15 Powerful Bible Verses for Times of Trouble and Grief
Dawn comes quietly this time of year, the rising sun pushing out the chill of night. My heart is heavy as I watch the light ascend. Pulling out my Bible, I begin listing them: hope-filled Bible verses for times of trouble and grief.
15 Bible Verses for Times of Trouble
Perhaps you need this encouragement today as well.
We live in a broken world, and we all face times of trouble. Meanwhile, God offers hope for even the darkest days. He invites us to draw near to him, and he will give us the strength to endure grief and trouble.
Bible Verses for Times of Trouble and Grief
Today, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses for times of trouble and crisis. I encourage you to sit with these words awhile and let them soak into the deepest part of your heart. I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God in difficult times.
1. Psalm 46:10, MSG
Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.
No matter what you’re facing today, God is still in control.
God hasn’t stepped down from his throne. His knees are not weak and trembling. He’s not afraid. He’s not surprised by what is happening.
Furthermore, his arm is not too short to reach in and stop this crisis at any given moment.
Our inability to make sense of what is happening does not indicate God’s absence or indifference.
Our inability to make sense of what is happening does not indicate God’s absence or his indifference. #seekingGod #turningtoGod Share on X
God cares.
He is calling each of us to draw close to him and rest in him when troubles come. Will you take just a moment to pause and look to him? He is with you, and he wants to give you peace in this troubled situation.
2. Hebrews 6:19, NIV
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
Have you put your hope in the day when your crisis passes?
I’m quick to try and fix what feels broken in my life. I feel like I have a sense of control over my world when I put broken pieces together again. Sadly, I often put my hope in my ability to fix my circumstances instead of putting my hope in the fact that Jesus is with me in the middle of my broken moments.
Hebrews 6:19 reminds us that our hope is not in our circumstances. Our hope is in Christ with us in the middle of our troubled times. This hope is an anchor.
As an anchor is outside the ship, our hope steadies us from a secure place outside our understanding.
Think of the role of an anchor for a ship: The anchor pulls the vessel to itself.
Christ is our anchor. As we cling to him, he will pull us close.
Our hope is found not in getting through this crisis; our hope is found in drawing near to the anchor of Christ in the middle of the storm.
Our hope is found not in getting through this crisis; our hope is found in drawing near to the anchor of Christ in the middle of the storm. #hope #anchored #storms Share on X3. Romans 8:38-39, NASB 1995
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.
In times of trouble, God still loves you unconditionally.
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.
4. Psalm 34:18, NIV
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.
Are you feeling crushed or brokenhearted? God is near.
He loves you deeply and wants to comfort you with his love.
5. Psalm 5:12, NIV
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.
6. John 16:33, NIV
“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.”
Jesus directly told us that life would be hard at times.
Because Jesus said it, we can expect it.
But let’s not get stuck here.
We don’t have to live in fear during troubled times. Jesus promises peace. There will be tribulation, but let’s not lose heart because Jesus has overcome the world.
Jesus already won the war. Let’s not grow discouraged as we wait for him to return and put an end to the battles we are facing. Jesus will return and make all things new.
Until then, let’s cling to the peace that comes from knowing he walks with us, hand-in-hand.
7. Romans 8:28-29, AMP
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose (AMP).
God is using this pain to conform you to the image of Jesus. He can use any painful situation for good, and his definition of “good” is that you will emerge looking more like Christ.
8. Philippians 3:10, AMP
And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did].
We become more like Christ when we share in the fellowship of his suffering.
Press into his love for comfort as you continue stepping forward.
9. James 1:2-4, AMP
Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.
As you face this trial, God is teaching you endurance, and he is making you mature and complete, lacking nothing.
This never feels good in the moment, but we can trust that God wastes nothing.
10. Psalm 139:16, ESV
In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Years ago, while navigating a miscarriage, this verse brought me great comfort.
God writes all of our days before one of them exists. We don’t always understand why God allows loss, but we can trust that he is able to use it for good.
11. Psalm 34:18, ESV
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Cling to this promise. God is near. He will not abandon you.
Resist the temptation to turn away from him in anger or offense. He wants to heal you and bless you. He is able to redeem this loss.
12. Ecclesiastes 11:5, ESV
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
We simply cannot understand all of God’s ways.
Ask God to help you trust him with what you cannot understand. This is where faith is tested.
13. 1 Peter 5:7, ESV
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
You might be feeling anxious as you look to the future.
God is inviting you to cast your worries onto him. He wants to help you live with the deep trust that he will fulfill his purpose.
14. John 10:10, ESV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
How do we discern the difference between the work of the enemy and the work of God? Satan steals, kills, and destroys. God brings life and goodness.
God permitted this trial, but he is not a God of destruction and death.
This can be a difficult grey area to discern, but rest in this: God is always good. He wants to use this situation for your good and his glory.
15. Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
As you walk this out, God is gently inviting you to climb higher in trust.
In the meantime, he will help you know him in a deeper, more experiential way. He will also make your paths straight and heal your heart. Will you turn to him today?
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 7, 12, and 16, 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. I also recently released a teen devotional called Anchored, designed to help teens learn key biblical narratives and apply them to their lives. You can find these books here or read more below. 
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.
Devotions for Boys by Boys
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.
These Books Are Free on Kindle Unlimited: God Wants to Heal, Restore, and Refresh You
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. He also wants to help you establish a rhythm of meeting with him daily as you trust him with the hard parts of your life. Click here to explore two books that will guide you: Be Still and Trust and Lean Into Grace. They are free on the Kindle Unlimited program and for sale in print.
Download Your Free Devotional Here
Set Free: Let God Do What You Cannot explores ten realms in which most of us need God to work in our lives and bring deliverance. We’ll talk about finding freedom from fear, worry, insecurity, bad habits, emotional pain, and more. This short online devotional will bless you as you let God accomplish what you’ve been unable to achieve through willpower. Get your download for free with promo code GRACE or for a donation of 3.99 here. Thank you. This small gift helps keep this ministry running.
I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
