Some of the most encouraging verses in the Bible are Joshua 1:9 ("Be strong and of a good courage"), Isaiah 40:31 (they shall mount up with wings as eagles), Romans 8:28 (all things work together for good), and Lamentations 3:22-23 (His compassions are new every morning).
Whether you need courage for a hard day or want to send a word of hope to a friend, these twelve passages (KJV) have strengthened believers for centuries.
Courage for what's ahead
1. Joshua 1:9
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
God's charge to Joshua as he took over from Moses. The command to be brave rests on a promise: God goes with you wherever you go.
2. Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Moses' words to Israel before entering the land: God will not fail or forsake you.
3. Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Often quoted for strength. In context (Philippians 4:11-13), Paul is describing contentment in both plenty and need.
Strength when you are tired
4. Isaiah 40:31
"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."
Waiting on the Lord is pictured as renewal, not passivity: soaring, running, walking.
5. Galatians 6:9
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
An encouragement not to quit doing good. The harvest comes "in due season."
6. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Paul contrasts the outward man wasting away with the inward man renewed day by day.
Hope that holds
7. Romans 8:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Paul does not say all things are good, but that God works all things together for good for those who love Him.
8. Romans 15:13
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
A benediction full of hope, joy, and peace, all "through the power of the Holy Ghost."
9. Psalms 46:1
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
God is a refuge and strength, "a very present help" right now, not just someday.
10. Lamentations 3:22-23
"It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Written amid the ruins of Jerusalem. Even there, the writer remembers that God's mercies are new every morning.
Encouraging one another
11. Hebrews 10:23-25
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Hold on to hope, consider how to stir one another up to love, and keep meeting together.
12. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
Paul's simple instruction to a young church: comfort and build each other up.
A short prayer
God, thank You that Your mercies are new this morning. Give me courage for today and strength to keep doing good. Show me one person I can encourage today. 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.
[Download our free SOAP study page | Get the 30-page SOAP Bible Study Journal]
Frequently asked questions
What is the most encouraging verse in the Bible?
Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:28, and Philippians 4:13 are among the most frequently shared encouraging verses.
What Bible verse can I send to encourage a friend?
Short verses work well in a text: Psalm 46:1, Lamentations 3:22-23, or Romans 15:13. Add a personal note about why you thought of them.
Where does the Bible say to encourage one another?
1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 10:24-25 directly instruct believers to encourage and build up one another.
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: Bible verses about peace · Bible verses about strength · Bible verses about trusting God · Prayers
