26 Oct 14 Encouraging Bible Verses for Hard Times

Not every day is sunshine and rainbows. And even the most optimistic, glass-half-full kind of people have bad days now and then.

When times get tough, helping your congregation remember to turn to the Bible for words of wisdom, encouragement, and motivation is a good Christian practice. Here are 14 Bible verses to share with your community in sermons, your newsletter, emails, texts, and more. They’ll inspire you to inspire your members to keep on keeping on.

1. Psalm 55:22:

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

A powerful verse, Psalm 55:22 touches on how you don’t have to go it alone when times are tough. Instead, turn to the Lord, who will sustain you and help you get through it. Regular prayer and keeping God in your heart is a great way to keep your spirits up.

2. Psalm 46:1:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

We sometimes forget that God is always with us. When times are good and we’re feeling fortunate, we tend to praise God. But when times are bad, people often feel abandoned in their moment of need. Of course, this isn’t true. As this Bible verse promises, God is very present during times of trouble and will help you get through them.

3. Psalm 9:9:

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, oh Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

Similar to the previous verse, Psalm 9:9 emphasizes placing your trust in God. Whether in good times or bad times, this is something we should all strive to do every day.

4. Mark 10:27:

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’”

A very popular verse among athletes, Mark 10:27 is an excellent verse to turn to when you need that extra motivation to take on the day. This is a great verse for challenging moments and for times when doubt starts to creep in. Don’t let it, and remember that “all things are possible with God.”

5. Psalm 37:23-24:

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

This fantastic verse touches on the idea that those who trust in Him always have someone to catch them, even when they make mistakes or experience difficulties.

6. 1 Timothy 6:12:

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

The first line in 1 Timothy 6:12 is particularly beautiful and motivating: “Fight the good fight of the faith.” Essentially, this verse inspires you to never give up and to keep doing what’s right. Those who continue to fight the good fight will find eternal life.

7. Psalm 28:6-7:

“Praise be to the Lord for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.”

While this entire verse is excellent, “The Lord is my strength and my shield…” is a particularly powerful phrase. When times are tough, the Lord will help give you the strength needed to carry on. It’s important to never forget that.

8. Hebrews 12:1-3:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

God sacrificed Himself for us. This too is important to never forget. “… let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” is an important piece of advice from this phrase as well. When we focus on Jesus, who endured great hardship on our behalf, we are much better equipped to handle the challenges that face us.

9. Psalm 62:5-8:

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”

This verse emphasizes God’s strength and power. He is a rock and fortress. When we are confronted with bad circumstances, we can seek refuge in God.

10. Jeremiah 29:11-13:

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”

God has a plan for all of us and this verse from Jeremiah explains that perfectly. When we trust in this plan and seek God with all our heart, good things will happen.

11. Ezra 10:4:

“Rise up…take courage and do it.”

This is a great verse for those who need motivation and encouragement. Sometimes it takes a little grit and courage to stand tall. God will help you find the courage you need to take on the challenges that lie ahead.

12. 1 Corinthians 10:13:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

One type of hard time for those who are trying to be close to God are times of temptation to sin. But if you look for the “way out” that God provides, you will see the path that leads you out of temptation and past the hard time.

13. Isaiah 40:28-31:

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

While this entire verse is certainly inspiring, the “soar on wings like eagles” is particularly uplifting. Not only will God help you through life’s challenges, He will lift you high and help you soar.

14. Hebrews 13:5:

“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

God is always with us. Never forget that.