Bible verses for encouragement
Everyone loses heart sometimes. A plan falls apart, a prayer seems to go unanswered, or we simply grow tired of doing the right thing. The Bible knows this feeling well, and again and again God speaks to tired people and gives them a reason to keep going.
That reason is rarely that things will be easy. It is that God Himself goes with His people, that His promises do not fail and that what is done for Him is not wasted. These verses speak courage to those starting something hard, hope to those who feel like giving up, and a reminder that God gives us one another.
God goes with you
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Josh 1:9 · King James Version (1769)
God spoke these words to Joshua after the death of Moses, as he was about to lead Israel into Canaan. The command to be strong rests on a promise. John Wesley paraphrases God’s question this way: it is I who commanded you, I who can carry you through everything I put you to.
And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Deut 31:8 · King James Version (1769)
Moses spoke these words to Joshua and the people before his death. Matthew Henry notes that the letter to the Hebrews applies this promise to all believers: God will never leave nor forsake His people (Hebrews 13:5).
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Ps 27:14 · King James Version (1769)
This line sums up the whole psalm, as Albert Barnes notes, and “be of good courage” literally means “be strong”. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown hear David speaking to himself: the believing part of his soul encourages the weaker part to keep waiting for the Lord.
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isa 40:31 · King James Version (1769)
These words of comfort look ahead to Israel in exile in Babylon. Those who wait on the Lord, Wesley explains, are those who rely on Him, and they grow stronger and stronger. The eagle was thought to renew its feathers, which made it a picture of renewed strength.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Zeph 3:17 · King James Version (1769)
After the warnings of judgment, Zephaniah ends with promises of restoration for God’s people. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown compare God’s joy over them to a bridegroom’s joy over his bride. The mighty God in their midst saves them and delights in them.
When you feel like giving up
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lam 3:22–23 · King James Version (1769)
These words stand at the center of a book of grief over fallen Jerusalem. Henry observes that things were bad, but by God’s mercy not worse, and fresh mercies came every morning.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 · King James Version (1769)
With these words Jesus ends His farewell discourse on the night before the cross. Barnes explains that “tribulation” meant the persecution the disciples would face in the world, and that Jesus overcame the world by His death. Peace is found in Him, not in easy circumstances.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:28 · King James Version (1769)
The “all things” here, as Barnes notes, include afflictions, trials and persecutions. They are not good in themselves, but God makes them serve the spiritual and eternal good of those who love Him, as Wesley puts it.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Cor 4:16–18 · King James Version (1769)
The outward man is the body, worn down by suffering; the inward man is the life God keeps renewing day by day. Paul calls his troubles light and brief only when he sets them next to the eternal weight of glory, and so he fixes his eyes on what is not seen.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Phil 1:6 · King James Version (1769)
Paul is fully convinced that God will finish what He began. In Wesley’s words, He who justified the believers and began to sanctify them will carry the work on until it ends in glory at the day of Christ.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:9 · King James Version (1769)
Barnes notes that Paul first has in mind supporting those who teach the word (Galatians 6:6), but he makes the call general. Doing good must be a steady sowing, and the harvest comes in God’s own time.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:13 · King James Version (1769)
This prayer closes Paul’s appeal to Jewish and Gentile believers to accept one another. Barnes explains “the God of hope” as the God who gives hope: it is His gift, filling believers with joy and peace as they trust Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Encouraging one another
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:1–2 · King James Version (1769)
The “cloud of witnesses” are the believers of chapter 11. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the image is of spectators at a race, but the main sense is that their lives bear witness to God’s faithfulness. Above all, we run with our eyes on Jesus, who began our faith and will bring it to completion.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:24–25 · King James Version (1769)
Christians are to think carefully about one another’s needs so as to stir each other to love and good works. Wesley notes that some were staying away from the meetings out of fear of persecution; the writer urges them to keep meeting and encouraging each other as the day of Christ’s return draws near.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1 Thess 5:11 · King James Version (1769)
Paul has just written about the Lord’s coming. In its light believers are to comfort and build each other up, as the Thessalonians were already doing. Barnes reads the last words as a call to keep it up and let nothing disturb that comfort.
If someone you know has lost heart, one of these verses, sent at the right moment, may be exactly the encouragement they need.