15 Verses That Offer Encouragement During Tough Times

Tough times don’t ask permission before they arrive. One moment you’re navigating life just fine, and the next you’re facing a crisis that leaves you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or completely lost. In those dark moments, words can feel hollow—but the right words, spoken at the right time, can be a lifeline. Scripture offers that kind of timely encouragement, meeting us exactly where we are.

When You’re Overwhelmed by Fear

Joshua 1:9

“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.”

Fear has a way of convincing us we’re alone in our struggles. This verse cuts through that lie with a powerful promise: God is with you. Not watching from a distance, but present with you, wherever you go. Your fear doesn’t disqualify you from courage. God commands strength not because you feel strong, but because he is.

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Fear isn’t from God. When anxiety tries to convince you that you’re powerless, remember what God has actually given you: power, love, and a sound mind. These aren’t feelings you have to muster up—they’re gifts already placed within you.

Isaiah 41:10

“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.”

Notice the progression here: God’s presence, God’s identity as your God, God’s strength, God’s help, God’s upholding hand. You’re not carrying this alone. God’s got you, and his grip is secure.

When Grief Threatens to Swallow You

Psalm 34:18

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

God doesn’t stand at a distance from your pain. He draws near. When your heart is shattered and your spirit feels crushed beyond recognition, that’s when God is closest. Your brokenness doesn’t repel him—it draws his compassion.

Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

This is Jesus speaking, and he’s not minimizing grief. He’s acknowledging that mourning is real, and so is God’s comfort. You don’t have to rush through grief or pretend it’s not as bad as it feels. Mourn. And trust that comfort will come.

Revelation 21:4

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

This is the promise of what’s coming. Your current pain isn’t forever. God himself will wipe away your tears. One day, all the things that hurt so much now will be gone. Until then, this verse reminds us that our suffering has an expiration date.

When You Feel Abandoned

Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

People might leave. Circumstances might change. But God’s presence is constant. He won’t abandon you when things get hard. He won’t forsake you when you’re at your lowest. This promise has no fine print.

Hebrews 13:5

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

The Greek text here is even more emphatic than the English translation suggests. It literally says, “I will never, never, never leave you; I will never, never, never forsake you.” God is really making a point: he’s staying. Count on it.

Psalm 147:3

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

God isn’t just present—he’s actively working to heal you. He sees your wounds, every single one, and he’s in the business of binding them up. Healing takes time, but God is patient and thorough.

When Anxiety Won’t Let Go

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This isn’t toxic positivity. It’s an invitation to bring everything—every worry, every fear, every what-if scenario—to God. When you do, he offers peace that doesn’t even make sense given your circumstances. That’s the kind of peace that guards your heart when anxiety tries to break in.

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

All your anxiety. Not just the acceptable worries or the ones that seem spiritual enough. All of it. Why? Because God cares. Your wellbeing matters to him. Your peace matters to him. You matter to him.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus isn’t asking you to have it all together before you come to him. Come weary. Come burdened. Come exhausted. He’ll give you rest—not after you’ve earned it, but simply because you came.

When You Need Strength to Continue

Isaiah 40:29-31

“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.”

Everyone gets tired. Everyone reaches their limit. The difference is where you turn when you hit empty. Hope in God, and he renews your strength. You might be walking right now when you wish you could run, but even that walking is sustained by God’s power.

Psalm 73:26

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Your body might give out. Your emotional reserves might be depleted. But God is the strength of your heart. When you have nothing left, you still have him, and he is enough.

2 Corinthians 12:9

“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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Your weakness isn’t a problem for God—it’s an opportunity for his power to show up. You don’t have to be strong enough. His grace is sufficient, and his power works best when you’re at your weakest.

When Hope Feels Lost

Jeremiah 29:11

“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.”

When you can’t see past today, remember that God sees your whole future. His plans for you include hope and a future. Not harm. Not destruction. Hope. Your current circumstances aren’t the end of the story.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

This doesn’t mean everything is good. It means God can work good out of anything. Your pain isn’t wasted. Your struggle isn’t meaningless. God is actively working to bring something good from it.

Lamentations 3:21-23

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Even in the book of Lamentations—literally a collection of grief—we find this declaration of hope. God’s compassion is new every morning. Yesterday’s despair doesn’t determine today’s possibilities. God’s faithfulness is constant.

When You Need Perspective

Romans 8:18

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Your pain is real and valid. But it’s not the full picture. There’s glory coming that will make even your worst days pale in comparison. This isn’t about minimizing suffering—it’s about remembering there’s more to your story.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for them an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

When troubles feel anything but light or momentary, this verse offers perspective. What you see isn’t all there is. The unseen eternal realities outweigh the temporary visible struggles. Fix your eyes on what lasts.

Holding onto Hope

These verses aren’t magic spells that make hard times vanish. They’re anchors that keep you steady when storms rage. They’re reminders that you’re not alone, that your pain is seen, and that God is present even when everything feels dark.

Write these verses down. Keep them where you’ll see them. Speak them out loud when anxiety whispers lies. Let them sink deep into your heart until they become the voice you hear above all others.

Tough times will come. But these promises? They’re not going anywhere. And neither is the God who spoke them.