17 Inspiring Bible Verses About Discouragement
It’s a brisk autumn morning with lacy frost whitening the lawn. It’s been a discouraging season here, and I am worn out. As I stare at the never-ending to-do list, I realize I could use a few Bible verses about discouragement.
Bible Verses About Discouragement
I stare into the hazy coral firmament, lost in thought, when a question comes to mind.
It’s the question God asked Adam in the Garden of Eden after they ate the apple: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).
This question doesn’t loom like an accusation. It simply invites me to step outside the momentum of my day and honestly assess what’s driving my life.
On this morning, frosted windowpanes soaking in the dawn’s first rays of golden sun, I admit to the Lord exactly where I am. I am discouraged.
Golden sunbeams fall like grace upon my face. As I lean into the arms of the One I love, I receive the truth that he loves me exactly where I am. He also promises to shine light on each step of the path in front of me (Psalm 119:105).
Some of us are afraid today.
Some of us are filled with regret, sorrow, grief, pain, and dismay.
God offers grace for all of these things. He simply asks us to come. He calls us to draw near and trust that the one who began the work within our hearts will complete what he started (Philippians 1:6).
Before we encourage our hearts with today’s Scripture, I encourage you to draw near to God. Pour your heart out to him. Tell him exactly how you’re feeling. The process of talking to him will begin to lighten your load. When you are done, come back to soak in these Bible verses about discouragement today.
Bible Verses About Discouragement
If you are feeling discouraged today, hold onto these Bible verses about discouragement and struggles:
1. Isaiah 59:1
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1 NASB).
Do you wonder if God has forsaken you? Cling to this promise: The Lord’s arm is not too short to save you, no matter how far you have fallen.
When you begin to feel like you might sink, lift your eyes to the One who holds the power to immediately reach out and save you.
Ask him for help. He is waiting to carry you and sustain you.
2. Isaiah 42:6
“I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over you” (Isaiah 42:6).
In the darkest seasons of my life, I have cried out to the Lord from the lonely valley of isolation.
Friend, when you feel all alone, hold onto this promise: The God who made you will hold you by your hand. He has not left you.
He is watching over you, and he hasn’t missed a moment of the journey you are facing. Keep drawing near to him. Continue talking to him and opening your Bible. He is present with you.
You Are Not Alone
3. Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you” (Isaiah 43:2).
Perhaps you feel like you’re walking through a refining fire.
If so, cling to this promise: God is using this fire to purify you and help you grow.
Affliction is God’s primary tool for helping us grow into emotional and spiritual maturity. We miss the gifts hidden in affliction when take offense toward God for permitting the fires.
Ask God to help you keep a soft heart. He uses life’s fires and floods to transform us into the image of his Son.
4. Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
God is inviting you to continue spending time in his Word. His Word guides our feet and directs our paths.
When you start to wonder which direction to take, turn back to the Living Word.
Open your Bible and find the encouragement and direction you need in times of discouragement. Stand on his promises instead of standing on your emotions. God’s light will guide you.
5. Philippians 1:6
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
God is not done writing your story.
He is not finished with you.
Hold onto this Bible promise when you feel discouraged: God will finish what he starts in your life. Your role is to trust him as you continue to put one foot in front of the other—one day at a time.
6. Psalm 118:6
“The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6).
Do you feel discouraged as a result of interactions with other people?
During these times, God invites you to turn toward him and trust him. When the fear of man is overpowering, remind yourself that you serve God first. He will defend you and stand with you.
7. Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
God invites us to turn toward him and find refuge and protection in his presence. When life feels defeating, run to the Lord. Rest in his love. Imagine him holding you and giving you strength.
He wants to help you in times of trouble and defeat. He can lift your head and give you hope.
Read here for 17 inspiring Bible verses about discouragement. #Scripture #encouragement Share on X8. 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” (John 16:33).
We all face trouble in life.
Turn to Jesus in times of trouble and remember that he stands above every power and authority. He fights for you and wants to carry you and defend you.
9. Hebrews 10:35-36
“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36).
We also need to remember to keep pressing forward.
When adversity comes, it can be tempting to give up. Instead of giving up, ask God to give you endurance. Press on. Your story is not finished yet.
10. Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
Never forget that God is with you.
This Psalm reminds us that he is near to those who are brokenhearted and crushed. He wants to be your source of comfort.
11. 1 Peter 4:14
This verse reads: “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
When the trials and tribulations of life don’t relent, the glory of God rests on you.
Have the fiery trials burned you to ashes? Have the trials and tribulations of life worn you thin?
Take heart. Beauty rises from ashes. And where God creates beauty, his glory is made known.
12. 1 Peter 4:13
First Peter 4:13 offers this reminder: “But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
This trial holds the power to magnify the goodness of God through you. Keep going. Keep your heart soft. Fight offense. Your story isn’t finished yet.
Additionally, when you’re in the thick of the trial, you share in fellowship with Christ.
13. Hebrews 4:15
Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin.”
We don’t need to understand this for it to be true. Jesus understands every struggle, weakness, and temptation we will ever face.
He gets it. We can allow the trials and tribulations of life to harden our hearts, or we can use them as prompts to draw near to the One who really does understand.
14. Psalm 34:18
This verse reads, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
In times of trouble and heartbreak, God is close to you.
You might not feel like God is close when you are hurting, but this doesn’t change the promise that he is close to the brokenhearted. God is near. He loves you deeply and wants to comfort you with his love.
15. Psalm 5:12
Psalm 5:12 reads, “Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Even in times of trouble, God surrounds you like a shield.
No matter what happens in the world around you, if you humble yourself before God and lean on him by faith, he will surround you with favor as with a shield.
Nothing will reach you that has not first passed through God’s protective wings. You can trust that when God permits trouble in your life, he doesn’t enjoy it. Troubles come because we live in a fallen world where human beings have free will.
Trouble exists because people make ungodly choices, life is hard, and an enemy prowls around looking for people to destroy. Nevertheless, when God permits trouble in your life, you can trust that he intends to use it for your good and his glory.
16. Romans 8:38-39
This verse reads, “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.”
When life is difficult, do you ever wonder if God still loves you? When you begin to doubt God’s love for you, stand on the promise from Romans 8:38-39.
Nothing can ever take God’s love away from you.
Furthermore, when we study Scripture, we often see that trouble is a sign of God’s presence, not his absence.
17. Revelation 22:12
Revelation 22:12 reminds us, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
Take heart because you have a reward awaiting you in heaven.
And so, if you’ve had as much as you can take, don’t give up just yet. Your reward awaits on the other side of this life. Keep hoping in what is still unseen and keep watching for the spring beauties to rise through the dead earth. This story isn’t finished just yet.
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If these Bible verses about discouragement were helpful for you, I invite you to explore our family devotionals and library of free devotional eBooks below. Be blessed as you draw near to God!
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.
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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!
Your Free Devotional for Hope and Peace
Hope for Hard Days is my 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!
