Some Background
Just over three years ago—(time flies, man, time flies)—I wrote a blog post called The Commands of Christ where I aimed to catalog instances in the Bible where Jesus explicitly gives instructions. My goal was to cut through the noise of modern Christian preaching and teaching and focus solely on what Jesus Himself said. Because in the end, Christ is enough.
That post accomplished its goal. I’ve referred back to it often and shared it with others looking for that same kind of “no-frills” resource. But as life throws its chaos at us—deadlines, family drama, health challenges, relationships, personal hurdles—sometimes the last thing we want is a list of commands to follow, from God or anyone else. I know I’ve certainly had moments where I needed comfort rather than commands in my walk with Christ. The Psalmist said it best:
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
When you’re already overwhelmed, anxious, and burdened, a list of commands to follow just feels taxing. And yet Jesus is far more than a moral rulebook, He offers us actual rest and relief:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
As you can see, while authoritative moral instruction is part of who He is—as God, King, Savior, Creator—Jesus is far from a taskmaster. Quite the opposite actually. He’s everything you need. The commands He gave are meant to help us naturally lean into God’s will—able to sense right from wrong by the wisdom of the One who made everything—instead of chasing the world’s ever-shifting moral standards or memorizing rules for every scenario. Still, there’s a whole other side of Jesus: the Comforter, the One who promises peace, rest, and presence during our hardest days. Sometimes, you just need a spiritual hug instead of a to-do list.
So this post—The Comforts of Christ—is my attempt at gathering the places in Scripture where Jesus speaks comfort into our lives. It’s for those moments when you’re already maxed out, tired of being told what else needs doing, and just want to hear, “You are loved. You matter. I’m with you.” I’m reminded of King David’s words:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, 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.
That’s comfort in a nutshell. My prayer is that this post gives you that same sort of “it’s going to be alright” reassurance—straight from Jesus’s own words.
Random Comfort
For a quick dose of comfort, use the widget below to generate a random quote. Be sure to click on the verse links to explore the full context, as that’s always important for understanding any message, especially those from Christ!
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
The Comforts of Christ
The quotes below are a collection of Jesus Christ’s comforting words throughout the Bible. They’re compiled from a few places—mainly my highlights in BibleGateway and the YouVersion app, plus a little help from ChatGPT (it’s a marvelous tool for quickly digging up references).
I can’t promise this list is exhaustive, and I’m always open to adding more. If you know of a comforting quote from Christ that isn’t included here, please let me know through my contact page. I encourage you to click on each verse link and read the full chapter in context. The words of Christ are always worth meditating on!
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Take heart, daughter, he said, your faith has healed you.
Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.
Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Don’t be afraid; just believe.
“If you can”? said Jesus. Everything is possible for one who believes.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer… Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.
Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Because I live, you also will live.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Yes, I am coming soon.
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.
