20 Powerful Bible Verses About Discouragement (With Commentary)

Discouragement is a common human experience, but the Bible offers comfort, strength, and hope to those who are feeling disheartened. Here are 20 Bible verses about discouragement, each with a brief commentary.

Bible Verses About Discouragement

Psalm 34:17-18

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

God’s attentive ear hears the cries of the discouraged, offering deliverance and solace to those whose spirits are broken.

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

God’s reassuring presence provides strength and support to the discouraged, dispelling fear and offering divine assistance.

Deuteronomy 31:8

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

The assurance of God’s constant presence dispels fear and discouragement, as He faithfully leads and accompanies His people.

Psalm 42:11

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Amidst turmoil and despair, placing hope in God’s salvation restores the soul’s joy and prompts praise for His faithfulness.

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

God’s command to be courageous stems from His presence, assuring believers that they need not fear, even in times of discouragement.

Psalm 55:22

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Entrusting burdens to God alleviates discouragement, as He provides sustenance and stability to the righteous who rely on Him.

John 16:33

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus offers peace amidst tribulation, encouraging believers to take heart and find hope in His victorious overcoming of the world’s challenges.

Psalm 27:13-14

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Trusting in God’s goodness and timing instills courage and patience, as believers confidently await His deliverance and intervention.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

The perspective of eternal glory sustains believers through temporary afflictions, renewing their inner strength and discouraging them from losing heart.

Psalm 40:1-3

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”

Patience in waiting on God’s deliverance yields security and joy, prompting praise and testimony that encourages others to trust in Him.

Psalm 31:24

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”

Waiting on the Lord necessitates strength and courage, as believers confidently anticipate His faithfulness and intervention.

Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

God, the source of hope, grants believers joy and peace through faith, enabling them to abound in hope despite discouraging circumstances.

Psalm 9:9

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

God’s presence serves as a refuge for the oppressed, providing security and strength amidst troubling and discouraging situations.

Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

God’s comforting presence dispels fear and discouragement, assuring believers of His protection and guidance through life’s darkest valleys.

Psalm 37:23-24

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”

God upholds His people, ensuring that even in moments of failure or discouragement, they remain secure in His guiding hand.

Bible Verses About Discouragement

Isaiah 40:31

“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.”

Patience in waiting on the Lord brings renewed strength, enabling believers to soar above discouragement and fatigue, empowered by His grace.

Psalm 37:5

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

Entrusting one’s path to the Lord involves complete trust, leading to divine intervention and action that dispels discouragement and uncertainty.

Romans 12:12

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Rejoicing in hope sustains believers through tribulation, fostering patience and perseverance through steadfast prayer in the face of discouragement.

Psalm 143:7-8

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

In moments of spiritual fatigue and discouragement, earnest prayer for God’s presence and guidance brings renewal and assurance of His unfailing love.

1 Peter 5:7