Hi Matt! I was just wondering.... I am not really into the bible stuff all that much (I was raised in church and Christian school so I am very familiar, just not a huge follower now) .... but literature is totally my thing. Would literary quotes help you out at all or are you mainly trying to focus on the scripture verses? Also, do you prefer Christian stuff because I know there are some good passages in some of the Buddhist writings... not sure if those would count as scripture verses...
Here is a literary passage I really like, in case you do want it:

What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be not forever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
Grief not, rather find,
Strength in what remains behind,
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be,
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of Human suffering,
In the faith that looks through death
In years that bring philophic mind.
William Wordsworth
English poet (1770 - 1850)

I have too many! I'll list what I can and maybe something in it will fit what you're looking for.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
11 Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.
12 You shall seek them and not find them -
Those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing.
13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'

(The enemy for me in the above verses are the thoughts and fears that have assailed me, due to rape. With God's help, those fears shrivel and become as a nonexistent thing.)

Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food;
Though the flock be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls -
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

(These verses are very significant to me. They taught me that even though everything is not 'perfect' and there is want in my life, I can - and do - and will - find joy in God who is my salvation. He gives me strength and He gives me the ability to walk sure-footed... like a deer on the rocky hills.)

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content;
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(Isn't it interesting that much of what we do in RaR is to work on changing our thought patterns... and here it was in the Bible all along? The instruction here are simple enough... Go to God, pour out our hearts, trust Him and then "think on these things". -- The things that are true, noble, just, pure, etc. The truth is that I am not guilty in any way for being raped. The truth is that I am not worthless because I was raped. I am not damaged in a way that makes me unloveable. The thing that is just is that God sees and knows... my heart and the rapists. He is just in His knowledge and all things will be made right. The truth is that I am pure in Him and the loveliness of what He's done for me is unsurpassed. It goes on and on... hopefully you get what I'm saying. I can share that these verses were the main instrument that helped me overcome panic attacks.

Along with:
Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(Being transformed by the renewing of our minds means we don't just suck in what the world teaches us... like rape taught me that sex was cheap, sex wasn't special, men are vile, there is no peace, etc. But God says differently. He says there are righteous men that know how to love - like Him. He says that sex is not cheap, but is a gift to us to be used wisely. He says there is peace in Him. Etc.)

And another one along these lines:
2 Corinthians10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

(My biggest enemy has always been my imagination. It could conjure up all kinds of things to be afraid of. I know that my imagination - my thought life - has a major tendency to exalt itself against the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God is that He loves me, He cares for me, He intends me good and not harm, He is able to save me, keep me, use me and transform me. He's able to give me 'life more abundantly'. I don't need to live in fear.)

If you do a little study on peace in the Bible, interesting enough, most of the verses dealing with peace start with the word "let". Like: Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Let not your heart be troubled. Etc. Seems that a great deal about having peace, depends on us 'letting'.

I've noticed the "let" thing too, and it appears that peace is the fundamental course of the human spirit, except that we resist it.

I have noticed that too! With the word 'Let' there is a condition placed in that this peace of God is available, but one must be willing and able to receive that peace in order to obtain it...resistance won't bring it about...yet we often do.

*Oh yes...and will get those thoughts to your inbox all formalized right quick!

I don't have a particular scripture (not one), but an actual book...
2 Corintians is devoted to suffering...and comfort.

1 Peter 3: 8-22 talks about suffering for doing good.
Especially verse 13 and following, "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened....

I answered this kind of spur of the moment, hope it is helpful. I have another one, I have it marked in my Bible, but I can't find it right now. I will look for it (not my Bible, the scripture, lol) and post it later. :)

Oooh! Oooh! I know the answer to that question! You know, the "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?" I *know* this one!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know tha plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Mockingbird thanks for all of those, why did I never think to ask here regarding favorite scriptures? Thanks Matt for this subject.

Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Oh Lord make me dwell in safety. That was given to me on a plaque this christmas by a dear friend who knows I dont get much sleep. It now hangs on my bedroom wall.

I love that one too DaisySue! Well, both of them, but I have a fondness for Psalm 4:8. The entire book of Psalms would be on my list, but I figured my post was long enough. lol

thanks Kaye

Psalms 34:18 "God is near to all those that are broken at heart; And those who are crushed in spirit He saves."


Psalms 23:1-6 "God is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing In grassy pastures he makes me lie down, By well watered resting places he conducts me. My soul he refreshes, He leads me in the tracks of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of deep shadow I fear nothing bad; For you are with me; Your rod and your staff are the things that comfort me; You arrange before me a table in front of those showing hostility to me. With oil you have greased my head; My cup is well filled. Surely goodness and loving-kindness themselves will pursue me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of my God to the length of days."


Psalms 145:20 "God is guarding all those loving Him. But all the wicked ones He will annihilate"


Psalms 147:3 God is healing the broken-hearted ones, and is binding up their painful spots."


Isaiah 41:13 "For I your God am grasping your right hand, the One saying to you 'do not be afraid, I myself will help you'."


Luke 12:6-7 Five sparrows sell for two coins of small value, do they not? Yet not one of them goes forgotten before God.  But even the hairs of YOUR heads are all numbered. Have no fear; YOU are worth more than many sparrows.


Revelation 21:4 "And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away"

Current favorite: 1 Peter 8

8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as siblings, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."[a]

13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18

That is a very good one Matt!

It's sustaining me at this time in my life.