Bible Verses for Hard Times
Hard times rarely arrive one at a time. They pile up, they wear you down, and the future stops feeling solid. The Bible knows this. It was written in large part by people who were exiled, hunted, bereaved and afraid, and it does not flinch from any of it. The verses below are the ones believers have reached for in their worst weeks. They are not slogans to paper over the cracks. They are handholds. Take one for today. You do not have to carry next week yet.
Verses for hard times
No Sorrow That Heaven Cannot Heal
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.””
Joshua 1:9Be Strong And Courageous
“Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””
Psalm 121:1-2I Lift Up My Eyes
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
John 8:36You Are Free Indeed
“If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Matthew 6:33Seek First His Kingdom
“But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Proverbs 27:17Iron Sharpens Iron
“Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.”
1 Corinthians 13:7Love Endures All Things
“bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.”
Isaiah 53:5Wounded For Our Transgressions
“But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.”
Psalm 107:14My Chains Are Gone
“He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.”
Psalm 90:2From Everlasting To Everlasting
“Before the mountains were born, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.”
Philippians 4:13I Can Do All Things Through Christ
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Romans 8:38-39Nothing Can Separate Us
“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Mark 9:24I Do Believe
“Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!””
Jeremiah 24:7Never Too Far Gone
“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God; for they will return to me with their whole heart.”
Psalm 46:10Be Still
““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted amongst the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.””
Romans 5:1Know Jesus, Know Peace
“Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Romans 5:8God's Love For Us
“But God commends his own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Galatians 5:16The Flesh And The Spirit
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Matthew 19:26With God All Things Are Possible
“Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””
Psalm 23:1The Lord Is My Shepherd
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.”
Ephesians 6:13Armor Of God
“Therefore put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Joshua 24:15As For Me And My House
“If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.””
Jeremiah 29:11For I Know The Plans I Have For You
“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you,” says the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.”
Psalm 46:1God Is Our Refuge And Strength
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Free resources for this
A reading plan to sit with, or a verse set with ready slides if you are leading a service.
- A 7-Day Bible Reading Plan for Anxiety
7 days reading plan
- A 7-Day Bible Reading Plan for Grief
7 days reading plan
- A 7-Day Bible Reading Plan for Hope
7 days reading plan
- Remembrance Sunday
Verse set with ready service slides
- Mothering Sunday
Verse set with ready service slides
- Funerals and Thanksgiving Services
Verse set with ready service slides