We’ve all faced temptations.
And that’s because sadness and pain are vital tools of the devil.
In a moment, you are happy, and later on, you are disappointed with what life brings.
In 2009, I faced the most daunting challenge of my life.
I lost my dear mum to a stroke.
My mum was the nicest person I knew on earth.
She was always there for me.
When I heard that she had passed away, My life paused for months.
I couldn’t think, eat, or drink anything.
I was inconsolable.
But somehow, over the years, I have been able to find my strength in Christ.
So, if you are going through challenges and need encouragement, there are lots of encouraging bible verses to inspire your soul.
You may be so sick, or you cannot find a good-paying job, or you’ve been disappointed by those you trust.
Whatever the case, Through God’s word, our weaknesses are transformed into strength.
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 12:10.
I have compiled bible verses for encouragement to inspire you in hard times.
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10 Encouraging Bible verses to inspire and strengthen you
By the power and grace of God, I have compiled 20 Bible verses about encouragement for the soul.
1. Genesis 28:15 on God’s protection
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
2. Psalm 27:1-2 on believing God to fight for you
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? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
3. Psalm 118:6 on trusting in God because he is on your side
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
4. Lamentations 3:22-23 on God mercies will never fail
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
5. Psalm 23:4 – God will protect us even in the darkest places
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me
6. Isaiah 43:2 – even amid impossibilities, God is with us
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee
7. Mark 10:27 – There are no impossibilities in his realm
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
8. Psalm 55:22 – God will not watch you suffer
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved
9. Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
10. 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
11. Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
12. Nehemiah 9:31
But in your great mercy, you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
13. Jeremiah 20:11
But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
14. Isaiah 60:19-20
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended
15. 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
Other Bible verses to encourage your soul
16. Psalm 118:14-16
The Lord is my strength and song and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly
17. 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
18. 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
19. Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
20. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord
The best biblical example to encourage your soul is Job
We must look into the Bible to understand how to act through challenges. When you think you are alone and feel God has deserted you, you must understand the way God works. God said through the prophet Isaiah; my ways are mysterious to the ways of men.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Our father is a merciful God. He never has any intention to hurt our feelings. He also has no intention to cause pain, disappointments, or sickness. If you are yet to find a job, it is not God’s intention but the work of the devil; BUT HE KNOWS.
Let us take a look at a man who suddenly lost all he had. This man is Job, and the Bible describes him as upright, righteous, and a man that fears God.
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil Job1: 1
I have heard people say they feel dispirited that He still allows them to face terrible temptations despite giving all in God’s service. God’s ways and thoughts are different from ours. Take a look at Job. He was blameless and feared God always.
Yet, in a day, the devil, through his wicked works, took all he had. He lost his sons and daughters. He lost his servants and other blessings that he had received from God. However, his reaction when he heard about the loss is what should guide our lives.
Job prayed to God despite enormous temptations.
He knelt, prayed to God, and never insulted God. He was aware of the way the devil works. Knowing this, he kept mute and remained faithful.
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
The phrase “sinned not’ is what God expects from us when we feel discouraged. We must be firm in our hearts and be patient because he will act. Job, despite being heartbroken, sinned not and never talked to God foolishly.
For his faith in God, he was blessed by God. He lived for 140 years. He saw his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His latter end was filled with joy and happiness. In all, God repaid him for his faith in him.
So the LORD blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the first. He owned fourteen thousand sheep and goats, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.
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Final words to inspire you
1. Genesis 28:15 on God’s protection
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
These are the words of God to Jacob, the son of Isaac. He promised Jacob that he would be with him at all times. He also promised Isaac never to disappoint him until all he promised him was accomplished.
We must understand that God keeps his words. As children of Christ, when we are disappointed, he has already promised to be there for us in times of need.
He will not forsake us until his plan is complete before our eyes. His plans are that of hope and happiness. He plans to give us an end like Job.
So, when you are weak in your heart and discouraged, know that our lovely father “will not leave you” in the arms of the devil. On the contrary, he will save you and bless you.
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 Joshua 1:9
2. Psalm 27:1-2 on believing God to fight for you
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? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
God Almighty is more powerful than you think. He is all-knowing too. Through his grace, we will all get salvation. He is the light of the world.
When you are troubled by the devil, you need not feel discouraged. For example, you’ve just lost your job, and you wonder how to get a new job. You are wondering how you can survive with your financial responsibilities. David, a man after God’s heart, says, who shall I fear knowing God is on my side.
When the wicked, the devil, tries to humiliate you, God is there to watch you. When your friends hurt you and disappoint you in times of need, our father is there to protect you.
God has promised that you will be happy, and he will protect you no matter what if you sin not.
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended
Isaiah 60:19-20
3. Psalm 118:6 on trusting in God because he is on your side
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
This life is filled with disappointments. The wicked always seek to take away our hope, joy, and happiness. They do this by whatever means possible. The ultimate goal of the devil and his wicked agents is to create disbelief in the power of the almighty God.
However, don’t lose your faith in God. The Lord whom you serve and believe can do anything. He can transform your lives in a minute. The Lord can raise the dead if you have lost a friend, parent, brother, or sister. Jesus Christ raised the dead man Lazarus and God raised Christ on the third day.
There is nothing impossible in God. So, when you face trials, remember that, provided you live righteously, there is nothing the world can do to you.
But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. Jeremiah 20:11
4. Lamentations 3:22-23 on God mercies will never fail
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
We’ve all been disappointed by our friends, family, or parents. But in God, there is no disappointment. If God says, I will do it, then expect him to give you your heart desires.
When you are facing numerous temptations, always remember that God is watching. He knows and has already given you the grace to pull through your difficult times.
By his grace, we have not been consumed by those who wish to take our happiness away. It is God’s grace that we are still alive and fighting on. His faithfulness and love towards us are renewed daily. Therefore, despite our struggles, we must hope in his power to do all things.
If you are sick awaiting healing, God will heal you at his time. If you are going through financial difficulties, God will provide for you. What’s more important is not the temptation you are facing but ensuring that you continue to walk in the way of light.
But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. Nehemiah 9:31
5. Psalm 23:4 – God will protect us even in darkest places
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me
This is one of my most inspiring bible verses. The devil is darkness, while God is light. Even when we walk through darkness set forth by the devil, we must not be afraid of knowing that our almighty father is there to protect us.
His protection is supreme to that of the devil. If God decides to protect us with His righteous right hand, there is nothing that the devil can do. He will only avoid us.
For example, in the case of Job, the devil could not cause troubles in Jobs’s life until God allowed it. The devil requested God to remove his hands of protection before he could harm Job and his family.
Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch (destroy) all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”
Job 1:10-11 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Therefore, when you are down in faith, remember that it’s the will of God. Then, run to him and ask for his protection. Because if God protects you, there is nothing the devil can do to harm you or make you unhappy.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
6. Isaiah 43:2 – even amid impossibilities, God is with us
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee
The troubles in our lives could make us doubt if God will ever answer our prayers. We start losing our dreams because, in our eyes, there seems to be no solution in sight.
Not surprisingly, we ask God, Why? Why have you brought sickness upon me? Why have you taken my Job away? Why have you disappointed me?
God, through the prophet Isaiah, is saying that you should not give up so soon. In your times of impossibility, God is planning something for you. He is preparing a tsunami of happiness in your lives. God will turn your lives back to happiness if you believe.
When you think you are walking through fire, God will protect you from being burnt. When you pass through the river of unhappiness, God will steady the ship and bring joy back to your lives. There is absolutely nothing God cannot do.
Paul knowing this, reminded us that no temptation is new to men. If we believe in him always, he will create an escape route for us through his grace.
No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].
1 Corinthians 10:13 Amplified Bible (AMP)
7. Mark 10:27 – There are no impossibilities in his realm
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
The miracles of Christ were documented for us to have faith in him. Christ healed the sick and raised the dead. He did the impossible. If you doubt God can do miracles in your life, here is a case of God miraculously healing a woman with stage 4 cancer.
There are no impossibilities in the realm of Christ. If you are jobless, he can give you a job if you believe. If you are sick, Christ can heal you. Also, if you are heartbroken, through his power, he can heal your heart. You only need to believe in his ability to do all things.
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God said
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?
Therefore, there is nothing in this world that is impossible in his sight. You must remember he created this world from nothing. In our eyes, that’s a big task, but in God’s eyes, it is possible.
He has destroyed the world with water in the days of Noah. In our eyes, it is a big task, but in the eyes of God, it is nothing complicated.
God is reminding us that there is nothing we will ask that is difficult for him to do. If we pray for healing, he will do it. If we ask for financial stability, he will provide for our needs. If we ask for happiness, he will strengthen us.
Therefore, we only need to ask him and make our request known to him.
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God
Philippians 4:6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
8. Psalm 55:22 – God will not watch you suffer
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved
The psalmist David is saying that we should let God know our problems. We must let him know what troubles we are facing. In times of difficulties, he will sustain us and protect us from the devil.
