Bible Verses About Encouragement

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

God tells his people not to be afraid because he is with them, and promises to strengthen and hold them up. Encouragement begins with his presence, not with better circumstances.

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.”

The psalmist says the Lord hears the cry of the righteous and is close to those whose hearts are broken. God does not keep his distance from the discouraged.

“For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope. Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,”

Paul says the Scriptures were written to give us endurance and encouragement, and calls God the source of both. Reading the Bible is one of the ordinary ways hope is renewed.

“On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way. When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken captive. And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.”

David returns to a burned city and his own men talk of turning on him, yet he finds strength in the Lord his God. Even a leader has to learn to be encouraged from beyond himself.

“The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.””

The prophet pictures God rejoicing over his people with singing, quieting them with his love. The Lord is portrayed as glad to be with us, not merely tolerating us.

“Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.”

Paul tells the church to keep encouraging one another and building each other up, as they already do. Encouragement is a habit of a healthy community.

“And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The writer urges believers to think about how to spur each other on toward love and good works, and not to give up meeting together. We are encouraged best in company.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

The Teacher observes that two are better than one, since a friend can lift you up when you fall. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

“Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Carrying each other's burdens is described as fulfilling the law of Christ. Encouragement can be practical help as much as kind words.

“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, was nicknamed Barnabas, meaning son of encouragement, and gave generously to the early church. A reputation for lifting others is worth having.

“Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.”

Anxiety in the heart is heavy, and the proverb says a good word lifts it. A few gentle words can do more than we expect.

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Pleasant words are compared to honey, sweet to the soul and healing to the body. Speaking with care can be a quiet form of medicine.

“Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.”

Paul asks believers to keep corrupting speech out of their conversations and to say what helps others grow. Whether a word encourages or drains is a choice.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

God is called the Father of compassion who comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others in theirs. What we receive is meant to be passed on.