Bible passages to help a friend

My friend's ex-wife is moving out of state with their children against the custody order. He is extremely stressed. I have been telling him to have faith for the past week and he came to me today and asked if I had some Bible passages to help him with that. Could you help us out?

In the Bible God provides comfort and strength for his children as they go through troubles and difficulties in life. There are many, many passages you could share with your friend. Here are some that come to mind.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging… The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:1-3, 7).

“’Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10).

“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4)

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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” (Romans 8:35-39).

God bless your Christian service to your friend, and may God give your friend peace and strength through his powerful word.