Encouragement for moms amid life’s chaos

Hope. It’s a word we toss around a lot, but when life feels overwhelming, it’s also something we desperately crave.

As moms, we juggle so much—kids’ schedules, household responsibilities, work, relationships and our own personal struggles. Add in moments of doubt or hardship, and hope can sometimes feel distant or even impossible.

But lot of Bible verses about hope in God’s Word remind us hope isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s a firm anchor for our souls.

What is hope?

Biblically, hope is a confident expectation in God’s promises. It’s not about crossing our fingers and wishing for good things to happen.

It’s about knowing that God is faithful, even when life is messy. Romans 15:13 beautifully expresses this:

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

This hope is not dependent on our circumstances but on God’s unchanging character. When we feel weary or overwhelmed, we can lean into this truth.

Why do moms struggle with hope?

Let’s be honest. As moms, life often feels like a hamster wheel, and the constant busyness can make us feel drained.

It’s hard to hold on to hope when everything seems chaotic or when prayers go unanswered. We might even wonder if God sees our struggles.

But in these moments, hope is precisely what we need. It’s what shifts our focus from our problems to God’s promises. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us:

“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.”

How to cultivate hope in daily life

We know that hope is important, and we want to lean into the hope of God. There are a few ways we can be intentional about living in more hope daily.

Stay rooted in Scripture.

Spending even a few minutes in God’s Word can fill our hearts with hope. That’s why I’ve put together a variety of free Bible reading plans for moms that use just a verse or two a day.

You can spend the next 31 days focusing on Bible verses about hope in small, manageable chunks of Scripture. We all need reminders of God’s faithfulness to carry us through our hectic days.

Pray with expectation.

Prayer is our lifeline to God. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or lengthy—a simple cry for help or a whispered “thank you” is enough.

Through prayer, we can cast our worries on Him and trust that He is working, even when we can’t see it. And when we focus on God in prayer, we are more inclined to be filled with more hope in Him.

Surround yourself with encouragement.

Whether it’s a verse on your bathroom mirror or a friend who texts you prayers, find ways to keep hope visible. Community is vital, and sharing burdens with others can lighten the load.

Consider joining my online community of Christian moms in the free and private Facebook group, Christian Moms with Grace. It’s a great place to find encouragement.

Plus, we discuss the simple reading plan each month and take a deeper dive a few times a year as well to help you stay connected to God while also connecting with other Christian mamas like you.

Look for God in everyday moments

Hope grows when we acknowledge God’s goodness in the small things. Did you see a breathtaking sunrise? Was your child unexpectedly kind?

These glimpses of grace are reminders of His love. Take time throughout the day to appreciate these blessings in the moment.

A free reading plan for hope

This month, I’ve created a 31-day Bible reading plan on hope, designed with busy moms in mind. Each week has a specific theme—from finding hope in hard times to sharing hope with others—and includes reflection questions to help you dig deeper.

My prayer is that this plan will not only help you grow in faith but also remind you that you are never alone in your struggles. These Bible verses about hope will encourage and uplift you daily.

Let’s lean into the hope God offers. When we do, we’ll find that even in our toughest moments, His promises hold us steady. So take a breath, grab your Bible and let’s walk this journey of hope together.

7 Bible verses about hope for the future to encourage moms

From the time we find out we’re pregnant, we moms think about the future and our children. And we may find ourselves stressing out with worries about what the future will hold. 

Turning to the Word of God is always helpful in times like these. I’ve pulled together seven of the best Bible verses about hope for the future that remind us mamas of God’s promises and faithfulness — no matter what the future holds.

It’s easy to put together a collection of Bible verses and declare they’ll help in whatever hard times you’re facing. But, let’s dig deeper into these verses to find the ultimate hope we have for the future in God. 

I’ve got some practical ways you can apply some of my favorite Scriptures into your daily life to grow in Christian hope and rest in God’s love.

This post is part of the “Grace-Filled Stress Relief” free Bible study for moms. Find all the details here:

Hebrews 10:24-25

“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.”

Besides having the encouragement of the Scriptures, we also need encouragement from others around us. God’s intentions for us are to live in community with one another. We can do that in a variety of ways.

We must be part of a fellow community of believers. Find a church based on God’s Word and get involved.

This advice is something we hear a lot. Find believers; get involved. 

I don’t say that flippantly. As a quiet person, who is also an introvert, I know the struggle is real. I’ve been let down by God’s children often throughout my decades as a Christian.

But, God tells us to not give up meeting together. It won’t always be easy. People will let you down and even hurt your feelings. Don’t let any of that stop you.

We serve a God of hope who has good plans for each of us. Seek Him and be open to where He leads you.

Be patient.

This year, I turned 45. Having been in church my entire life and asking Jesus into my heart at age 10, I’ve been around a lot of Christians through the years. A lot!

Yet, it wasn’t until recently that I truly learned what Christian community in practice can really be like. Our Heavenly Father led us to a new church after years at the church we were at.

And, this has been such a blessing to my family. I truly understand the feeling of family at church in ways I never had previously. 

I tell you this to say don’t give up hope if it doesn’t come easy or doesn’t come right away. It may take a little while — or a long while. But there is a community of believers out there waiting for you to join them.

Find what works in your season.

I also want to mention that some phases of life and motherhood make finding a community of believers really difficult. Getting out of the house on Sunday mornings with little kids who are constantly sick or struggling is hard.

Don’t let that stop you from finding other believers you can connect with. Some seasons require us to get a bit more creative in seeking out others. 

Find a group of fellow Christian moms online to connect with. Reach out to Christian family members.

Be intentional about going after and building a community of faith to encourage you today and help strengthen your Biblical hope in the unfailing love of God.

When my children were really young, I was part of a small Bible study group with three other ladies who met weekly in a home. It wasn’t a church service, but we sincerely sought God together and lifted each other up in prayer. 

It was perfect for that season of my life.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

This verse comes from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ. He is instructing the church in Thessalonica on how to live and continue to grow in their walk with God. 

A little gratitude can go a long way when we are overwhelmed and worried. Gratitude shifts our focus off the problem.

Even in looking to the future, we can have an attitude of gratitude in knowing no matter what the future holds, God will be present and faithful.

Thank God.

Make thanking God part of your daily routine. Maybe during your prayer time or other times, take a moment to reflect on and thank God for the blessings He’s given you now.

Thank Him for future blessings you don’t even know about, yet. Doing so will help you remember God is just as much part of your future as He is your present and was your past.

Keeping a gratitude journal can be a great way to do stay intentional with gratitude.

Check out these additional resources about gratitude:

• A gratitude and prayer journal for Christian women
• Develop an attitude of gratitude (with free printable worksheets)
• Bible verses about gratitude
• 24 Free Scripture cards about gratitude

Make time for praise.

Worrying about the present or future is pretty much impossible when you’re praising God. Find ways to make praise part of your daily routine.

You can spend time praising God in prayer, listening to praise music or praising God as a family at the dinner table. Or do a combination of all these things.

You can find Families with Grace on Spotify with a playlist of Christian praise music to get you started!

Proverbs 16:9

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

I’m a planner by nature. In fact, as I type this I have a physical planner sitting to the left of me and a digital planner pulled up on the screen beside me.

Oh, and my family’s weekly planner is sitting on the printer for me to post on the fridge.

So, yeah. I plan. A lot. I love lists and calendars. They soothe me and make me feel in control.

But, I’ve found the control I feel in my human mind isn’t real control at all. It’s basically an illusion.

All the to-do lists in the world can’t stop my children from getting sick and disrupting my plans. Unchangeable things happen. Weather, sickness, loss and more interrupt our plans.

I’ve learned uncertain times in my own life are not all uncertain or surprising to God. 

Don’t forget the past.

When life does go sideways, I find strong encouragement in remembering the past and how God has brought me through each and every challenge.

Taking time to dwell on the goodness of God in the strife of life is important and gives us a future hope in knowing God will be with us every step of the way. He always been faithful, and He won’t stop now.

Trust in the good things God has for you.

Another way I’ve found to encourage myself when my plans don’t come to fruition is to know and trust God wants and has good things for me both in the present and the future.

Because even when times are hard or uncertain, I am surrounded by the blessings of God. When life is really difficult and finding hope for the future is beyond our understanding, then we can at least find hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I’ll never forget one of my lowest moments when I was at church, saw the cross and felt God reminding me that when everything was falling apart, I could always fall back on the hope of salvation and love of Jesus.

Isaiah 41:10

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

This verse — oh, this verse! It is one of the very first Bible verses I ever memorized as a child. I truly believe the power of the Holy Spirit kept this verse on my mind and in my heart.

Life is scary. Looking at the future is scary. Yet, God is with us — always. 

I clung to the first part of this verse most when I was a child and afraid of unknown things in the dark. When I got older, I learned the rest of the verse, and the hope it has given me is beyond my own understanding.

Because not only can I let go of fear and trust God is on top of things, I can also lean into and rely on His strength, help and protection. I can imagine no safer place than in the right hand of God.

Memorize a helpful verse.

This verse may not be your verse, so to speak, like it is for me. But find a Bible verse to remind you of the Lord’s great love and His perfect peace.

If you’re not sure what verse is right for you, pray and ask God to guide you and open the eyes of your heart to find the verse He has for you. 

Write it out, post it on your mirror, recite it over and over or whatever you need to do to dwell on and remember the verse. Our God is a God of living hope and His Word reminds us of this throughout both the Old Testament and New Testament.

Check out these posts full of Bible verses for some ideas as well.

Visualize yourself with God.

Another thing I’ve done with this verse in particular is visualize myself resting in God’s hand. It may sound a bit silly, but it brings me comfort to know Someone bigger than me who is trustworthy is on duty when I feel like I can’t go on.

Find an image that brings you peace and comfort from our Heavenly Father. Close your eyes and imagine that when you start to feel overwhelmed in life. 

Ask God to give you thoughts of peace in the midst of the struggle and worry.

Psalm 100:5

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

If I think about all God has brought me through in my life, I can see the great mercy of God and the steadfast love of the Lord. I praise Him for that and am so thankful.

Somehow, I am even more thankful God is merciful, faithful and loving to my children. Knowing not only is God good and constant, but He will be there for my children and future generations makes me want to shout for joy.

As moms, we want good for our children, just as our Heavenly Father does for us. We can trust Him to take care of our children even when we can’t.

Pray over and for your children.

The Lord delights in the love of His children, which includes our own children. Pray over and for your kids to know God personally. 

Nothing matters more than helping our children grow in and build a relationship with God. Prayer is foundational for this.

Check out “14 Powerful prayers to pray for your school children” for more inspiration.

Stand on God’s promise of faithfulness.

During those times when you do feel overwhelmed and worried about what the future holds for your children, stand on promises like the one in this verse.

God has been faithful to every generation since Adam and Eve. He will continue to be faithful to your children’s generation and beyond.

Psalm 37:5

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

These words from King David in the Bible are encouraging. In fact, the verses following this one go on to talk about how God will reward our righteousness, and we don’t have to worry when wicked seems to be prevailing.

Just a little faith can go a long way. In fact, David, who was called a man after God’s own heart, had his own faith struggles.

Throughout the book of Psalms, we see David’s emotions go up and down as he wavers and wonders.

But he always comes back to the Lord God, who never lets him down, just as He never lets us down.

Keep going on your faith walk.

When we feel overwhelmed, stressed, discouraged and fearful of the future, it’s easy to start pulling away from God. We can find ourselves resisting going to church, reading the Bible, praying and more.

Yet, these are the very times we need to keep going and commit our way to God. Even when you feel like you may only be going through the motions, don’t stop. 

Those motions will eventually lead you right to your Savior Jesus Christ who is patiently waiting for you to get back in line with Him.

Don’t get ahead of yourself.

It can be hard to not try to fix things ourselves. We think we know what’s best most of the time, and perhaps especially for our children.

This verse reminds us God doesn’t expect us to have all the answers. We just need to commit ourselves to Him and have faith in Him. 

He will do the rest.

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

We’ve all started projects and not finished them. Or we’ve delayed working on them. Life gets busy and other things take precedence.

God is not the same. He has a work of faith going in you, and He won’t stop until the end. He doesn’t get distracted or sidetracked by life.

Remember God is working in your children’s lives.

Just as God will remain faithful to carry out the good work in our lives, He will do so for our children as well. We can trust and rest in that promise firmly.

Along with having the hope of eternal life for ourselves and our children, we also have the hope of God’s faithfulness and help every step of the way until we get there. 

We can be encouraged to know God won’t forget about the good work He started in our children, even when we see them falling short.

Think in the long-term.

Thinking in the long-term sounds a bit counterintuitive when we are talking about not having fear for the future. But, let me explain.

Sometimes we can get caught up in our present sufferings and things we see coming right away. God, however, sees the big picture beyond what we can see.

So thinking in the long-term can help us have perspective about whatever we’re currently facing. We have the hope of glory no matter what happens.

For example, I’ve gained a lot of perspective in life as I’ve grown. Teenage me found small things to be a much bigger deal than adult me does, because I’ve got more perspective.

If we can wrap our minds just a bit around the long-term plan of living for God, then we can more easily let our earthly worries and fears dissipate.

Powerful Scriptures for the overwhelmed mom

Scriptures for encouragement on your motherhood journey

You ever have one of those overwhelming days when you question whether you’re even cut out to be a mom? I sure have. This was a challenge as a new mom getting used to motherhood, but even now it remains a challenge in having children in middle and high school.

The truth is being a mom is hard work. The challenges of motherhood abound from organizing schedules, dealing with laundry, making sure everyone is fed, encouraging our children’s spiritual walk, staying on top of homework and on the list goes.

The good news for us overwhelmed moms is God’s Word has a lot of encouragement for us. I’ve pulled together some of the top Bible verses to encourage your mama heart right where you are.

(Find the link to download the free reading plan at the end of the article.)

The power of the Word of God for moms

I know as a busy mom that getting in time for Bible study is hard and sometimes downright impossible. Some seasons are a bit easier, and some are a lot harder.

I remember the early days as a first-time mom and feeling overwhelmed. I could barely keep up with my personal hygiene, let alone Bible study.

God reminded me time and again that He knew I was a struggling mom, He was with me every step of the way and I needed to give myself grace.

One of the best things I found for those times — and even now as a mom of older kiddos — is simple Bible reading plans. Just reading one or two verses a day gets my mind focused on my Heavenly Father — exactly as it should be!

Practical ways for moms to get in Bible study time

When you’re an overwhelmed mom, even coming up with ideas to read a verse or two a day can seem impossible. I get that! Here are some of my best suggestions for helping work it into your schedule.

1. Pray about it. Seriously! I have many times asked God to show me how to best use my time, including how to work in Bible reading time.
2. Try habit stacking. For example, I pray as I brush my teeth. I read my Bible as I eat breakfast or as I dry my hair.
3. Listen to the Bible instead. If you aren’t a reader, check out the great audio options in the YouVersion Bible app.
4. Use a simple Bible reading plan (like the ones I have for you for free!) that you can stick with.
5. Find a Bible translation that you understand and get the most out of.

For more, check out “How to connect with God in the middle of raising a family.”

Top 5 encouraging Bible verses for moms

Ideally, you can spend the entire month reading through 30 of the most inspiring Bible verses to encourage moms. But, I also know there are hard days when you just need encouragement fast. 

So, I’ve pulled out a list of 5 of my favorite verses of encouragement for the difficult times. Read and re-read the following Bible verses whenever you’re struggling and need extra encouragement.

Isaiah 41:10

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

This is one of my very favorite Bible verses of all time. I first learned it in my third grade Sunday School class, and it’s gotten me through so many rough days and hard times.

At first, I was drawn to the first part of the verse to not fear, but as I got older and learned the entire verse, I can no longer pick a favorite part.

Because as a mom, I need the reminder that God is with me, that He will strengthen and help me, and He is holding me tightly. 

Prayer: Dear God, calm my heart today and remind me you are always with me so I don’t have to be afraid. Strengthen and help me in all that I am doing. Lord, I ask that you uphold me firmly in your hand. Thank you for being the God of all comfort I can always turn to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Philippians 4:13 

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

One thing we need as mamas is strength. This verse is a terrific reminder of God’s strength and the power of the Holy Spirit to bestow His strength upon us.

From the middle-of-the-night feedings and struggles of new moms to the middle-of-the-night anxieties of moms with teens, God is there to strengthen us.

Just after my youngest was born, I was getting very little sleep. I was averaging around two hours a night at best. 

I cannot tell you now how I managed. It is definitely beyond my own understanding. I just know that God was always faithful to give me strength for each moment.

Prayer: Dear God, I have so many tasks before me. I can feel so easily overwhelmed by them. Give me your strength to get through every moment of my day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Matthew 11:28-29

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

There is nothing more restful than the peace of God, which is what this verse is reminding us of. One of the biggest reasons I get exhausted and overwhelmed is not giving my worries and burdens to God.

Yet, here Christ Jesus Himself is telling us to come to Him when we are too tired to keep moving forward. He will bear our burdens and give us perfect peace and rest for our souls as only God’s unfailing love can do.

It’s incredibly comforting to me to remember that I don’t have to carry all my burdens alone.

Prayer: Dear God, I am weary and burdened. I need your rest today. Teach me and help me to learn from you. Remind me of your unconditional love and provision. Strengthen me as only you can. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Knowing that God is there for us and will strengthen us whenever we face trouble is incredibly comforting and encouraging. Even better is that He is there to help us no matter the trouble from struggles with potty training to sending your kiddo off to college.

I love picturing an image of God holding me in his arms when I’m weary and overwhelmed. I imagine being surrounded by God’s love and filled with his strength. 

This verse reminds me of that. Even when I am struggling and don’t feel like I’m doing a good job as a mama, God is right there with me.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being our refuge and strength always. Lord, lift me up today and strengthen me. Help me through all of the troubles I face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

The truth of motherhood is that sometimes we lose ourselves. We get so busy taking care of others that we slowly ebb away.

But, mama, God hasn’t forgotten about you. He has plans for your life — and they are good plans! 

He knows you are doing the good work of raising your children. He sees your sincere faith and your mother’s love that pours into her children every single day.

Our loving God knows motherhood is a high calling, and He doesn’t take it lightly.

He sees you. He wants to give you hope and a future. These days won’t last forever. Eventually, you’ll get back to being a version of yourself.

You won’t be exactly as you were before motherhood, because motherhood changes us in our inmost being. We evolve and grow, just as God planned for us.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for having plans for my life that are good. Some days right now, it’s hard to see them. Remind me of the hope and future I have in you. Give me greater joy as I go through my day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A free reading plan

The Bible is filled with so many other related Scripture quotes to encourage and uplift us. This simple reading plan will take you through 30 such verses by reading just one or two a day.

Download the PDF and print it out or use it on your phone or other device — whatever is easiest for you.

The PDF also includes reflection questions for each week’s topic. The weekly topics include the following:

• Strength in God
• Peace in God
• Hope in the Lord
• Rest in God’s love
• God’s promises

Grow in prayer

The reading plan also includes a prayer for the months relating to encouragement for moms. Sometimes even knowing what to pray and putting thoughts together is hard in the middle of motherhood. 

You’ll also find a page to list prayers and praises for the month. This is a great way to keep a prayer journal and be able to look back later and see how God has been working in your life.

Additional ways to grow in faith

Sometimes you might find yourself with more time. Or maybe you’re like I am with older kiddos in school.

There are some other great ways to meditate on these verses.

• Read the verse out loud multiple times, emphasizing the words in different ways each time.
• Pick a verse a week (or month) and memorize it.
• Write the Bible verse by hand.
• Dig deeper and find out the full context of shorter Scripture quotes.
• Involve your whole family by having a verse of the week for everyone.

A final word of encouragement

When it comes to Bible study and getting into the Word of God, we need to make it a priority while also giving ourselves grace.

The truth is some days are just harder to find a moment of quiet time than others. I recently had one of those days myself with a sick child. The next day, I had more time and got caught up.

Your motherhood journey isn’t one you were meant to go on alone. Get into God’s Word, feel His presence and find encouragement!

If you’re looking to connect with other Christian moms like you, be sure to check out our private Facebook group, Christian Moms with Grace, where we have daily discussions to encourage one another along the way!

Don’t miss these other encouraging posts for Christian moms:

7 Prayers for overwhelmed moms needing peace and strength

To the moms of little ones

Encouragement for when you feel like you’re failing God

To the mom who is overwhelmed

20 Encouraging Bible verses about peace of mind

Comforting Scriptures for when you need inner peace

In modern society, we talk about living in times of war or peace. Peace in the Bible, however, isn’t about the absence of conflict but is about the presence of something – or Someone – who brings wholeness and wellbeing.

Fortunately, there are many Bible verses about peace of mind that can encourage us and remind us of God’s perspective on peace. They remind us we can have God’s peace regardless of what is going on around us in the world or in our daily lives.

As a mom, sometimes I have longed for literal peace and quiet, but this goes deeper to peace of our soul, hearts and minds. And that is the perfect peace that only comes through God’s presence in our lives.

Knowing that Biblical peace comes from the presence of God coincides directly with the Fruit of the Spirit. We can only live out and display the Fruits of the Spirit by walking with the Spirit – walking with God. And God is the one whose presence gives us true peace of mind.

So, simply striving to walk with God and live out the Fruits of the Spirit through the power of the Holy Spirit leads to peace. Having peace with God not only leads to living in connection with Him, but also living in harmony with others — including our own families.

Sources of great peace​

As we talk about the concept of peace and God’s promises for times of trouble, we have to turn to the Word of God to find out the sources of peace available to us.

​Unsurprisingly, the words of Jesus teach us a lot about peace. 

Jesus talked about peace often with His followers. Those messages apply to our lives today. 

During His final dinner with His disciples before His Crucifixion, Jesus told them about the coming of the Holy Spirit – or Comforter – who would follow Him. 

Jesus was assuring His disciples that though He wouldn’t always be physically with them, they could have peace and rest in the Holy Spirit and in knowing Jesus was stronger than anything the world could throw at Him. 

These things remain true for us today.

Thieves of peace​

Just as we have sources of great peace, we also battle thieves of peace. I’m sure you’re as familiar with them as I am.

​We don’t have to look far to find strife and struggle in the world around us. It’s everywhere.

Envy and selfish ambition steal our peace. And both these things have a root in our own desires. 

I’ve struggled with looking at someone else and thinking their life was so easy or what they had was better than what I had, even though I worked harder. During those times, I’ve never felt peace.

However, when I instead focus on God and His wisdom, I feel much more peace and goodness. Simply keeping our minds on heaven will instill in us traits very closely related to the Fruits of the Spirit like being considerate, submissive, full of mercy, producing good work, being impartial and being sincere. It all starts with keeping our focus on God.

Bible verses about peace of mind

“Peace” appears in the King James version of the Bible 429 times. While wordings differ from one translation to another, this is still a high number no matter what.

The good news is there are more verses about “peace” than there are days in the year. Our Father knows we need reminders constantly of His peace.

(Find a link near the end of the post to download these verses as a PDF.)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

The verses preceding these tell us of the desires of the flesh before explaining the good fruits that come from God and the Holy Spirit. Walking in step with the Holy Spirit and His fruits strengthens us in our relationship with God and with those around us.

I am a better wife, mother, friend, daughter and person when I am walking in the Fruit of the Spirit.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” — Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

God’s Word reminds us that we serve a God of peace who has called us to live peaceful lives as well. Part of living in peace is being thankful.

​As we focus on the blessings of God — in both hard times and good times — we have more peace from our Heavenly Father.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)​

Trusting in God gives us peace and assurance. We can relax in Him and feel His peace.

In this verse from the Old Testament, Isaiah is talking with the Israelites about their future and the work God would do in them if they followed Him. These words explain well how to have peace individually.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 (NIV)​

Christ Jesus uses these words to remind us that through our Heavenly Father, we are able to have peace beyond what is possible in the world.

Even when we are in stressful situations and dealing with a worried heart, Jesus gives us peace and a reminder that He is on the throne and in control.

“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 (NIV)​

I love God’s promise here that He is always with us. We can have peace through God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit even in the midst of trouble. 

​Jesus doesn’t gloss over the fact that life is hard, and we’ll face trials. But He does encourage us to keep going because He is greater than anything we face.

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” — James 3:16-18 (NIV)​

After being pure, wisdom from heaven is peace-loving. It goes against envy, selfish ambition and evil practices, which are certainly the opposite of peace.

Instead, these verses tell us living and sowing in peace will have great results in our lives. As Christian moms, we most want to sow faith in peace with our children so that later we can rest in the effect of righteousness as they walk with God themselves.

“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” — Hebrews 12:9-11 (NIV)​

Discipline is hard on both sides. As a parent, I must really love and be invested in my children to discipline them. I must put myself and my own needs aside to do what’s best for them. 

Growing up, I had to endure discipline from my own parents. I can look back on that now and be thankful, but I can assure you I didn’t feel so thankful at the time! Sometimes God needs to discipline us and work in our lives so that in the end we can have peace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)​

Living a life filled with God’s peace in a chaotic world sounds awesome. It also sounds challenging and perhaps unattainable. But just like with all the Fruits of the Spirit, God gives us instructions for how to best live them out.

By praying, submitting to God and giving Him thanks, we receive His peace which is beyond our own understanding. 

“The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” — Numbers 6:26 (NIV)​

This verse is part of a blessing the Lord gave to Moses to use for the Israelites — His chosen people. I can think of no greater blessing than to have God turn his face toward me and give me peace.

Indeed, as believers we can enjoy God’s favor and peace. In turn, that gives us strength to be the people — and moms — He has created us to be.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul is reminding us in this verse that our very Christian faith allows us to have peace with God. Jesus came so that we may be connected closer to the Father and understand more fully God’s love for us.

He is truly a God of hope who longs for us to have peace in the middle of struggle.

“Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.” — Psalm 37:37 (NIV)​

In Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us that He has a hope and a future for each of us. This verse follows right along those lines.

When we pursue peace, we are assured of a future and hope with God.

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” — Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)​

Jesus broke down all the walls dividing people. No longer was faith and God just for a select few. The arrival of Jesus showed that God is for all of us.

Jesus Himself is our peace just in knowing that through Him we have favor with God.

“They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” — 1 Peter 3:11 (NIV)​

Not only can and will God give us peace, but it is OK for us to pursue it through Him. And one of the ways we do that is by turning from evil to do the good things of God.

When we are living lives for God, we can more easily have His peace no matter what is going on.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)

What a powerful way for Paul to end his letter to the church of Thessalonica. This blessing is one we can pray for ourselves and pray over our families.

“God, give my family and me peace at all times and in every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” — Romans 12:18 (NIV)​

We want to live with God’s peace within ourselves, but for peace in our whole spirit, we must do our best to live at peace with everyone as well.

One small way to do this is focusing on the positive attributes of those around us instead of the negative ones. One small attitude shift can make a difference in how we respond to others.

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” — 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)​

In order to live in peace with others, Paul tells us to work on our relationships. If there is division, seek restoration. Comfort those who are hurting.

Doing such things allows for the peace of God to rule in our lives in every way.

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” — Psalm 29:11 (NIV)

​This verse can also easily become a pray for ourselves and our families.

“Lord, give my family and me strength. Bless us with peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6​

This Bible verse often gets relegated to the Christmas season and we don’t dwell on it so much outside of December. But, of all the names given to Jesus, one of them is the “Prince of Peace.”

Peace was important enough to God that he even emphasized it in the attributes of His own Son!

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” — Psalm 4:8 (NIV)​

When I’m dealing with anxiety, one of the times I notice it most is when I’m lying in bed with no distractions. Resting and sleeping are hard to do when we are anxious and upset.

Praying and asking for God to give us His peace in these times is more than OK. I have often pictured myself literally resting in His arms to have peace to sleep.

“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” — Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)

Finally, this verse is reassuring and promising. It reminds us that even when the world around us seems to be crumbling — and we all have seasons like that — the God is not shaken.

He has not forgotten us and is waiting for us to lean into and on Him. God will give us peace beyond what we can understand when we need it most.

Want to learn more about the Fruit of the Spirit? Be sure to check out these numerous resources!

Fruit of the Spirit worksheets for adults and teens (with 12 FREE resources)

Fruit of the Spirit for Moms YouTube Videos

The importance of love in the Bible and how to live it out

8 Prayers for joy for moms based on the Bible

11 Psalms to bring you peace in moments of anxiety

Dealing with anxious thoughts and anxiety is tough. Having Bible verses on hand to help calm your anxious heart and rest in the peace of God can make some of our darkest moments seem lighter.

Of all the people in the Bible, I have most related to David in the Psalms for many, many years. We certainly haven’t had the exact same life experiences, but David goes from grief to joy to everything in between within a chapter. 

And that’s how life is for me. I get David. He’s real to me in that way.

I also feel like David’s thoughts could get carried away and overdramatic sometimes. Anxiety rears its ugly head like that in my life. 

I completely trust God, but I have also learned that anxiety and faith can co-exist. So when I think of looking in God’s Word for verses of comfort, it makes sense to start with Psalms for anxiety.

Did David struggle with anxiety? It’s quite possible! 

In 2004, History of Psychiatry researched whether David had a mental disorder and concluded that it’s highly likely he did. Major depression seems to be the most likely candidate. Depression and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. 

So maybe that’s why I relate to David.  Whether David had a mental disorder doesn’t matter as much as knowing that God is behind all the words he wrote. 

And we can draw comfort in the book of Psalms for anxiety. Read these best Psalms for anxiety and let them minister to your heart today. 

(All Scripture is taken from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted.)

​Psalm 27:1-3

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.
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

These verses are a powerful reminder of God’s power and faithfulness. He will protect us, so we don’t have to be afraid — whether we have fear of bad news or fear of just making it through another day. 

I’ve been afraid so many times in my life. I recently heard someone say fear is at the root of anxiety. 

While I’m not sure that’s completely true, I do find great comfort in God’s promises that He is in control and on His throne, so I don’t have to be afraid in times of trouble.

Psalm 61:1-3

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

The New King James version of the Bible says instead that “my heart is overwhelmed” rather than “my heart grows faint.” I like that even more. 

Because, I get overwhelmed. Life is full of so many responsibilities and tasks. 

As a mom, it’s easy for me to get overwhelmed thinking of all the things I’m juggling mentally at any given time. But, God is there to listen to my prayer. 

He hears me and sustains me. He shelters me when I grow weak. Thank you, God!

Psalm 51:10-12

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

​

Of the Psalms for anxiety, this particular Psalm makes an especially great prayer. I want God to purify my heart so that I’m not distracted by the wrong things — including the multitude of my anxieties!

There are times I desperately need a steadfast spirit and willing spirit to sustain me and keep me going through life’s challenges. I also want to always be in God’s presence and never forget the joy of His salvation. 

I will always remember going to church one Sunday in the midst of one of the most difficult situations of my life. My heart was broken and I was feeling low. 

During the sermon, I got distracted by the cross. God reminded me that in the end, what matters most is how much He loves me that He sent His Son, Christ Jesus, for me. It soothed my soul that day in a way nothing else could and helped me to find true rest when I desperately needed it.

Psalm 121:1-5a

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.
He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
 The Lord watches over you.

When I was in college, a member of my Bible study group shared that she used to feel bad about falling asleep while she was praying. But then she just imagined our Heavenly Father was holding onto her like a parent does a child and letting her sleep. 

That image has stuck with me. In my hardest nights, I have prayed for God to surround me and hold me tight. 

I love knowing God never sleeps. He watches over us day and night. 

In my head, I feel like that gives me permission to let down my guard and trust that He is completely in control. That’s brings me anxiety relief and helps dispel the spirit of fear that over threatens to overtake me when I start imagining every worst-case scenario.

Psalm 32:5

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

In the four verses before this one, David talks about how he has been consumed by tears day and night. He remembers the good times with the Lord God; however, he feels far apart from them at this moment. 

But then this verse is his pep talk. We all need pep talks sometimes. 

When we are depressed or anxious, David reminds us that we can put our hope in God. We can praise Him in the storm and trust He is there even when He feels far away.

Psalm 77:11-12

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

​

David spends the first 10 verses of this Psalm talking about how he felt God had rejected him. He was grieving the silence of God and feeling heartbroken — and this is coming from a man who the Holy Bible tells us understood God’s heart.

But then David stops to remember the good things God has done in the past. I have learned to do this very same thing when I start getting anxious. 

I go back in my head to all the times God has been working for my good when I couldn’t see it. And I know that God won’t fail me now.

Sometimes the best thing I can do is think about my history with God’s faithfulness and focus on the blessings He’s given me in the present. 

Psalm 116:1-7

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “Lord, save me!”
The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.

God hears our pleas and cries for mercy. He is there and listening, even when it feels like He is not. 

David talks about seeing that happen in his life. I’ve seen it happen in mine. 

So now I find this one of my favorite Psalms for anxiety because it brings me comfort. I am reminded that God will see me through time and again, and God’s plan is always for my best.

I also especially love verse 7: “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” 

This is a verse to memorize and hold close for the dark nights when anxiety is high and life is hard. God is good all the time.

Psalm 40:11-13

Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
    may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles without number surround me;
    my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
    and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased to save me, Lord;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.

The Bible tells us that Jacob physically wrestled with God, but David does some of his own wrestling in an emotional way. 

If you read the entirety of Psalm 40, David is at a low point but also asking God to bless those who trust in Him. 

Verses 11-13 really stuck out to me as being a sincere prayer to God for times when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances. We can call out to God: save me, come quickly and help me. 

And we can remember the times God has protected us by His love and faithfulness before to keep us going as we wait.

Psalm 62:5-8

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

​

This is a great Psalm for anxiety to reminds us that we can find rest and have hope in God. With God as our protector, we can withstand the storms of life. 

We weren’t made to go through life alone and God will hold us through all of it. If we allow Him, He will be our rock and firm place in whom we can trust at all times. 

I love the idea of God being our refuge. A refuge is somewhere you run to when you’re in trouble or in distress. 

And that’s exactly what God is for us. We can run to Him and know He will hold us tight through everything.

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

​

Again, David refers to God as our refuge. When we are anxious and overwhelmed, a refuge is what we need. We need a break and peace. 

There are moments when God truly gives us peace beyond understanding. He can calm our anxieties and fears, even if just for a few moments, as we fully rest in Him.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
^​ He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
  he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^​
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.​

Finally, I end with this powerful Psalms that was the first passage I ever memorized from the Bible. Back then, I learned it from the King James Version of the Bible.

I think what speaks to me most in this passage is the reminder that God is with us through every single season and moment in our lives. In Him, my soul finds rest, even when life is chaotic.

His unfailing love and faithfulness are with us through times of great need in our daily lives. We can rest with a sound mind and trust fully in Him.

Get a list of all 11 of the best Psalms for anxiety here:

Encouragement and Bible verses for hard times 

Earlier this week, my youngest woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. He ended up waking both my husband and me. I got him settled back into bed and laid down myself. 

I prayed that my son would be able to get back to sleep and rest well. Then I also prayed for my husband and me the same way. Finally, I thanked God for taking care of us before saying “Amen.” 

As I snuggled into the covers, listening to my dog begin to softly snore, I thought about that. In the middle of the night, in the darkness, God reminded me that He will always take care of me. And it was exactly what my heart and soul desperately needed.

God shows up when we need Him

The days prior to this night hadn’t been easy ones. Sometimes life throws a curveball your way, and it knocks you down. Throughout the previous few days, I’d been thinking how knowing God’s will for a situation doesn’t make it hurt any less. 

Sometimes in the middle of our hurt and tough times we can feel so alone (even when that isn’t true). Yet, God promises that He is always with us.

As I slowly settled in to fall back asleep, the old hymn “God will Take Care of You” drifted through my mind.  

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.

All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.God Will Take Care of You
Civilla D. Martin, 1904

I needed that reminder so very much. Maybe it was in the stillness and quietness of the night that God knew I would be better able to hear Him and feel the peace of God. 

Perhaps He knew I’d lie in bed with no distractions, and He could gently remind me that He will always take care of me. Unsurprisingly, He was right on time. 

Yet again, He spoke truth and encouragement into my heart while giving me a song to go with it. Music ministers to my soul so very much.

Remembering the past

One of the other lessons I’ve learned through my decades of walking with God is that He really is ever faithful in my time of need. Each time I face a new hard time or challenge, I remind myself of other times I thought I couldn’t bear. 

And I remember how God has been with me every step of the way, even in ways I still don’t even understand. I have felt God’s peace through various trials.

I am thankful that even though I have stories of difficult situations, I also have stories of God’s faithfulness through them. 

For example, there was the time my husband was without a job for an entire year that we somehow managed to pay our bills.

Then in all of my health struggles with chronic conditions, God continues to give me strength and encouragement. He remains faithful.

Sometimes looking back at what God has done in the past can help us as we encounter new challenges and hard times. I have to watch out when doing this, because I can sometimes get distracted and start having a pity party for myself about all the hard times I’ve had in my life. And that’s not helpful. 

I have learned to stop myself when I start going down that path. It certainly isn’t going to help me like remembering God’s faithfulness and provisions will!

Amazing Bible verses about God’s promises for hard times

Listening for God and remembering what He has done in the past is helpful in getting through hard times. But I also have learned that finding inspirational quotes from the Bible about the promises of God is helpful. 

We have God’s Word as a tool to help us through life. This collection of Bible verses are promises we can cling to during difficult times in life.

Get a free list of all these Bible verses to keep on hand!

Bible verses for difficult times

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

I love this reminder, because during hard times, we feel so weary and burdened. I’ve also had the song “Worn” from Tenth Avenue North running through my head lately. It goes right along with this verse. “I know that You can give me rest, so I cry out with all that I have left.”

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

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

I’ve shared this verse multiple times, because it is truly my all-time favorite, powerful Bible verse that applies to so many situations.

While I first fell in love with the verse for God promising to always be with me when I’m afraid, I later learned the entire verse and love all parts of it. For hard times, I especially love God’s promise to strengthen, help and uphold us. 

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Psalms 9:9-10 (NIV)

God is our shelter and help when we are having a hard time. He promises that we can trust in Him and that He will never leave us. I cling to that promise!

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

I think sometimes this verse gets relegated only to graduates and young people. But it deserves a second look.

God is promising that whatever our hard times are, they aren’t part of a plan for Him to harm us. His plan is to give us hope.

And He promises to listen to us when we pray. He also promises that when we seek Him with all our hearts that we will find Him. He is always there.

“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.'”

Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)

God is always with us. He doesn’t wander off. He doesn’t sleep and miss out on being there. God is always with us!

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalms 34:18 (NIV)

Hard times can make us feel alone. But we are never alone. When we are brokenhearted, God is right there with us. 

We may not always feel Him or see Him. We may get too distracted and overwhelmed to notice Him, but He is always there with us. Always!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

This is a good Bible verse that can be easy to overlook because it’s something we’ve probably heard many times.

But I remember one of the very lowest moments of my life going to church, noticing the cross and remembering this truth. 

When life is difficult and things are topsy-turvy, knowing that Christ Jesus is always the same and His promises never fail is comforting. 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)

Sometimes the best way to get through difficult times is remembering we truly are only dealing with them for a little while in the grand scheme of things.

These verses encourage us to keep moving forward, looking forward to the crown of life we’ll receive one day in heaven.​

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”

Proverbs19:10 (ESV)

When we are going through heart-wrenching times, the best thing we can do is simply call on the name of Jesus. His name is a strong tower that will protect us and give us peace in the midst of our struggle.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Doing the work of the Lord can seem discouraging sometimes. It can be easy to want to stop running and give up. We go against the flow, which can be rough.

But the good news found throughout God’s Word is God is faithful. The grace of God covers us completely as we continue on persevere. 

We can trust Jesus understands our pain and truly is preparing a place for us to live with Him.

“God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 (ESV)

I love this reminder from the Word of God about God being our safe place. He protects us and shields us. Even in the midst of hard times, God is protecting us in ways beyond our own understanding. 

Knowing God is always present to help is also encouraging. God is a God of hope and faithfulness. He will never forget you, His beloved child!

“Praise be to 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 receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

A couple of things really stand out to me about these verses. First, our Heavenly Father is compassionate and longs to comfort us if we turn to Him.

Second, our pain isn’t always for naught. In fact, many times the struggles we have survived enable us to then help others and share the love of God that He pours out so freely to us.

“And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10b (ESV)

Thinking of being joyful during hard times sounds preposterous, but God’s joy is beyond our human joy. It is joy based on our right relationship with God and not based on achievements or possessions.

That doesn’t mean we won’t or shouldn’t feel sad or distressed. However, it is a reminder we can always find joy in God’s love and knowing He is faithful, even when life is upside down.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, ^​whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

James 1:2-3 (NIV)

This is another verse about having joy in spite of hard times. In fact, James seems to be telling us to be joyful because we are facing trials.

That seems really hard to do. However, we know life is a mix of both good times and hard times. If we are going to have hard times any way, then let us at least be comforted by knowing God can use our trials to grow our faith.

No matter what happens, the will of God and the character of God remain true. 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Following along with the previous verse, this verse is comforting in knowing God is always at work. This doesn’t mean everything will turn out fine and God will make it all perfect from our perspective. 

However, we can rest in knowing that as His children whatever we face, God will be at work in and through our lives as we deal with it.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

I’ve had a few times in my life when I faced really hard situations and God gave me peace. It was truly beyond what I could understand.

As someone who struggles with anxiety, finding peace can be difficult at the best of times. But I am thankful for a God who can give me peace during both the best of times and the worst of times!

“You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.”

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Peace sounds good always, but it especially does in our suffering. This powerful Bible verse reminds us that we can have perfect peace if we remain steadfast in our faith and trust in God.

When we focus on the One Who holds us in His hand, we can rest in His peace.

“You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance.”

Psalm 32:7 (ESV)

We can’t continually hide from our problems. They do catch up with us; however, this inspirational quote from the Bible is a great reminder that we can hide in God. 

When you need a break from your thoughts and challenges, hide yourself in God through things like worship and reading the Bible. These things also helps us focus on Him instead of our troubles.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

The New Testament is full of promises for our future and what is to come. We can be encouraged by knowing our suffering isn’t permanent, and God won’t leave us in our misery forever.

We also have to remember that God’s timing and version of “a little while” is based from an eternal perspective, not a human one.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

Romans 8:26 (NIV)

As we endure the trials of life, we must also remember the power of the Holy Spirit. When we are too distraught and beside ourselves to even know what to ask God for, the Holy Spirit goes to God on our behalf.

God’s faithfulness, goodness and love continue to astound me. He clearly understands the pain being too great for our ability to put into words. And He gave us a Helper for those very times.

Download a free list of all these verses now to help you on your journey!

Find more posts of encouraging Bible verses here:

Bible verses about leaning on and trusting God

The best Psalms for anxiety

Bible verses about grace

20 Bible verses to help you remember to trust and lean on God

I’ve been a Christian officially since I was 10. That means, I’ve had more than three decades of living with God in my life. 

I have seen and know His faithfulness. Trusting Him should be second nature right now. Often it is, but other times, I need reminders when life starts going haywire that God is on His throne and I can trust Him completely. 

That’s where Bible verses about leaning on God help. His Word is the best way to remember Who God is and how much I can trust Him.

These powerful Bible verses remind us to trust God in tough times and in good times. As you lean on God through His Word, let the peace of God fill your heart and mind.

Learning to lean on God

Just like with any relationship, our relationship with God is a day-by-day thing. I don’t mean that as in we need to doubt our salvation, but I do mean that in the way we choose each day (and sometimes each moment) to live in line with God or not.

 It’s our choice to make Him a big part of our lives or keep Him tucked away in a small corner of our lives. 

A couple of things help me most when my faith and trust in God get shaky: Bible verses and music. I’m encouraged that God clearly knew we’d have moments of weakness and doubt. So He packed His Word full of verses to encourage us on our faith journey.

God knows our weaknesses as humans, and He loves us anyway. He gives us the tools we need along the way. It’s just up to us to utilize them.

Favorite Bible verses about leaning on God

Turning to the Word of the Lord is the first place to start during times of testing of your faith. We serve a trustworthy God who will be with us in times of trouble. We can lean into our Lord Jesus and know He will be our strong tower during hard times.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

My own understanding of things is paltry at best. I don’t know what the future holds or how things are going to work out. 

This verse reminds me that regardless of what I know or understand, I have a God I can trust in with all my heart because He knows it all and will be there with me every single step of the way. 

I want to always be in the will of God, even when I don’t understand completely the situation.

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.'”

Psalm 46:10a (NIV)

When it comes to Bible verses about leaning on God, this is one of my favorites. I have trouble being still in my head. I can easily get carried away, ruminate and stress out. 

But this verse reminds me that I can just be still, rest and trust in God. Sometimes repeating “Be still” in my head can help calm my anxiety as I trust in the One Who is truly in control.

Other times, I ask God for help in being still, because doing so is hard with only my own strength. I need His help to even be still in Him.

“Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, 
is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.”

Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)

The definition for the word salvation is to save or protect from harm, destruction and loss. This verse reminds us that God is saving and protecting us. We can trust in God’s unfailing love and not be afraid. 

The good news is when God is our strength, defense and ultimate protector, we can relax and rest in Him.

“Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself,
is the Rock eternal.”

Isaiah 26:4 (NIV)

Two things stick out to me in this verse. First, the use of the words “forever” and “eternal.” Knowing that God is an everlasting God on Whom I can lean throughout eternity is comforting to me.

My brain has trouble even fathoming how long eternity is, but even just having been able to trust Him for my meager amount of years on earth is significant. 

The second thing that jumps out at me is the concept of the Lord being the Rock. He’s not dirt or sand. He’s not water. God is a solid rock and firm foundation. In life, so many things can shift and change in the blink of an eye, but God remains the same in good and difficult times. He is solid and true.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

God is speaking these words to Joshua, but they apply to us just as much. As we trust in God, we can rest assured He will be with us everywhere we go — even in a day of trouble. 

Just remembering this gives me strength and courage. It helps me not be as afraid or discouraged. Bible verses about leaning on God can also remind us we are never alone, which is something we need to hear when life is difficult.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

When I was a child, I trusted my parents to meet my needs. I was blessed to never worry about what I’d have to eat or whether I’d have clean clothes to wear. 

That’s the same sort of trust I strive to have in God. My desire is to be trusting God so completely that when something goes sideways, I don’t have to worry and can relax in knowing that He’s got it covered.

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

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Trusting in God can fill us with joy and peace. It can give us hope beyond what even makes sense. God has given us His Holy Spirit to fill us and dwell in us. 

During times that we are struggling to trust in God, we can ask for help and the Holy Spirit can fill us up with strength and peace not our own. I’m so thankful for that!

“‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.'”

John 14:1 (NIV)

Jesus is speaking here. He’s just told His followers of trouble to come and that He will soon be leaving them. They’re distressed and worried. They’re afraid. 

I’ve felt that way. I’ve gotten news that left me shaken and unsure. I didn’t know what the future would look like. 

But these words from Jesus remind me that I don’t need to have a troubled heart. I just need to believe.

In the proper time, I will see every good thing God has for me. That may be on earth or in heaven or, most likely, both.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.”

Psalm 118:8 (NIV)

In my humanity, I can often be tempted to trust in other people when things go wrong. 

For example, dealing with various health struggles through the years have led me down a path of beginning to trust in doctors or treatments. I had to learn to make sure I was trusting in God instead.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Things change. People change. Life changes. But, Jesus remains steadfast and true. He is the same and we can trust in Him always because He never changes. 

I will never forget one of the lowest points in my life. I questioned God’s plan and purpose. Honestly, I questioned God’s love. Nothing made sense. 

My world was completely upside down, and I truly didn’t know how I’d ever endure and make it through to the other side. I spent that Sunday morning at church too overwhelmed to even sing the praise and worship songs. 

My mind wandered throughout much of the sermon. But my eyes saw the cross at the front of the church. 

And God gently reminded me that I didn’t need all the answers. I just needed to trust that He is ever faithful and true. The only thing I needed to know is that Jesus loved me so much He died for me. I could cling to that when all else failed me. 

That is the God we serve — One who is steadfast, true, unchanging and full of love for each of us.

Favorite Bible verses about faith and trust

As we are continually learning to lean on God, we also need to have Scripture references that encourage us in our faith and trust in God. Though I’ve been a Christian for decades, I still have times of wavering faith and trust. I have never turned my back on God.

However, in hard times I have wondered how much I could truly trust Him. I’ve questioned whether my faith was strong enough.

And each time, I learned that I can trust Him completely, because while I may change and struggle, God’s character remains the same. 

I can ask God for help with strengthening my faith when it starts getting shaky. If I can turn my eyes to look at Him instead of looking around me, my faith and trust are made stronger. 

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

I love this reminder of what just a teeny, tiny amount of faith can do! Have you seen a mustard seed? They are 0.1 inch in diameter! That’s tiny. 

Jesus is telling us here that even if our faith is small, it is still powerful. Can our faith be big? Of course! But even when it isn’t, it is still powerful. 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

I struggle with confidence in myself. And sometimes that can influence the confidence I have in God. 

For a little while, I can slip into a negative attitude like, “I know God can fix this, but I don’t think He will.” I don’t usually utter those words aloud, but God hears them in my heart. 

This verse, though, convicts my heart. Faith is the assurance of things of we cannot see and being confident in the God we serve. 

I can’t be confident in myself and that I’ll always come out on top, but I can be confident God knows what He’s doing and will come out on top. I am assured and can be hopeful that no matter what life brings, God is there with me. What better description of faith is there?!

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

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Faith and trust really do go hand-in-hand with leaning on God. If we have faith in God and Who He is, then we can trust He will always be with us. 

Not only does this verse remind us we can have faith and trust in God, but it also tells us God is a God of hope. Trusting in Him will bring us joy and peace. 

And, finally, it reminds us that the Holy Spirit can fill our hearts to overflowing with hope and the joy of the Lord.

“‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”

Mark 10:52 (NIV)

This is one example of many in the New Testament where Jesus healed someone based on their faith. They truly believed in Him and His power. 

He sees the desires of your heart and knows your faith. Does this mean we will always get what we want? No. Does it mean we will always be healed on earth? Also, no. 

But it does mean that God sees you and will reward your faith. It also means our faith is about following Jesus. 

Instead of running off to live his life in a way he’d only previously imagined, the former blind man immediately followed Jesus. He knew where his blessing and healing had come from. 

We, too, know where our blessings and evert good gift come from and can put our faith in Him!

“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.”

Psalm 119:30 (NIV)

Faithfulness is a way of life we can choose. We choose faith even when our faith is shaken and wavering. 

Sometimes when we go through the acts of faithfulness, it grows our faith. I have had times when my heart just wasn’t into worshipping God. 

Yet, I found myself drawn along in worship with other believers and before I knew it, God blessed my heart and encouraged me. Living the life we know God has called us lead will draw us closer to Him, even when we are resistant or out of sorts.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

Romans 10:17 (NIV)

I’ve been going to church my entire life. I cannot begin to tell you ever sermon I’ve heard preached or Sunday School lesson I’ve sat through. But, they have all impacted me. They have served to grow and strengthen my faith. 

This verse plainly tells us that faith comes from hearing the message, which is the word of Christ. Keep on reading God’s Word, meeting with His people and listening to music that focuses on Him to keep your faith in tact. 

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

The peace in this verse is like that talked about in Philippians 4:7. It is God’s peace that is beyond our understanding. 

When we trust in God, no matter how dire the circumstance is, He can give us peace that doesn’t make any sense. He can bring us comfort and assurance through every moment. 

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

This is a good verse to remember for those times you feel like giving up. I love the reminder to trust in God and in HIs name because He has never left me. 

The good news is we only have to call on the name of the Lord and He will be right there in the midst of any storm. 

Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past helps me have faith and trust in Him even more in the present.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Psalms 56:3-4 (NIV)

My all-time favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 41:10, which reminds me that God is always with me and I don’t have to be afraid. 

These verses takes that even a step further. Not only can we trust in God when we’re afraid and have Him give us peace, but we can rest assured there is nothing of eternal consequence others can do to us. God is upholding us with His righteous right hand.

We sometimes need to hear the perspective that God is so much bigger than the hard times we go through.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trusting in God looks like letting go of trying to make sense of things. If we are leaning on His understanding, then we are not leaning on our own. 

Faith, trust and leaning on God often don’t make a lot of logical sense. As we choose to follow God, we can decide He knows what He’s doing more than we can understand. 

Many times later on we are able to look back and see why He did things that didn’t make sense at the time.

Music for leaning on God

When we are struggling with our faith and trust in God, remembering His past faithfulness is helpful. One lesson I have learned is God won’t ever leave me hanging. He has proven time and again that He’s right there with me every step of the way. 

A couple of songs have really spoken this message to me. The first is “Yes He Can” by Cain. I love the message and reminder from this trio that God has always been there in the past and will be now.

Another song that speaks to my heart in so many ways is Bethel Music’s “Goodness of God.” It reminds us how God has always been faithful and so good. It’s one of my favorite songs!

Finally, Andrew Peterson has a song called “Faith to Be Strong” that has been out since 2000 and still inspires and uplifts me. I remember this song really touching my heart after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 

Encouragement to lean on God in faith

Sometimes more than anything, we just need to ask God for faith. Our Heavenly Father knows our faith and trust in Him can waver. He is ready to help us. It’s OK to be honest with Him about our feelings and ask for help.

Learning to lean on God doesn’t always come naturally or easy to us. We like to be independent and make our own way.

But, these Bible verses about leaning on God and trusting in Him remind us that we don’t have to go alone through difficult times. We can confidently lean into and on the God of the universe who loves us so completely.

Find more posts to encourage your faith walk:

Encouragement for when you feel like you’re failing God

When your faith is shaken

Bible verses for when you feel like giving up

Bible verses about gratitude

The best Psalms for anxiety

24 Bible verses about being thankful

Most years, I have a word or phrase that represents my focus for the year. I don’t come up with these at the beginning of the year, but develop them as I go based on what lessons God is teaching me. For example, a few years ago my word was “Grace” — and that’s turned into this site!

This year, my word is “Gratitude.” God has continued to remind me this year about the importance of being thankful and grateful even during difficult times. It came more into focus with the release of “The Christian Woman’s Gratitude Journal.” Since then, I have not only benefitted from working through the journal myself but also discussing it in the private Facebook group, Moms with Grace.

All of this has prompted me to put together a list of Bible verses about gratitude. These are verses to remind us what God’s Word says about the importance of gratitude in our own lives. They encourage us to maintain a grateful heart for all God does for us.

What gratitude is and isn’t

Before we get into the Bible verses about gratitude, we need to talk about what gratitude is and isn’t. It’s important to note that we don’t have to be thankful for difficult circumstances. Instead, we are to be thankful even in difficult circumstances.

I’ve spent decades managing chronic pain. In fact, I’m typing this right now with a heating pad on my back, and it’s one of three heating pads I keep in my house in various locations. Never once in my journey have I felt thankful for my pain. It just isn’t natural or normal. However, I have felt thankful even in my pain. I’ve bene grateful for friends, support, love and encouragement. Sometimes I think dealing with ongoing pain has helped me be even more grateful in appreciating everyday things that others often take for granted.

So, gratitude isn’t being thankful for the hard stuff. Don’t beat yourself up or think you have lesser faith because you don’t feel thankful for a challenge. Use God’s Holy Spirit to lead you to find how to be gratitude even in the challenge.

Bible verses about gratitude

These 24 Bible verses about gratitude will help you stay focused on giving thanks to God even during difficult times. When we focus our gratitude on the One who takes care of us, we stop focusing on the things that are troubling us.

(All Bible verses are taken from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted.)

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
2. Psalm 107:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
3. Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
4. Psalm 100:4, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
5. Ephesians 5:30, “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
6. Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
7. Psalm 95:2,”Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”
8. 1 Chronicles 16:34, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
9. Psalm 118:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
10. Psalm 136:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
11. Psalm 105:1, “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.”
12. 1 Chronicles 16:8, “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.”
13. Jonah 2:9, “But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”
14. Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
15. Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
16. Psalm 30:12, “That I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”
17. 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
18. Revelation 4:9, “Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever.”
19. Psalm 9:1, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”
20. Psalm 30:4, “Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.”
21. Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
22. 1 Timothy 4:4-5, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
23. Hebrews 12:28, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
24. James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

You can get all 24 verses as FREE Scripture cards to help you focus on them. Sign up and download them today!

Looking for a resource to help you keep track of your gratitude and prayers? Check out “The Christian Woman’s Gratitude Journal.”

Other posts of Bible verses you don’t want to miss:

• Graduation Bible verses
• The best Psalms for anxiety
• Bible verses about grace
• Bible verses for when you feel like giving up
• Bible verses about trusting God

7 Bible verses and prayers that work well for graduations

Graduation is a time when new grads and their families look forward to the future and what comes next. For Christian moms, dads and grads, seeking out Bible verses for guidance and encouragement is important.

These seven Bible verses are ideal for graduation. You can use them in a graduation card, at a graduation celebration, in a graduation speech or wherever you can think of. The verses are all from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted.

Find a set of seven Bible verses and related graduation party printables in various styles in the Families with Grace Etsy store.

Each graduation Bible verse also includes two prayers: one to pray about the graduate and one for the graduate to pray. You can pray these prayers or use them as inspiration for a graduation card message.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3

Prayer about the graduate: Heavenly Father, I ask that you be with my graduate. Help them to stay committed to you in whatever they do. Lord, establish their plans and guide them as they embark on this new phase of life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Heavenly Father, please be with me as I enter into this new phase of life. Help me to stay committed to you in all that I do. Lord, establish my plans, guide me and direct me in all that I’m doing. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” – Colossians 3:23

Prayer about the graduate: Lord, help my graduate to stay focused on you. As they work in their education and career going forward, keep them motivated to work hard as though they are working for you. Encourage them and bless the work you have for them to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Lord, help me to stay focused on you. As I move forward with my education and career, I ask that you motivate me to work hard as though I’m working for you and nobody else. God, help me to stay encouraged, and bless the work you have for me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” – Psalm 20:4

Prayer about the graduate: Heavenly Father, thank you for my graduate. Thank you for the blessing of their life. I ask that you give them the desires of their heart that glorify you. Open the right doors so their plans succeed. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Heavenly Father, thank you for this phase of my life as I get to change and grow from here. Please help me to desire the things that glorify you and give me those desires of my heart. Lord, open the right doors so my plans succeed. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” – Psalm 110:105

Prayer about the graduate: Lord, I praise you for your word and its guidance. I ask that you place your word on the heart of my graduate to light their way moving forward. Give them just the right verse they need at just the right time as they enter this new stage. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Lord, I praise you for giving me your word and the guidance I find in it. I ask that you place your word on my heart to light my way moving forward. Father, lead me to the right verse at the right time as I enter into this new stage. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” – Jeremiah 29:11

Prayer about the graduate: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving my graduate enough that you have plans for them to prosper. Continue to protect them from harm. Lord, help them to live in your hope and trust in the future you have for their lives. Guide them on every step. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me so much that you have plans for me to prosper. Continue to protect me from harm. Lord, help me to live in your hope and trust the future you have for my life, even when the way seems difficult or unclear. Please guide me on every step. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6

Prayer about the graduate: Lord, thank you for the good work that you have begun in my graduate’s life. Continue that work in their life so that it’s carried on to completion. Reassure my graduate that you are always there and have good work for them to do in this new stage of life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Lord, thank you for the good work you’ve started in my life. I ask that you continue to carry on that good work until it’s completed. Please be there every step of the way as I move forward in life. Guide me and direct me to the good work that you have for me to do. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:6

Prayer about the graduate: Heavenly Father, soften the heart of my graduate to submit to you and your will. Lord, make their paths straight and keep them from harm and bad choices. Protect them in every way and watch over them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Heavenly Father, help me to submit to you and your will. Keep me in your will and out of the way. Make my paths straight and protect me. Lord, help me to make good choices that honor you and honor myself. Protect me in every way, everywhere that I am. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Find prints of these verses in the Graduation Section of the Families with Grace Etsy store!