Life-Changing Scripture About Leaning on God in Tough Times
Dawn breaks beneath a bitter chill today. The sparrows don’t seem to mind. They chatter at the feeder while their Maker dabs the world with tufts of white lace. I watch from my spot by the window as I search for Scripture about leaning on God.
Scripture About Leaning on God
Winter is beginning to wear on me, and we’ve only just begun. I have a feeling I’m going to need some strong words to carry me through the long months to come—months when leaning on God will be the secret for pressing forward.
You might not be worn down today, but a time will come. A time will come when you need an anchor. I pray these words will help you hold fast when the world wears you down. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you lean on God when life is tough.
Powerful Scripture About Leaning on God
1. Deuteronomy 31:8
You can lean on God because he will never leave you.
Does it feel like God has abandoned you?
Cling to this promise today: “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” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
God will never leave your side. Everything else might fall apart, but you can find peace as you lean into the presence of Immanuel, the God who is with you.
2. Psalm 34:17-18
You can lean on God because he is near when your heart is broken.
Sometimes it feels like God has left us when we’re reeling with grief and sadness. Cling to this Scripture about leaning on God when your heart is broken:
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:17-18).
3. Revelation 21:3-4
Lean on God by reminding yourself of your glorious future with him.
When the brokenness of the world weighs me down, I remind myself of my eternal future with God.
As believers, a glorious future awaits: “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. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).
4. Job 1:21
Lean on God by blessing his name—even when you are hurting.
Are you hurting today?
Follow Job, who fell on the ground and worshipped God in the aftermath of losing all he had. Worship in the midst of heartache is a difficult sacrifice, but it is also a powerful step toward healing.
Job blessed God in his despair with these words: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
Bless God in your troubles, and you will change the atmosphere surrounding you.
5. 1 Peter 5:10
Lean on the Lord as you put your trust in him.
Does it feel like your suffering will never end?
Cling to this promise: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).
God wastes nothing. He won’t waste your suffering. Keep a soft heart. Ask him to help you trust him. And wait for him to restore you. He is our Healer, Restorer, and Deliverer, and he is not slow in keeping his promises.
6. John 16:33
Don’t be surprised by this trial.
Jesus reminds us of the following truth about trouble in life: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
We will all face trouble. But we don’t need to despair. Jesus has overcome every trouble, and he empowers us to endure every trial.
Leaning on God When Life Is Interrupted
This last verse is what my heart needs most on this sunny January day: It seems I’m surprised every time life brings trouble. I hunker down and call it “crisis mode.”
All the while, Jesus promised there would be trouble.
We live in a broken world, and those of us who live longer than a few years will stand over gravesites and hospital beds. We will face difficult futures, sadness, and loss.
We tend to see trials as interruptions to our actual lives, but what if we learned to expect trials and be ready to run to Jesus when they come?
We tend to see trials as interruptions to our actual lives, but what if we learned to expect trials and be ready to run to Jesus when they come? #TrustingGod #Trials #HopeinJesus Share on X
What if trials are God’s instruments to shape us to look more like Jesus—the vessels that lead us closer to his heart of love for us?
I’m reframing it this winter as I remind myself that the King of the world is right beside me as I struggle through the season.
He has experienced every human emotion and suffered every grief we have experienced.
And all the while, he holds out nail-pierced hands, and he offers us peace.
Peace in the midst of our sadness.
Peace to carry us through the valleys.
The peace of knowing he goes with us.
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.
Calling 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 Find Peace in God’s Presence
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!
