Like many women, I am an avid fan of nonfiction, and of that, my favorite are short devotionals that revolve around inspirational Scripture verses.  Women tend to master the art of multitasking, so it’s important that the encouragement we receive on a daily basis be focused and uplifting.  Naturally, the Bible is a treasure trove for such inspiration, and women can be certain that they will glean strength and hope from some of the most beloved of verses (and some lesser known quotes, as well).  Here are nineteen of my favorite quotes from Scripture, all of which have been instrumental in my personal journey toward sanctification.

For Strength

1. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 

Grief can strike us at any moment for any reason, and we often do not recognize its manifestation until we are deep in sorrow.  I struggle with this on a daily basis as a caregiver to two girls with special needs, and sometimes my frustration overwhelms me to despondency.  When I get to that point, I recall this verse, which reminds me that I don’t have to feel joy in my heart in order to exhibit it.  The source of my joy is from God and His strength that He gives me.

2. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts.” Psalms 28:7

Trust is another issue that many women face because of betrayal and because of our innate tendency to share our hearts freely with others.  At times we can feel beaten down and neglected by our human companions.  This verse reminds us that God alone is where we must put our trust, and we will not be disappointed.  On the contrary, He will lift us up with His strength and protect our hearts from further damage.

3. “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Waiting is difficult for most of us, especially in our Information Age of the hurry-up-and-wait mentality.  We are eager to accept the instant gratification of high speed everything, but God reminds us to be patient.  Good things happen when we wait with Him for His perfect timing.  In my own life, I have become frustrated when things seem to be at a standstill and when my plans are discarded by God’s design.  But I am learning to wait for Him, because I know even when I cannot see what He is doing, much growth and plenty of spiritual fruits will become apparent in due time.  This is the sonnet of strength for those who are in a place of pending.

4. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Sometimes we, as busy wives and mothers, simply get exasperated and emotionally depleted from all the harried and hurried way we go about our days.  Throughout each day, it is tempting to simply give up and give in to our impatience and the mounting stress.  But God reminds us that, though we are finite, it is because of our weakness that we need Him.  We need to learn total dependency on God, because He is the source of our strength.  With God’s grace – when we ask for it and utilize it – we can do everything, including the impossible (and maybe even with a smile).

5. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

Again, God uses the irony of weakness and strength.  How is it possible that power is perfected in weakness?  Jesus certainly displayed this on His journey to Calvary.  He fell three times under the weight of the Cross.  Certainly we can relate to the burdens we carry as they become insurmountable at times.  Though we may be inclined to despair, we can call upon this verse and be renewed in strength.  It is true that our power – our ability to accomplish anything of merit – is derived solely from God.  That in and of itself is encouragement to continue on our personal journey to the Cross.

For Marriage and Family:

6. “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” Proverbs 22:6 

Sometimes I lament that my kids are acting just like every other bratty, entitled child I’ve met in my life, and I wonder where I’ve gone wrong as a mother.  While it’s true that overindulgence produces selfishness, I remember that I am trying – desperately trying – every day to teach my girls about God and kindness for the sake of kindness (instead of a reward).  There are fleeting moments when I see a flicker of light in their eyes, as if something in their little brains connected the dots, and then I realize that those seemingly ignored conversations have truly been absorbed and are molding our girls into the beautiful souls who love God and want to serve Him with their lives.

7. “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

Most of my life, I’ve been surrounded by beautiful women.  My friends were always fashionistas and loved to shop for clothing and makeup.  In high school, I tagged along but never quite shared their desire for exterior beauty.  Sure, I wear makeup and get dressed up, but in my adult years, I truly saw the temptation toward vanity if I lived my life as if clothing and facial features mattered most.  This verse encourages me when I am having “one of those days” without makeup – wearing jeans and sweatshirts and unkempt hair (maybe even some leftover food from cleaning up my toddler’s face).  It is the strength of a woman’s heart that radiates beauty.  All else is transitory and vain.

8. “My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come.” 
Song of Songs 2: 10 – 12

My husband and I had this verse read at our Nuptial Mass almost ten years ago.  It is a verse that has always struck me because of the intimate love shared between the beloved and her lover (clearly Christ and the Church).  There is so much hope in this verse, speaking about the winter passing and the flowers beginning to appear.  What an incredible metaphor for the seasons of our marriage and family life – the darkness and trials we experience somehow transform into this beautiful witness of light and hope.  We must cling to the reality that suffering doesn’t last forever.

9. “Now, not with lust, but with fidelity I take this kinswoman as my wife.  Send down your mercy on me and her, and grant that we may grow old together.  Bless us with children.” Tobit 8:7

The prayer of Tobias and Sarah is one of a holy love, a love for which we should all strive in our marriages.  My husband and I pray together nearly every night, and we derive great strength from petitioning God’s mercy upon the other. Consider a lifetime together, which is nearly unheard of these days, yet in God’s eyes is but a speck of time.  It is a lifetime of sacrifice and smiles that brings a deeper appreciation and fondness that can only be understood in the wisdom of longevity in love.  

10. “Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

I have trouble forgiving, especially my family members.  For some reason, it is easier for me to brood about a perceived wrongdoing committed against me than to simply recognize the mistake and move on.  This verse reminds me that I can choose to love, which is the first step in softening my heart to forgive.  Forgiveness truly is the foundation of a healthy and holy family, because no one is exempt from displaying rather impertinent behavior from time to time.  If no one is perfect, then let love enter our hearts and homes to heal what has been broken.

For Finding Hope:

11. “For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.” Psalm 63:7 

Hope is the theological virtue that has been my constant companion in life.  I love this verse, because it speaks of hiding in God’s shadow.  Isn’t that a beautiful image?  We often think that happiness is the highest order to seek, which means we must be lauded in our own right.  But when we are hidden in God, we are shielded from the snares of the enemy.  We are protected even from our own pride.  That is why we rejoice – because God conceals us so that His glory alone may be revealed in and through us.

12. “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

As a classic go-to verse, this speaks of persevering when we are resolved to believe that nothing good will come of our circumstances.  There is comfort in being reminded – from God Himself – that He has specific plans for us, a mission of value that only we can accomplish in this life.  And those plans are for prosperity rather than our demise.  Therefore, when we keep our sights on God’s will, we can be assured that our lives will bear His light to the world.

13. “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.” Isaiah 30:18

Sometimes we feel that God has abandoned us, and He knows this well.  Because He has become loneliness for our sakes, He is overwhelmed with mercy.  Mercy demands acts of love, as mercy and love are closely related in likeness.  When God displays mercy upon us, He is reminding us that we are not alone and that we are, indeed, His beloved daughters.  His mercy heals us and draws us nearer to His heart when we are in the pit of darkness and despondency.

14. “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” 
1 Peter 5:7

What woman doesn’t worry?  I know I come from many generations of worriers.  How I wish they were prayer warriors instead of worriers.  Worry is a specific manifestation of fear, and we know that fear is not of God.  Peter also reminds us that “perfect love casts out all fear.”  God is perfect Love, so when we cling to Him – when we choose to trust Him in times of doubt – then His love will cast away all of our anxieties so that we may be filled with His peace.

15. “You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19

This verse always reminds me of the contrast between light and darkness and what that metaphor can teach us about our interior dispositions.  For one, darkness is the absence of light.  Darkness is often where we dwell – in places of sin, sickness, and secrets.  When the morning star (e.g., Jesus) rises within us, we become enlightened by the truth of our own failings and foibles.  Jesus is the Truth.  He is the Light.  He illuminates all that is cleverly concealed behind the dark crevices of our souls.  Let that light penetrate you and lift you to a place of radiant living.

In Times of Waiting:

16. “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14

Waiting seems to be a theme in my life, and I assume that many people feel as if they are waiting – for an answer to prayer, to receive some sort of blessing, for the storms of life to pass by.  Waiting for God can appear to be foolish when the world tells us to take life into our own hands and be as independent as possible. This verse’s wisdom belies the world’s fallacy by encouraging us to remain steadfast and grow in courage while we wait for God’s perfect time of fulfillment.

17. “Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7

Waiting and solitude often coincide with spiritual development.  One often produces the other quite naturally.  In my own faith journey, waiting forces my otherwise impulsive nature to slow down and quiet my mind and heart.  All the voices of the world must be stilled through an intentional discipline that – for a time – permits me to enter into that “cell of my heart,” as St. Alphonsus Liguori calls it.  It’s that sanctuary where God dwells and whispers to me if only I would be still and listen to that quiet voice.

18. “But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” 
Micah 7:7

We all experience injustice, both personal and social, in our lives.  It’s natural to want to intervene and seek restitution through human means, like the court system or “eye for an eye” philosophy.  But God reminds us to wait once again, because He will intercede on our behalf.  Sometimes this happens through an inspiration, but often our circumstances unfold very differently than if we had hastily tackled a problem on our own.  This verse tells us to sit with our anger for a while and hand it to God in prayer, with a heart that is waiting and ready for His response.

19. “For in hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what is seen?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8: 24-25

Post-modernist ideology tells us that empiricism is the highest order of reason.  If something cannot be proved through the scientific method, then it is not credible or rational.  But faith tells us otherwise.  For some of us, hope is all we have when times get really tough.  And hope can even wane when things become more dismal as time passes, but this verse boldly invites us to reconsider our weakening anticipation.  We know that we wait for God, whom we cannot see, yet we do so with earnestness and increased ardor for Him.

Women today struggle with multifaceted problems and emotions.  Many of us are confused by our own admission to these issues, despite our claim to belief in Catholicism.  Getting back to Scripture – God’s living, breathing Word – ironically provides a fresh perspective to old habits and mundane routines.  He breathes His very essence into us when we read His word and absorb it with an open heart.  God reaches the heart of women, because we speak and live from the heart.  We are the heart of the family and of our marriages.  We carry the keys to deep emotional intimacy, and that is where God reaches us as women.  Tuck away these verses so that you can revisit them when life gets messy – as it inevitably will.  Remember that God meets you in the sanctuary of your heart. 

What are your favorite quotes?