When faced with pain, we will do everything we can to silence it: through distraction, numbing, and temporary comforts that keep us from facing what hurts. Some emotions, especially those that come with loss, anger, sadness, and loneliness, can feel like too much to carry.
Where can we take these feelings that overwhelm us? Of course, there is deep comfort when someone sees our pain and, even more, chooses to sit with us in it. But realistically, how long can they do this, and will they truly be able to offer the ultimate and lasting comfort we need?
We can bring every hard time and heavy emotion to Jesus. God invites us to come to Him with our exhaustion and burdens, our grief and discouragement, our fears and struggles.
Believers have the privilege of doing this through reading Scripture and praying.
Bible verses for comfort bring peace, offer hope, and remind us that we are not alone. It is my prayer that these verses comfort you today and give you the strength you need during hard times.
1. 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Paul loved to encourage believers to always find comfort in the Lord, and here, he speaks of God as the source of eternal comfort. These verses reassure us that comfort is not temporary. Neither is it fragile. God’s grace offers steady encouragement that strengthens your heart over time.
2. Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Here’s another verse that offers long-term comfort for those enduring deep pain. We can’t deny the suffering we experience and we’re comforted when we know that God has already planned a future without pain. The verse reassures believers that restoration is part of God’s promise.
3. Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
There are times when I’ve felt like I’ve lost all hope, without any in reserve. Many of us have had this feeling at some point. This verse reminds us God has the power to fill our hearts with enduring hope, overflowing with joy and peace. It’s a comforting prayer or verse to read when grief, suffering, or discouragement sets in.
4. Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Trust is a matter of the heart. And it’s important to understand that Scripture tells us peace begins by trusting in God. I know that peace may feel like it’s out of reach during difficult seasons, but returning your thoughts to God through this Scripture and prayer can bring calm.
5. Isaiah 40:28–31
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
These Bible verses for comfort teach us to remain calm in the Lord, even when everything seems to be going wrong. If you’re tired, weak, and weary, or feel like you’ve reached the end of yourself, these verses can become a prayer for when you have no other words. Lift your eyes to God on high and gain a greater, more glorious view of the Lord, who desires to give you strength and invites you to rest in Him with trust.
6. Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
This verse speaks directly to those who are exhausted physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. All we need to do in these moments is to come to Jesus, putting our faith, hope, and trust in Him. Following Him frees us from the weight of our own sin, because through His work we are forgiven and no longer bound by it.
7. Psalm 119:28
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
The psalmist expresses the grief of his soul in this verse and petitions God for help. When your strength feels depleted and your patience worn thin, this Scripture reassures you that God can renew your strength. I’ve lost loved ones to the cruel hand of death. My husband and I have both lost jobs. But relying on God’s Word in these hardships kept us going. This verse gives you the strength you need when emotions are heavy and times are difficult.
8. John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Jesus offers a kind of peace that isn’t tied to circumstances. This verse is especially comforting during anxious seasons when fear tries to take over. Reading and returning to this Scripture can help steady your heart and refocus your thoughts.
9. Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
God does not distance Himself from your pain. So turn to this Scripture whenever you feel emotionally worn down, or you feel broken or discouraged. Remind yourself that you’re not alone because God is always close by.
10. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
This passage reminds us that God is the source of all comfort. As the Father of mercies, He understands our affliction and meets us with compassion. He comforts us in our troubles not only for our own healing, but so we can encourage and comfort others.
As we reflect on these Bible verses for comfort, remember that Jesus did not shield Himself from difficult emotions or suffering. He experienced oppression, sorrow, weakness, anger, pain, and betrayal, though perfectly and without sin. Though Jesus left the glory of heaven, He lived in constant fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Because Jesus entered fully into human suffering while remaining perfectly united with God, He shows us that pain does not separate us from the Father. Instead, it invites us into deeper dependence on Him. We can do the same by turning to God in our own suffering and by returning to these verses for His comfort in the midst of hard emotions.
May the Lord’s comforting presence surround you, bring peace to your heart, and give rest to your weary soul.
Looking for Even More Comfort and Hope for Hard Times?
These related articles and books are full of advice, perspective, and Scripture to offer comfort and hope no matter what you’re facing today.
- 8 Encouraging Bible Verses About Hope in Hard Times
- 5 Prayers for Comfort When Life Hits Hard
- 8 Encouraging Bible Verses About Fear and Anxiety
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