Though there are many many more, here are some of the verse that have become my heart’s cry throughout my sickness, and that I pray will encourage you as well in whatever you are facing in your life.  

1. Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

This passage was one that I repeated over and over to myself in a whisper some of those first weeks and months, reminding myself of the truth that God had a plan, that He knew (and knows) what He’s doing, and that even if I couldn’t understand what was going on, He did. He knew exactly what is going on in my body. And His ways are preferable to mine. The last part of the verses above is likewise so comforting. God’s words will not go out from His mouth and come back to Him empty. Our suffering and sickness won’t be for no reason, or go to waste somehow. God’s plan will always work out in the end (and now). And His plans are for a hope and a future, to prosper us and not to harm us, and to work all things together for our good!

2. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Our God doesn’t leave us alone in our trials! He stays with us all the way. He is the Father of compassion. What a title! And not only that, but He gives us the power to comfort other people. (see here) 🙂 I can’t verbalize what an amazing gift this is!

3. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Wow. I just have to say, this one is one of my all-time favorite verses. So many times we can feel so unworthy, helpless, and worthless when it seems like we can’t do anything to love, serve, or help God or those around us, and eapecially when we feel like the opposite: a wearisome, burden. Utterly and completely weak. It can feel like everything we attempt to do gets defeated by the affects of sickness on our lives. But He said to me… It doesn’t depend on us- God’s grace doesn’t depend on us! He doesn’t even blink and eye at our seeming like huge weakness. No, His power is made PERFECT. We don’t have to feel inferior, useless, or pointless because of our weakness. How dare we be shackled by our own weakness, when we can rely on God’s sufficient grace, which is so much bigger! That is what God reminds me of when I feel unqualified to reach out to younger girls, or when I try to encourage people through my writing. What does relying on God’s grace look like for you? Maybe it’s simply surrendering and letting God take control, knowing that you can’t do it all by yourself. 🙂

4. Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.

Even if our bodies and minds completely fail us, that’s okay. God has us in His hands.

“He’s got the whole world, in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands, He’s got the whole word, in His hands; He’s got the whole world in His hands.” -VeggieTales 😉 😀

He’s got us, and He isn’t going to abandon us or let us go. HE is the strength of our heart, and our portion forever. 🙂

5. Revelations 21:4-5 (NIV)

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

The pain, the sickness, the trials, the suffering- all that will end. God has given us the greatest comfort: the promise of eternity forever in Heaven with Him. We will be given Heavenly bodies, free from sickness. Imagine how amazing, wonderful, and beautiful that will be!