23 Bible Verses for Encouragement in Hard Times
A vase of salmon-colored zinnias rests on the dining room table. I stare at it through tear-filled eyes, feeling discouraged by the grind of life. Pulling out my Bible, I decide to stand on God’s Truth as I work through my emotions. Slowly and deliberately, I copy a list of Bible verses for encouragement into my journal.
Perhaps you need encouragement today as well.
Let’s spend some time in God’s Word together. Then, we’ll talk about how to apply these Scriptures to our lives.
I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you in the Lord.
Bible Verses for Encouragement
Here are God’s encouraging words.
23 Bible Verses for Encouragement in Hard Times
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 promises never to leave us, and he will carry us through the darkest valleys. We can find encouragement in knowing he is always with us.
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 has not stopped acting in our lives.
He waits to strengthen us, and he upholds us with his righteous right hand. Lean into him for encouragement 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.
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 discouragement, 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 his love today.
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, 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.
Empowering Bible Verses for Encouragement
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. Revelation 21:3
Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
We have hope beyond this life.
One day, God will create a new earth. We will all dwell with him, face-to-face, for eternity.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Psalm 16:8
“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall 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.
16. Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all 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.
When I’m struggling, I often soak in Jesus’ invitation to draw near to him for rest. Take a moment to imagine Jesus holding you right now.
He wants to nurture your heart in the same way you nurture your children. I encourage you to spend at least a moment resting in his love every day.
17. Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Does it ever feel like you spend all of your time tending to the needs of other people while your needs go unmet?
Friend, God sees.
Not a moment of your effort is wasted. Perhaps the greatest news of all is that when you love others, Jesus counts it as if you are directly loving and serving him (see Matthew 25:40). He will care for your needs as well. He is also using the work of daily service to shape your soul.
God is inviting you to die to self thousands of times, and in the process, you will emerge more mature and complete, looking like Christ.
Bible Verses for Encouragement as You Wait on God
18. Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Most likely, you know how it feels to be so exhausted that you aren’t sure you can go on. Turn to Jesus. Ask him for strength, weary mom. He will renew your strength and carry you through the hardest days.
19. Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God wants to use every difficult moment of life to help you grow.
Your most challenging days are always opportunities to turn to him for strength in your weakness. He wants to make his power perfectly known in your weakest moments. He is also using hard times to shape your heart to look more like Christ’s heart of selfless love.
20. Jeremiah 31:3
The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
On the darkest days, remember this: You are loved with an everlasting God.
God will be faithful to you. Continue to seek him, and he will give you the strength you need for each day.
21. Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Notice that this verse tells us to cast our burdens on the Lord. Some burdens don’t relent without a strong heave.
What do you need to cast onto God today?
22. Psalm 63:1
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
David prayed this prayer to the Lord. He longed for God. When God is the highest longing in our lives, we will find him and be filled.
23. 1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
If you love God, he abides in you! The Living God comes and makes his dwelling within you. This is a wonderful promise.
Hope dwells within you! He wants to give you hope on the hardest days.
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I now invite you to apply these Bible verses for encouragement to your everyday moments.
Applications of These Bible Verses for Encouragement
I used to imagine my future life of fullness and abundance. I imagined kids who never got sick or talked back to me.
Setting aside passions like backpacking and traveling didn’t cross my mind.
I envisioned days spent lying in the sunshine along lazy rivers and never considered realities like separation anxiety, strep throat, and children who refuse to sleep through the night.
Maybe you had a vision for your future as well. You thought you’d chase down that dream until you grabbed onto it and made it your reality. You thought you’d marry that cute guy from the coffee shop, buy the big brick house at the end of the cul-de-sac, have few kids, buy a golden retriever, and live happily ever after, amen.
However, as you live out your actual life, it’s much different than you imagined.
Maybe you feel like you’re just trying to survive.
Your life feels quiet and hidden, harder than you imagined.
When You’re Feeling Discouraged, You Aren’t Alone in Your Humble Places
Friend, you aren’t alone.
Meanwhile, here is the best news: There is hope.
These quiet and humble acts of service are shaping you.
Keep going. God is using these hidden acts of service to transform you.
These quiet and humble acts of service are shaping you. Keep going. God is using these hidden acts of service to transform you. #transformation #humility Share on XKeep changing the diapers. Ring up another customer’s purchase. Grade another stack of papers. Write another report. Don’t stop folding the tiny washcloths.
In the meantime, keep watching for what God is doing around you. He is using your humble work to make you more like him.
God doesn’t usually choose the mountaintops of life to do the deepest work in your heart. He shapes you in the lowest places.
He makes you look more like Jesus when you humbly serve others.
Your quiet and unseen service is making you look more like Christ.
The more we look like Jesus, the more we start to tap into his joy, peace, and even his power. We become content where we are because we start to see the exciting reality that Jesus is with us and in us.
What Happens When We Embrace the Humble Work
Here is the best news: You step into the fullest kind of life when you learn to go lower for the sake of love.
Joy deepens.
Peace prevails.
God’s power works in and through you in the humble places.
Embrace humble places, and you will learn to pay less attention to outcomes and more attention to the moments along the journey. You’ll pay less attention to the applause of the onlookers and more attention to the still small voice directing you. You’ll worry less about what the world thinks, and you’ll start to live out of your true identity.
Today, I encourage you not to give up. Don’t assume that the humbling work of your days isn’t making an impact. You never know what God is doing to use you or how he is working through you.
If these Bible verses for encouragement blessed you, I invite you to explore our devotional books and free library of eBooks below. God wants to encourage your heart.
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 Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
If these Bible verses for encouragement were helpful, I have a gift for you. God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here! 
