12 Encouraging Bible Verses For Hard Times

Why do we need encouraging Bible verses for hard times? Simply put, it’s because this life is hard!

Life can be beautiful, fulfilling, and exciting. But it is also HARD. In order to survive without fully losing my head, I have learned to lean on encouraging Bible verses for hard times, in order to help me navigate through this crazy world that we live in.

As infants, all we need is sustenance and nurturance. Our basics needs are our main priority. We progress through childhood and adolescence, which has its on challenges, but this season of life fortunately includes lots of fun and exploration.

Then we become adults…whether we’re ready for it or not. There are many responsibilities and hurdles that we encounter throughout our adulthood. Relationships, social pressures, bills, and major life decisions cause stress, pain, resentment and discouragement.

Obviously, we can still have a lot of fun as adults, but let’s be real- the feeling of hope and joy can seriously diminish as “adulting” takes over.

Personally for me, the feeling of discouragement, can be more debilitating than any other feeling that I experience. Usually discouragement comes secondary to a deeper feeling. Deep emotions, such as depression, anger, jealousy, overwhelm and stress, can leave you feeling discouraged.

Unfortunately, as women, a lot of times feeling discouraged will lead us to stray from taking care of ourselves. When we feel discouraged, it can feel like a mountain is in the way of working on our goals.

Well, I am here to remind you that God has your back. You are not alone- Thank God!

I am a strong believer in having a small circle of people, whom you trust for support and encouragement. But sometimes, talking to others about our feelings can feel overwhelming. Additionally, you may not have someone available to talk to when you’re feeling down. Thankfully, God is always available to listen to us.

More importantly, God wants us to connect with Him.

In an ideal world, we would all have an hour available on a daily basis, to read and reflect on several chapters of the Bible. Some days I am able to do so, but more likely than not, it is not feasible at this season of my life.

Don’t get me wrong though. This is by no means, a way to justify neglecting time with God. I actually know that we all can manage our times better, to find more time for prayer and to generally connect with Him.

My purpose in writing this is to promote strategies to incorporate encouraging Bible verses during hard times, as humans sometimes the most simple strategy is best during a particular stressful time. When we are coping with a difficult period in our lives, it may be more doable to state a seemingly simple, yet powerful line from the Bible to yourself, than to motivate yourself to engage in Bible study when you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed.

Different strategies will work for different situations, and different people.

If you are finding that you are feeling spiritually drained, unmotivated, and discouraged, then try reciting an encouraging Bible verse to yourself. God does not have any minimum requirements for how you connect with him. He just wants you to seek Him.

I like to recite different Bible verses for encouragement during hard times in several ways. Some days I will to do so out loud while I’m driving, or may state the words to an uplifting verse in my head. Another useful strategy for me, is to have visual reminders of encouraging Bible verses for hard times readily accessible for me to see throughout my day. You can visually incorporate encouraging Bible verses in your daily routine by placing affirmation cards in various areas in your home, adding a screensaver to your phone with a Bible verse that resonates with you, or by adding home decor that incorporates Bible verses.

Be creative and keep it simple.

The purpose of incorporating Bible verses into your daily routine is to encourage you through your connection with God. These particular verses that I have listed below, have helped me get through some pretty difficult days. I truly believe that they can do the same for you.

Here are 12 encouraging Bible verses for hard times, that just may give your spirit the lift that it needs!

1. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Psalm 46-5 (NIV)

2. I can do all this through him who gives me strength Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

3. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

4. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had Romans 15:5 (NIV)

5. If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12-8 (NIV)

6. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

7. For with God nothing shall be impossible Luke 1:37 (KJV)

8. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

9. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1: 2-3 (NIV)

10. Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. Psalm 47:1 (NIV)

11. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)

12. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)

Let’s connect!