37 Bible Verses for Encouragement

A group of runners encourage another as they reach a finish line.

When we are encouraged, it means that someone believes in us. They see potential in us and they are rooting for us to succeed. This can be incredibly powerful, especially when we are facing challenges or self-doubt.

Knowing that someone else believes in us can give us the strength to keep going. It can help us believe in ourselves and to see the possibilities ahead. It’s like a shot of adrenaline that gives you the power to push through any obstacle. It’s the difference between feeling alone and feeling supported, and it can make all the difference in the world. 

We may not always feel confident, but with encouragement and motivation, we can find the courage to keep moving forward.

The Holy Bible has a lot to say about encouragement, as a matter of fact, many of the most popular verses can each be considered an encouraging bible verse as the Bible is understandably full of spiritual encouragement. Whether it’s encouragement to keep going when we feel like giving up, or encouragement to stand firm in our faith even when things are tough, we see that God also wants us to encourage one another.

These motivational Bible verses show us that encouragement is an important part of God’s character. He wants His people to be encouraged, and He has given us many ways to encourage one another.

Many of the verses known for encouragement are also found among spiritual strength and inspirational Bible verses. For Bible verses about strength, please reference our article here.

Encouraging Bible Verses

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:15, NLT

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NKJV

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.”

Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV

2 See, God has come to save me.

    I will trust in him and not be afraid.

The Lord God is my strength and my song;

    he has given me victory.”

Isaiah 12:2, NLT

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

    they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31, ESV

2 The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation;

He is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

Exodus 15:2, NKJV

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 26:3, KJV

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16, NLT

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4, ESV

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33, KJV

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.”

Joshua 1:9, NIV

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6-7, ESV

27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Mark 10:27, NLT

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34, ESV

26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

Matthew 10:26, KJV

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7, ESV

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—

    whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

    of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1, NIV

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:5-9, ESV

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4, KJV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19, ESV

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;

    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8, NIV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV

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

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Psalm 46:1-3, KJV

7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7, NIV

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

    the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10, ESV

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Romans 1:11-12, NKJV

24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

    all you who wait for the Lord!

Psalm 31:24, ESV

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.

Romans 8:28, KJV

17 The Lord your God is with you,

    the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17, NIV

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4, ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31, NKJV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39, ESV

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, NKJV

4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:4-6, ESV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13, NIV

For more articles on biblical themes, please reference our articles here.

This article references verses written from the King James Version (KJV), New International Version (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), English Standard Version (ESV), and New King James Version (NKJV) translations of the Bible.