The Bible is our ‘go-to’ cheerleading manual because it contains thousands of verses about encouragement. Throughout the Bible, we see instructions to encourage one another and verses that are meant to be our foundation of encouragement too.
I was so lost. I felt as if I had handed over my identity when I turned in my badge as a reporter. I did not understand why God was asking me to leave a job I loved. A job where I was able to shine His light in our community. That evening I went to Cindy’s house, where my small group gathered every Wednesday night. I was met at the door by the entire crew. They gave me hugs and prayed words of encouragement. They knew I still had a purpose even if I could not see it. Six years later, that night is still with me. This group of women built me up with Bible verses of encouragement and their belief in God’s goodness in hard times. That night they laid me at the feet of Jesus where only His Words could mend the seams of my soul.
Have you been in my shoes? Has something rocked your world or tore your life apart at the seams? Your job gets eliminated, COVID hits, you get sick, and then the basement floods. It seems as though nothing is going right and if one more thing happens you are not sure you can handle it. What you need is a whole lot of Jesus and encouragement to keep going.
Here’s the secret to living life on this earth: Going through hard times is actually a good thing—we definitely don’t like it—but we bloom in hard times. It causes us to dig deep into God’s strength, His Word and creates character. We go through hard moments because we come out forever changed. We come out with a different heart, a new perspective, and a depth of wisdom we can only gain going through desert moments with Christ.
What Does the Bible Say about Encouragement?
God has made a multitude of promises to those who follow Him, and we can be encouraged by those promises. The Bible is our ‘go-to’ cheerleading manual because it contains thousands of verses about encouragement. Throughout the Bible, we see instructions to encourage one another and verses that are meant to be our foundation of encouragement too.
Jesus told His followers, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33). He did not sugar coat it nor did He shy away from telling His followers that times would get tough. It told them they would feel alone, persecuted, and feeling they were the only ones in the middle of a battle. This encourages me to keep going, keep looking up, and keep my eyes on Jesus—not the current circumstances or the struggle. We all need encouragement because we all will have hard times when nothing seems to go right.
God doesn’t always take away the pain or suffering that we’re dealing with, but He does give us comfort in the midst of those troubles. The Hebrew word for encourage is, yithechazeq. The word is from the root, chazeq which means to strengthen, but this is a strengthening like becoming a rock. These two words play off of each other to remind us to bind ourselves to Christ in the midst of hard times because when we do, we become strengthened, courageous, and to grow firm through Christ!
10 Top Bible Verses about Encouragement of Others
Words of wisdom bind up our souls. We know we need it, and we know we need to pass the torch of encouragement to others. It is something we all need to keep us motivated and loved. We know it is vital to our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. It helps us fight the battle of discouragement which can leave us wounded and walking with a limp. Because God knows us and created us, He has provided countless Bible verses of encouragement. Not only to build us up but it also builds up the body of Christ. Imagine how your community could change for the better if the words from our lips were dripping heavy with wisdom and honey! Here are the top Bible verses to encourage your family, friends, and community.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching"Hebrews 10:24-25.
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” Hebrews 3:13.
"Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up" Romans 15:2.
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” Ephesians 4:29.
“A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” Psalm 100:1-5.
“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”Philippians 4:8.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” Isaiah 43:2.
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,” Romans 15:5.
10 Encouraging Bible Verses about Encouragement and Hope
Hope is a four-letter word that is vital to our souls. Hope is the sweetness of God’s word infusing our spirit with His. This life can beat us down with trials, sorrows, and worry. Sometimes we feel like we’ve been buried alive, and we’re groping in the dark for just a little bit of light. But this is where hope blooms. Jesus left us a vital message about being buried in the dark for times such as this. Mark 26:28 tells us, “The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear then the full grain in the ear.”
There are times when like the seed, we are buried deep in the darkness. God is telling us to wait patiently for the new life that blooms in the dark as He gives us hope. Hope rises through the soil, gravitating towards the light and when comes up through the surface is so different from our circumstances. This passage provides certainty that we will rise and bloom. Here are the top Bible verses that provide hope!
"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” Psalm 121:1-2.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
"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.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" John 16:33.
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong" 1 Corinthians 16:13.
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" 2 Timothy 1:7.
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" Isaiah 40:31
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31.
"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands" Psalm 90:17
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" 2 Corinthians 4:16.
Top Must-Know Quotes about Encouragement
If you’re looking for encouraging quotes, these give quotes will remind you to turn your heart and mind to Christ and keep going!
“God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” —Max Lucado
“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.” —C.S. Lewis
“Pray, and let God worry.” —Martin Luther
“We often can't see what God is doing in our lives, but God sees the whole picture and His plan for us clearly.” ―Tony Dungy
“God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything he knows” ―Timothy J. Keller
Further Reading
8 Uplifting Bible Verses about Encouragement for the Weary Heart
100 Encouraging Bible Verses that Will Strengthen Your Faith
Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Mohamed Nohassi
