#171 Biblical Passages for Crisis Intervention
1. Death (Loss of a Loved One)
Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (New American Standard Bible, 2020, Psalm 34:18)
This verse assures the grieving person of God's nearness and care during their sorrow.
John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (NASB, 2020, John 11:25-26)
Jesus reminds us that death is not the end for believers.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” (NASB, 2020, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
This verse offers hope in the face of loss through the promise of resurrection.
Revelation 21:4
“and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (NASB, 2020, Revelations 21:4)
This is a promise of ultimate happiness.
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (NASB, 2020, Matthew 5:4)
Encouragement that mourning will bring divine comfort.
2. Natural Disaster (Aftermath of Tragedy)
Psalm 46:1-2
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea” (NASB, 2020, Psalm 46:1-2)
Assurance that God is a stronghold in chaos.
Isaiah 41:10
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (NASB, 2020, Isaiah 41:10)
A direct word of encouragement in the face of disaster.
Romans 8:28
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (NASB, 2020, Romans 8:28)
God is in control even when life seems out of control.
Nahum 1:7
“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (NASB, 2020, Nahum 1:7)
God's goodness and strength in times of crisis.
Matthew 6:31-33
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (NASB, 2020, Matthew 6:31-33)
Encouragement not to worry, even when physical needs are uncertain.
3. Suicide Ideation
Psalm 139:13-14
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” (NASB, 2020, Psalm 139:13-14)
A reminder of God’s intentional creation and value of life.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (NASB, 2020, Jeremiah 29:11)
God has a future and purpose, even if it's hard to see now.
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NASB, 2020, Romans 8:38-39)
Assurance of God’s unbreakable love.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (NASB, 2020, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
A reminder that struggles don’t mean defeat.
1 Kings 19:4-8
“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.” He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.” Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.” (NASB, 2020, 1 Kings 19:4-8)
These verses show that even the prophet Elijah despaired and God cared for him. All people even prophets struggle.
4. Substance Use (Addiction)
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (NASB, 2020, 1 Corinthians 10:13)
God provides a way out of temptation.
Galatians 5:1
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (NASB, 2020, Galatians 5:1)
Christ gives power to break bondage.
Romans 6:12-14
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (NASB, 2020, Romans 6:12-14)
There is hope in the face of addiction.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (NASB, 2020, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
A promise of transformation through Christ.
James 5:16
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (NASB, 2020, James 5:16)
Healing comes through community and confession.
5. Terminal Illness
Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (NASB, 2020, Psalms 23:4)
God is present in the darkest trials.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (NASB, 2020, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Suffering is temporary compared to eternal life.
Philippians 1:21
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (NASB, 2020, Philippians 1:21)
Gives perspective and hope beyond the illness.
Isaiah 40:31
“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” (NASB, 2020, Isaiah 40:31)
God can provide strength to endure during physical decline.
Revelation 21:4
“and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (NASB, 2020, Revelations 21:4)
A promise of complete healing in eternity.
6. Domestic Violence Victim
Psalm 9:9
“The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble” (NASB, 2020, Psalm 9:9)
God defends and protects the abused.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” (NASB, 2020, Proverbs 3:5-6)
Encouragement to trust God for guidance and rescue.
Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.” (NASB, 2020, Isaiah 54:17)
Reassurance of divine protection.
Romans 12:19
“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” (NASB, 2020, Romans 12:19)
God sees and will deal justly with injustice.
Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NASB, 2020, Psalm 34:18)
Reaffirming God’s closeness in emotional pain.
7. Domestic Violence Perpetrator
Ezekiel 18:21-23
“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. “All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” (NASB, 2020, Ezekiel 18:21-23)
God offers mercy for genuine repentance.
Luke 3:8
“Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.” (NASB, 2020, Luke 3:8)
True repentance requires life change.
James 1:20
“for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (NASB, 2020, James 1:20)
A warning against violent or abusive behavior.
Colossians 3:19
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.” (NASB, 2020, Colossians 3:19)
A call to treat others with love and gentleness.
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB, 2020, John 1:9)
God offers forgiveness when we own our sin.
8. Sexual Assault Victim
Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” (NASB, 2020, Psalm 147:3)
A promise of emotional and spiritual healing.
Isaiah 61:1-3
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (NASB, 2020, Isaiah 61:1-3)
Jesus’ mission includes comforting the abused.
Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (NASB, 2020, Romans 12:21)
Encouragement to reclaim dignity and hope.
Genesis 50:20
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (NASB, 2020, Genesis 50:20)
Assurance that God can bring redemption.
Zephaniah 3:17
“The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” (NASB, 2020, Zephaniah 3:17)
God’s love restores a shattered soul.
9. Divorce
Malachi 2:16
“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the LORD of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” (NASB, 2020, Malachi 2:16)
Acknowledges the pain and seriousness of broken covenants.
Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NASB, 2020, Psalm 34:18)
God comforts in emotional devastation.
Isaiah 43:18-19
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” (NASB, 2020, Isaiah 43:18-19)
Encouragement that God brings new beginnings.
Romans 8:1
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NASB, 2020, Romans 8:1)
Freedom from guilt and shame.
Joel 2:25
“Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” (NASB, 2020, Joel 2:25)
God can restore after seasons of devastation.
10. Moral Failure
Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (NASB, 2020, Psalm 51:10)
David’s cry after moral failure a model for repentance.
Proverbs 28:13
“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion” (NASB, 2020, Proverbs 28:13).
Encouragement to confess and turn away from sin.
Luke 15:20
“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (NASB, 2020, Luke 15:20)
The prodigal son is welcomed home- God’s grace is lavish.
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB, 2020, 1 John 1:9)
Assurance of forgiveness and cleansing.
Micah 7:8
“Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.” (NASB, 2020, Micah 7:8)
Hope after falling morally is not the end.
Works Cited
New American Standard Bible. (2020). The Lockman Foundation.
