Encouragement for the Challenges of Life: 15 Bible Verses About Strength in Hard Times

My grandma tended to a cluster of hyacinths in a small plot outside her garage.  Every spring, their pastel petals spoke life and hope into the reawakening world around us.  I want to be like those hyacinths, to bloom in a barren land.  One way we bloom during hard times is by anchoring ourselves to Truth.  Today, we’ll explore 15 anchoring Bible verses about strength in hard times.

Bible Verses About Strength in Hard Times

If you need encouragement today, I invite you to join me as we explore God’s words about strength.

Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you turn to God for strength in difficult times.

Bible Verses About Strength in Hard times

1. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Every struggle in life is an opportunity to turn to God for strength.  When we are at our weakest, God waits to move in power and reveal himself.

If you feel weak today, cling to the truth that God is waiting to reveal himself in your weakness.

2. 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.

When life is tough, anxiety tends to rise.

Meanwhile, God has an invitation.  Rather than letting anxiety rule and paralyze us, we ask him to meet our needs, trusting that he hears us.  As we turn to him in this way, his peace covers us.

3. 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.

4. 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.

This verse is a wonderful promise.  God will never leave you or forsake you.

I encourage you to memorize this verse and speak it when you feel alone and hopeless.  God will never abandon you.

God will never abandon you. #faith #trust Share on X

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Isaiah 42:6

“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you”

God hasn’t left us to navigate life’s storms on our own.

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.

8. 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.

9. James 1:12

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

At times, God rewards us with temporal rewards in this life.  For example, times of sickness increase our gratitude for good health.  Times of financial stress help us become more thankful for seasons of stability.

God also promises eternal rewards for those who remain steadfast.  We will receive these rewards one day in heaven.

10. Romans 8:18

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

We find this truth in Paul’s letter to the Roman church.

If you feel like you cannot take another moment of the struggle you’re facing, remember that this world is not your final resting place.  One day, this storm will pass, and God will wipe away every tear.

11. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Never forget that God can use your troubles for good.

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.

12. Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Do you ever try to turn to God in prayer but experience a lack of words?

When we don’t know how to pray for ourselves, the Spirit intercedes for us and prays for us.

13. Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Paul wrote these words while enduring imprisonment.  We misuse this verse when it becomes our mantra for achieving all our goals.  This verse doesn’t declare that we can accomplish any goal because Jesus gives us strength.  Rather, it is a reminder that we can endure all sorts of trials and troubles because Jesus gives us strength.

14. 2 Corinthians 12:10

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Because Jesus reveals his strength in our weak moments, his strength fills us when life is difficult.

Strength in Christ is found through dependence on him, not self-effort.

15. 2 Timothy 1:7

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

God’s spirit gives us power and self-control.  Claim this promise when you feel weak.

If you have received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, his Spirit lives within you and gives you strength.

Let’s Apply These Bible Verses About Strength in Hard Times to Our Lives

I remember feeling worried and stressed we were expecting our second child.  Bekah, our oldest, was struggling with a rare medical condition.  All I could think about was how to divide my time between hospital trips for her and caring for a newborn.

My friend reminded me that most of what we worry about will never happen.

But what if it does?

What if the worst-case scenario becomes reality?

How do we overcome worry and stress with God’s help?

Let’s look at three ways to apply these Bible verses about stress and hard times to our lives.

1. We remind ourselves that God is in control, and he is trustworthy.

We can find comfort in the promise that all of our days are ordained before one of them comes to pass (see Psalm 139).

Your story is already written.  You are responsible to make wise decisions and avoid intentionally derailing God’s course for your best life.  Fulfill your part, and then rest in the fact that this story is written.

God has this.  Do the best you can do and trust that God is not fearful about how this will play out.   He is in control.  Every time worry springs up in your soul, use it as a catalyst to send you running to the arms of the Lord.

2.  We trust that God is pursuing us in love even when life doesn’t make sense.

Time and time again, we see the word lovingkindness in Scripture.  God’s lovingkindness is often the transliterated word hesed.  Hesed is love in action.

Our stories, even the hard parts, are always opportunities to celebrate God’s physical demonstration of love for us, regardless of how these situations unfold.

You cannot worship God and fear at the same time.  Open your eyes to watch for how God is revealing his love around you. As you look for God, you will find less space for fixating on fear, worry, and stress.

3. We change the way we pray.

We can shift from worry to hope by redefining what it means to pray with thanksgiving.

A few years ago I faced an entirely unnerving health issue.  After about a week of pleading with God as I asked for healing, the redundancy of making the same request day after day started to feel “off.”

I stumbled upon a teaching encouraging me to shift from an attitude of desperation to an attitude of thanksgiving.  (To read more about this change in prayer posture, click here.) Desperation conveys fear, worry, and defeat.  While there is a time to cry out with desperation, there is also a time to pray with thanksgiving.

I made the shift.  Instead of begging God for the same thing day after day, I began thanking God for appropriating my healing, even before I saw signs of its manifestation.  I thanked him that he had heard my prayer.  Every time worry rose up, I told God I couldn’t wait to see how the healing unfolded.  I prayed with excited expectation and gratitude.

Whether God touched my body and healed me without the help of modern medicine, whether he used a doctor to heal me, or whether his plan was for my healing to be complete upon my heavenly homecoming, my healing was a promise.  Shifting to an attitude of thanksgiving stripped the fear from my prayers and transformed my fear into gratitude and even intimacy.

Calling All Parents (and Grandparents): Teach Your Kids to Stand Firm in Christ

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): Teach Your Boys to be Warriors for God

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.

Be Still and Trust: Download Your Free eBook Here

Do you long to find space to draw near to God while struggling to make this practice a regular part of your life? The secret is establishing a daily rhythm that makes this time habitual, a routine that becomes as natural as eating, drinking, and sleeping. Be Still and Trust offers daily devotions for those who long for rest and renewal—devotions for peace in our hurried and stress-filled lives.

These short devotions are invitations into God’s rest when facing the daily battles that tend to steal our peace.  Download it for free right here.  I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free.  I invite you to explore the collection right here!