had the impression that he had failed to carry out his assignment
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Comforting scriptures:
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Comforting Bible account(s):
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2Sa 17:27-29; 19:31-38—Loyal Barzillai is highly valued, but he modestly refuses an assignment that he feels is too much for him in his old age
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Ps 41:1-3, 12—Though King David may be seriously ill, he counts on Jehovah to sustain him
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Mr 12:41-44—Jesus praises a poor widow for her contribution because she gives all she has
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Lingering emotional pain over mistreatment by others
See “Mistreatment”
Morbid fear; dread
See “Fear”
Persecution
See “Persecution”
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