The Bible always has something definite to say about personal problems, both spiritual and practical. It offers help without minimizing the problems and without giving the idea that it has some magic formula which guarantees instant success. The passages suggested on the following pages will help you personally, and in your relations with other people and God, because all through the Bible are important ideas concerned with relationships. Passages which are particularly helpful in this respect are Deuteronomy 6.4-5; Leviticus 19.33-34; Matthew 22.32-40; John 15.12. The passages are arranged under four headings to help you find exactly what you need to know.

Personal problems
where to look when you are:

Afraid; start with Psalm 46; then go to the First Letter of John, 4.18. then the whole of chapter 4.

Afraid of death; read John 11.1-44,17,20; and then 2 Corinthians 5 to fine out about what happens after death.

Angry with someone; read through Matthew 5.38-48. Remember what you are angry about, then read Matthew 18.21-35 slowly.

Anxious; turn to Philippians 4.6-7 and find the secret of peace of mind.

Anxious for loved one; read Luke 7, and see how Jesus responds to loved one; then read Psalm 121, in which you read about God's protection.

Awake at night; read through Psalm 4,56 and 130.


Bereaved; read through John 11.17-27 and hear Jesus' voice. 1 Corinthians 15 also offers help.

Too busy; look at what Ecclesiastes 3.1-15 says about time.

Facing a crisis; read Joshua 1.5-9; Deuteronomy 31.6-8; Proverbs 8; Isaiah 55, and Psalm 3 which assure us of God¡¯s strength, love, and encouragement.

Depressed; start on Psalm 34; then read carefully Jesus' invitation in Mathew 11.28-30.

Discouraged; let the well-known words of Psalm 23 restore your confidence. Psalms 42,43, and 130 also offer help.

Disgruntled; slowly read through Romans 5.1-11 and then let Psalm 25 speak to you.

Frustrated; look at Philippians 4.8-13; Psalms 40,90; Hebrews 12, and ask God to give you his peace.

Bearing a grudge; Luke 6.27-42; 2 Corinthians 4, and Ephesians 4.17-32 will help you deal with this.

Guilty; start with Psalm 51 and end with the First letter of John 1 and 2.

Jealous; look at Luke 12.13-21; Psalms49 and 73; James 3, and let what they say soak in to your mind and help you see what is important.

Lost; read Luke 15 for three ways of being lost, and found!

Worried about money; take time to read Matthew 6.19-34; 1 Timothy 6.6-12; Mark 4.1-20; Luke 19.11-27; 1 Corinthians 9.6-11 to help you.

Felling rejected; look at 1 peter 3.8-17; 1 peter 1; 1 Corinthians 13 to comfort and encourage you.

Sick or in pain; Romans 5.1-5,11; and Psalm 6,32,39, and 41 may well speak to you