God calls Himself the Comforter of His people: "I, even I, am he that comforteth you" (Isaiah 51:12). He is the "God, that comforteth those that are cast down" (2 Corinthians 7:6), and when sorrow is heavy the psalmist prays, "strengthen thou me according unto thy word" (Psalm 119:28).
People look for verses about comfort and strength after a loss, during a long illness or a hard diagnosis, at a first holiday without someone they love, or when they need words for a sympathy card. In the Bible comfort and strength belong together: God does not only soothe the hurting, He strengthens them to stand up and keep walking. These twelve King James verses show the God who comforts, the strength He gives for heavy days, and how comfort and strength pass from one believer to another. For grief, see grief; for loved ones who have died, see lost loved ones.
The God who comforts
1. Isaiah 51:12
"I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;"
The double I, even I is emphatic: comfort comes from God Himself. He then asks why His people should fear mortal men who are made as grass. When fear and sorrow come together, the Comforter is greater than both.
2. Isaiah 40:1
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God."
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people opens the second half of Isaiah with tenderness after many chapters of warning. Handel set these words at the start of Messiah, which is why many people hear them at Christmas. See Advent.
3. 2 Corinthians 7:6
"Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;"
Paul was worn out and afraid in Macedonia (2 Corinthians 7:5), and God comforted him through the arrival of a friend, Titus. God often sends comfort through people: a visit, a phone call, a meal on the doorstep.
4. Psalms 86:17
"Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me."
David asks for a token for good, a sign of God's kindness, and ends with confidence that the LORD has holpen (helped) him and comforted him. Remembering past comfort gives strength for present trouble.
Strength for heavy days
5. Psalms 119:28
"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word."
My soul melteth for heaviness: the psalmist is honest that sorrow can feel like melting. His answer is to ask for strength according to God's word, His promises. Reading even one verse a day can steady a melting heart.
6. Psalms 71:20-21
"Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side."
The writer admits that God allowed great and sore troubles, yet he expects God to quicken (revive) him again and to comfort him on every side. Comfort here surrounds a person after hardship, on every side.
7. Isaiah 35:3
"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees."
Strengthen ye the weak hands is a command to God's people to strengthen one another; Hebrews 12:12 repeats it. In the next verse God tells the fearful heart, Be strong, fear not (Isaiah 35:4). See worrying.
8. Zechariah 10:12
"And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD."
God promises a scattered, weary people, I will strengthen them in the LORD. The strength is in the LORD, not in ourselves, and its result is walking up and down in his name: getting back on our feet and living again.
Comfort and strength to pass on
9. Job 16:5
"But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief."
Job's friends gave long speeches that wounded him, and he called them miserable comforters (Job 16:2). Here he says what he would have done in their place: strengthen with words and asswage (ease) grief. A few kind words help more than explanations.
10. Acts 9:31
"Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."
After a season of persecution the churches had rest and walked in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. Jesus called the Spirit the Comforter (John 14:26), and the same Spirit comforts and strengthens believers today. See community.
11. 1 Thessalonians 3:2
"And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:"
Paul sent Timothy to establish (strengthen) the suffering Thessalonians and to comfort them concerning their faith. Biblical comfort is not only kind feelings; it strengthens faith so that people can keep standing.
12. Colossians 4:8
"Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;"
Paul sent Tychicus to find out how the Colossians were doing and to comfort their hearts. Simply asking how someone is really doing, and then listening, is a biblical ministry of comfort. See encouragement to others.
A short prayer
Father of all comfort, You see the heaviness I carry today. Comfort me on every side, and strengthen me according to Your word. When my hands are weak and my knees feel feeble, hold me up. Fill me with the comfort of Your Holy Spirit, and make me someone who brings comfort and strength to others who are hurting. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Bring heavy days to God in writing with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Write one comforting verse a day with our free November & December Scripture Writing Plan · Print our free Bible verse bookmarks to tuck into a sympathy card
Frequently asked questions
What is a good comfort and strength verse for a sympathy card?
Short options include "I, even I, am he that comforteth you" (Isaiah 51:12), "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God" (Isaiah 40:1) and "thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me" (Psalm 86:17). Add a personal line such as We are praying for you and are here for anything you need. A sympathy card does not need to explain the loss; a verse and a real offer of help are enough. See funeral for service readings.
Where does the Bible call God the God of all comfort?
Paul blesses "the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), and goes on to say that God comforts us so that we can comfort others in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received. That passage is on our grief page, so this page uses different verses.
How do I find comfort and strength when grieving at the holidays?
Holidays can make an empty chair feel emptier. Plan ahead: decide which traditions to keep and which to change, tell trusted friends what helps, and give yourself permission to be sad. Bring the heaviness honestly to God, as the psalmist did: "strengthen thou me according unto thy word" (Psalm 119:28). Jesus Himself wept at a friend's grave (John 11:35). Lighting a candle or reading a verse together can honor the person you miss. See loss of a mother.
What does it mean that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter?
Jesus promised His disciples "another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:16). The Greek word means one called alongside to help. The Spirit comforts by reminding us of Jesus' words (John 14:26), praying for us when we have no words (Romans 8:26) and pouring God's love into our hearts (Romans 5:5).
If grief or sorrow has left you feeling hopeless, or you have thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out today. In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency. A pastor, counselor or grief support group can walk with you too.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Grief Bible verses · Bible verses for lost loved ones · Bible verses about strength · Bible verses for strength and love · Bible verses about strength and healing · Bible verses about strength and peace · Bible verses about encouragement to others · Bible verses about the loss of a mother
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
