Encouraging Bible Verses for Hard Days
When someone is worn down, the right verse can do what advice cannot. These are the scriptures people send and hold on to when courage runs low — grouped by theme, each one ready to copy into a message or keep where you'll see it.
When You Feel Like Giving Up
"Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9 (BSB)
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." — Isaiah 41:10 (BSB)
"Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." — Deuteronomy 31:6 (BSB)
"Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9 (BSB)
Strength Beyond Your Own
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." — Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
"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." — Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." — Psalm 121:1–2 (BSB)
"Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always." — 1 Chronicles 16:11 (BSB)
God's Good Purposes
"And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." — Romans 8:28 (BSB)
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." — 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (BSB)
"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!" — John 16:33 (BSB)
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Courage for Today
"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken." — Psalm 55:22 (BSB)
"Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD." — Psalm 31:24 (BSB)
How to Use These Verses
Send one verse, not five — a single line of scripture lands harder in a text message than a list. Joshua 1:9 and Isaiah 41:10 fit almost any hard season; Galatians 6:9 is the one for someone doing good work that no one seems to notice. If the discouragement runs deeper, pray the prayer for hope when discouraged or the prayer for hard times, and see our collections of Bible verses about strength and comforting Bible verses.
The verses on this page are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) and the King James Version (KJV) — both in the public domain, so you may reprint and share them freely.