Scriptures and Encouragement For When You’re Feeling Crushed
A few weeks ago, I posted about some analogies of the pressing of olive oil and the pressing of Jesus. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, I encourage you to take some time to visit that post and read over some of the parallels and symbolism of the three phases of pressings. I think it can definitely give us encouragement and hope to remember that Jesus was crushed and pressed on our behalf, especially during times when we are feeling crushed ourselves.
Today, I’d like to share some scriptures that might offer some comfort and encouragement for when we are feeling crushed. Many offer reminders that we are not alone in these feelings, since others have experienced feeling crushed as well throughout scripture (Jesus included). Some of the verses remind us of God’s character, comfort, and rescue during times of feeling crushed. Other times we are reminded to rely on and surrender to God during these times and even to offer comfort to others who may be feeling crushed.
Scriptures for feeling crushed
“God, you are my righteousness, my Champion Defender. Answer me when I cry for help! Whenever I was in distress, you enlarged me. I’m being squeezed again—I need your kindness right away! Grant me your grace, hear my prayer, and set me free!” Psalms 4:1 (TPT)
“Many people are suffering— crushed by the weight of their troubles. But the Lord is a refuge for them, a safe place they can run to.” Psalms 9:9 (ERV)
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalms 34:18 (NLT)
“I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart. …Do not abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior.” Psalms 38:8, 21-22 (NLT)
“Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.” Psalm 69:20 (NLT)
“Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed.” Psalms 119:116 (NLT)
“The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly.” Psalm 146:8 (NLT)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (ESV)
“The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?” Proverbs 18:14 (NLT)
“My heart is crushed, and I am trembling. Because of the LORD, because of his holy words, I am like a man who is drunk, someone who has had too much wine.” Jeremiah 23:9 (GNT)
“I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” Ezekiel 34:16 (NKJV)
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NLT)
“We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT)
“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. …For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-9, 17-18 (NLT)
“For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.” 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (BSB)
“And to you who are troubled rest with us…” 2 Thessalonians 1:7a (KJV)
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
“Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).” Psalm 55:22 (AMPC)
“Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)
“I am burdened and broken by this pain. When your miracle rescue comes to me, it will lift me to the highest place.” Psalms 69:29 (TPT)
“Oh, Lord God, answer my prayers! I need to see your tender kindness, your grace, your compassion, and your constant love. Just let me see your face, and turn your heart toward me. Come running quickly to your servant. In this deep distress, come and answer my prayer.” Psalms 69:16-17 (TPT)
“You will not be subject to terror, for it will not terrify you. Nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside, because God is your confidence in times of crisis, keeping your heart at rest in every situation.” Proverbs 3:25-26 (TPT)
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;” Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV) *See also Luke 4:18
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:4 (NLT)
Jesus was crushed too
“He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”” Mark 14:34 (NLT)
“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)
“He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (AMP)
**See additional less literal scriptures about Jesus being crushed in this post.
Take Some Practical Steps to Meditate on the Pressing of Jesus:
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First, read over the verses above when you are feeling crushed to get encouraged and comforted.
Use these verses to remind you that you are not alone in these feelings. Let them prompt you to remember God’s character, comfort & rescue. Respond to their encouragement to surrender to God.
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Then, you might want to pick one or two of the verses to memorize or write down on an index card or post-it note and place it where you can see it as a reminder and comfort for when you’re feeling crushed.
For example put them on the bathroom mirror, the nightstand, on doors, over light switches, on cabinet doors, on your car console, etc.
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Next, consider revisiting this post about some analogies of the pressing of olive oil and the pressing of Jesus.
Look over some of the parallels and symbolism of the three phases of pressings. Remember that Jesus was crushed and pressed on your behalf, especially during times when we are feeling crushed ourselves.
Are you feeling crushed by your sins and mistakes?
Remember that Jesus was crushed to make you righteous, holy, and pure. You don’t have to feel condemned.
“So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.” Hebrews 13:12 (NLT)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
Have you been feeling crushed by pain (physical, emotional, mental, or relational)?
Remember that Jesus was crushed for your healing.
“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)
Are you feeling crushed by spiritual hunger?
Remember that Jesus was crushed to bring you sustenance. He will sustain you as your bread of life and living water.
“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 (ESV) *See also John 6:48, John 6:51, & Matthew 26:26
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”” John 7:37-38 (NIV)
Have you been crushed in darkness or with decisions and problems?
Remember that Jesus was crushed to bring you into the light. He is the light of the world. He will light your path and give you direction and answers.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV) *See also John 9:5
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
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Additionally, as you encounter times of feeling crushed, remind yourself that God is able to produce something very good and useful from every last drop of pain and suffering that you endure.
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Finally, you may want to check out these other posts that might be helpful during times when you are feeling crushed to get additional comfort and practical guidance:
Being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from going through trials, troubles, or difficult times. Jesus warned us about this…
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
The important thing to remember though is that we don’t face these hard times alone. There are things we can do to prepare, endure, and overcome. Below are some posts to help you do just that.
Getting Through a Tough Time and Coming Out Better On the Other Side
10 Ways to Get Through a Hard Time
Scriptures for Troubling Times
Preparing For the Storms of Life
Be Like Palm Trees Through Life’s Storms
Scriptures About the Lord is My Strength
Scriptures for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
Are You Going Through a Transition?
Keep Your Eyes and Focus on Jesus
When Things Are Going Wrong…God Still Has Your Back
How to Use Our Spiritual Authority Against the Enemy
When you are feeling crushed, what has encouraged you the most? Share it with us by leaving a comment below!
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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward! Share this post via the sharing links below. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
