14 Hope-Filled Bible Verses About Pain and Hurt
The season’s first skiff of snow greeted us with the dawn. I stood at the window with an aching heart. It had been a tough season. Pulling out my Bible, I began searching for hope-filled Bible verses about pain and hurt.
As I read God’s Word, peace flooded me.
I found comfort, hope.
Perhaps you need this today as well.
Today, I’m sharing the Bible verses about pain and hurt. We’ll also talk about the ways God uses brokenness for our good and his glory.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook for times of suffering.
Bible Verses About Pain and Hurt
Friend, do you feel like you’re alone in your suffering?
Despite your feelings, you are not alone. Cling to these words about the One who will never leave you to suffer alone.
14 Bible Verses About Pain and Hurt
1. Joshua 1:9 ESV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
God gives us all we need to be strong, courageous, and unafraid.
Because God is with us, we don’t need to be afraid. He promises never to leave us, and he will carry us through the darkest valleys.
2. Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God’s right hand denotes action. God has not stopped acting in our lives.
He waits to strengthen us, and he upholds us with his righteous right hand. Lean into him if you are suffering today.
3. Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save . . . he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
When our children suffer with fevers, bad dreams, and fears of all sorts, I often hold them in the night and sing over them.
In the same way, God sings over us. He wants to quiet us with his love. He is a good Father, and he invites us to draw near to him for comfort when life is tough.
I invite you to close your eyes and imagine God holding you in his arms. Imagine him singing over you. He delights in you. Let his love wash over you.
More Powerful Bible Verses About Pain and Hurt
4. Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
During times of suffering, it can be tempting to wonder if God has taken his love away from us.
We cannot understand everything God permits, but we can trust that his love can never be taken away from his children. Rest in this love today. He won’t waste your suffering.
5. 1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Because God dwells in you, you can trust in him to comfort you, sustain you, and support you. He has poured out his Spirit on all of his children, and his Holy Spirit equips us to face even the darkest days in his strength, with his peace.
If you lack peace and strength as you suffer, ask God, through the power of his Spirit, to fill you with the peace that passes understanding. His peace will give you strength.
6. Deuteronomy 31:8
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
When I feel worried or anxious, a close friend often reminds me, “God is already there.”
No matter what you are facing today, God is already there. He is beside you, behind you, within you, and ahead of you. Nothing can take him by surprise. Trust that he will lead you, sustain you, and give you all you need.
7. Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God wants his peace to surround you. The key to experiencing his peace is to surrender your worries to him and talk to him about all things.
When we learn to surrender our worries to God, he fills us with hope and peace, guarding our minds in Christ.
8. John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The greatest demonstration of love is for a parent to allow harm to come to his child on behalf of another person.
God demonstrated his love for us when he allowed Jesus to die for us. The Holy Spirit now dwells in the heart of everyone who believes this and follows Jesus. We have hope because the Spirit gives us hope.
9. Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
This is a message for all of God’s children.
At times, we turn our backs on him. Meanwhile, Jesus pursues us. He wants a relationship with all of his children. Have you responded to him as he knocks at the door of your heart?
Open the door, and he will fill you with his hope.
10. Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
God’s presence is like a light for our paths. Trust that because God is with you, you don’t need to live in fear.
Cling to the hope that God will guide your steps.
11. Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
God is with you. He will help you cross the raging rivers of life and walk through every fire with you.
12. John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
For years, I felt surprised every time life became difficult. Finally, I realized that trouble is to be expected. Jesus promised trouble. But he also promised his peace.
Are you facing a storm? Don’t be surprised. Also, remind yourself that Jesus has not left your side.
No matter what your storm looks like, Jesus is with you in the boat. He won’t leave you (Deut. 31:6). Lean into him and ask him to strengthen you. Keep your heart open to him. Keep seeking him. He won’t waste this storm.
13. Isaiah 42:6
“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you”
When you don’t know which way to turn, cling to the promise in Isaiah 42:6.
God is with you in this storm, and he will protect you as he takes hold of your hand. Cry out to him and trust that he will never take his eye off you.
14. Psalm 16:8
“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”
Stormy seas in life threaten to shake us to the core. By learning to set the Lord always before us—and keeping our eyes on him—we need not be shaken.
What might it look like to set the Lord always before you?
For me, this looks like training myself to turn to God first when crises strike. By practicing turning toward him, I find peace and stability.
God uses difficulties to shape us into the image of Jesus. As we grow in maturity, we are better able to share God’s love and compassion with others. We also develop resilience and perseverance.
I now invite you to apply these Bible verses about pain and hurt to your everyday moments.
Applications of These Bible Verses About Pain and Hurt
King David wrote: My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise (Psalm 51:17, NIV).
Godly brokenness comes when we let ourselves fall dependently into his arms and give up our striving efforts to live in our own strength.
You might be feeling broken today. If so, the following truths are for you.
Let’s look at seven insights to encourage us when we’re feeling broken.
1. When you’re feeling broken, God is shaping you.
God will use your broken moments to show you where he wants to shape and mold your life.
The secret is to keep your heart soft and teachable.
2. Brokenness is always an opportunity for God to reveal his power.
I’m good and accomplishing my goals in my own strength.
This determination served me well for decades, but it didn’t help me grow in dependence upon God.
In truth, God’s power shows up when we are weak, not when we are succeeding in our own strength. Every broken moment is an opportunity to turn to God and watch for his power to be made perfect through you.
3. Brokenness can lead us into God’s open arms, deeper into his love.
God used a broken heart to call King David back into his love.
When I keep my heart soft, God uses brokenness to show me just how much I need his everlasting arms to catch me. His grace meets me in my weakness, leading me deeper into his love for me.
We have never fallen so far that his arms cannot reach out to uplift us and save us, even from ourselves.
4. Our broken moments are often the platforms for God’s miracles.
We often have to come to the end of ourselves for God to work miracles in our lives.
When our fists cling tightly to what we think we can control and manage, God lets us hold on. The act of holding on is also what keeps God from working miracles in our lives.
More than once, God used broken loaves to feed thousands.
Consider what would have happened if the disciples had kept the loaves and fish for themselves. They would have missed out on the miracle.
5. Feeling broken reminds us of our need for Jesus.
When life gets hard, we face multiple options: We can pull ourselves up in our human strength and press forward with determination, forgetting about God’s provision in the process (this is my default); we can shut down in defeat; we might numb ourselves through escapist behaviors; or we can turn to Jesus in our weakness, asking him to sustain and carry us.
A line that has become regular in our home after mom meltdowns is, “Kids, this is a reminder that your mom needs Jesus too.”
6. Brokenness often leads us to relinquish the desire for control.
Many of our broken moments involve the desire for control.
For me, this brokenness often reveals itself when life doesn’t go according to my plans, and I snap. At other times, unexpected crises arise, and I come unglued with reactive anxiety. If I can’t fix what seems broken, I reel with stress and worry.
Meanwhile, Jesus holds out his hand and whispers, “Let go of your desire for control and trust me. I will carry you through this as you rest in me.”
7. Only through the brokenness of Christ do we find healing.
Lastly, Jesus reminds us that all healing is found through brokenness. God used Jesus’ broken body, pierced for our sins, to provide salvation for all humankind. Because Christ was broken, we can turn to him and find wholeness.
May we never forget this truth. Christ’s brokenness on the cross is the gateway to our healing and hope.
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If these Bible verses about pain and hurt encouraged you, I invite you to explore our family devotionals and free library of eBooks and devotionals below. May you experience the comfort of God as you draw near to him.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Devotional Book for Your Broken Seasons:
I have a gift for you today. Hope for Hard Days is a free 10-day online devotional to help you hold onto hope when life is tough. You will find 10 readings to help you connect with God and claim his peace. Click here and I’ll send it to your email inbox today for free with promo code HOPE. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
