Sometimes the most powerful truths come in the smallest packages. When you’re overwhelmed, exhausted, or discouraged, you don’t need lengthy theological explanations or complex doctrinal discussions. You need truth you can grasp quickly, memorize easily, and recall when the moment demands it. Short Bible verses have a way of cutting through the noise and speaking directly to whatever you’re facing.
These brief verses pack incredible power because they distill profound truths into memorable statements. They’re the kind of verses you can carry with you throughout the day, repeat when anxiety rises, cling to when circumstances threaten to overwhelm you, or speak over someone who needs encouragement. Their brevity makes them accessible, but their impact is anything but small.
These 35 short and encouraging Bible verses offer hope, strength, comfort, and perspective when you need it most. Whether you’re memorizing Scripture, searching for encouragement, or looking for words to share with someone who’s struggling, these concise verses deliver truth that can transform your outlook and strengthen your faith. Sometimes the shortest verses carry the longest-lasting impact.
Bible Verses That Are Short and Encouraging
1. Psalm 46:1 – God Is Our Refuge
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
New International Version (NIV)
2. Philippians 4:13 – I Can Do All This
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
New International Version (NIV)
3. Psalm 118:24 – This Is the Day
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4. 1 John 4:19 – We Love Because He First Loved Us
We love because he first loved us.
New International Version (NIV)
5. Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
New International Version (NIV)
6. Joshua 1:9 – Be Strong and Courageous
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
New International Version (NIV)
7. Psalm 56:3 – When I Am Afraid
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
New International Version (NIV)
8. Romans 8:28 – God Works for the Good
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.
New International Version (NIV)
9. John 3:16 – For God So Loved
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
New International Version (NIV)
10. Psalm 23:1 – The Lord Is My Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
New International Version (NIV)
11. Matthew 11:28 – Come to Me
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
New International Version (NIV)
12. Isaiah 41:10 – Do Not Fear
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
New International Version (NIV)
13. Jeremiah 29:11 – Plans to Give You Hope
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.
New International Version (NIV)
14. 1 Peter 5:7 – Cast All Your Anxiety
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
New International Version (NIV)
15. Romans 8:31 – If God Is for Us
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
New International Version (NIV)
16. Psalm 27:1 – The Lord Is My Light
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
New International Version (NIV)
17. 2 Timothy 1:7 – Not a Spirit of Fear
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
New International Version (NIV)
18. Proverbs 17:17 – A Friend Loves at All Times
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
New International Version (NIV)
19. Psalm 34:8 – Taste and See
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
New International Version (NIV)
20. John 14:27 – Peace I Leave With You
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.
New International Version (NIV)
21. Romans 15:13 – May the God of Hope Fill You
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.
New International Version (NIV)
22. Psalm 37:4 – Take Delight in the Lord
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
New International Version (NIV)
23. Isaiah 40:31 – Those Who Hope in the Lord
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.
New International Version (NIV)
24. Galatians 6:9 – Let Us Not Become Weary
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
New International Version (NIV)
25. Psalm 100:4 – Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
New International Version (NIV)
26. 1 John 4:8 – God Is Love
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
New International Version (NIV)
27. Proverbs 16:3 – Commit to the Lord
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
New International Version (NIV)
28. Matthew 6:33 – Seek First His Kingdom
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
New International Version (NIV)
29. Hebrews 13:5 – Never Will I Leave You
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
New International Version (NIV)
30. Psalm 119:105 – Your Word Is a Lamp
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
New International Version (NIV)
31. Romans 12:12 – Be Joyful in Hope
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
New International Version (NIV)
32. Colossians 3:23 – Work at It With All Your Heart
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
33. James 1:17 – Every Good and Perfect Gift
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.
New International Version (NIV)
34. Psalm 147:3 – He Heals the Brokenhearted
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
New International Version (NIV)
35. 1 John 5:4 – This Is the Victory
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
New International Version (NIV)
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says Through Short Verses
The brevity of these verses doesn’t diminish their power; it amplifies their accessibility. When you’re in crisis, you don’t have time to flip through chapters looking for encouragement. When anxiety hits at 3 AM, you need the truth you can recall immediately. These short verses function like spiritual emergency supplies, ready to deploy the moment you need them. Their conciseness makes them easy to memorize, but their truth anchors your soul when everything else feels unsteady.
What makes these verses particularly encouraging is how they address the core struggles humans face: fear, doubt, loneliness, weariness, and uncertainty about the future. Each one points beyond circumstances to unchanging truths about God’s character, His presence, His promises, and His love. They don’t promise that life will be easy, but they assure us that we don’t face difficulties alone and that God is actively working even when we can’t see it.
The beauty of short Scripture is that it becomes portable theology. You carry these truths with you wherever you go, ready to speak them over yourself or others at any moment. They become the vocabulary of faith, the language you speak when words fail and emotions overwhelm.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word and for these short, powerful verses that cut straight to what I need to hear. Help me to hide these truths in my heart so they’re available when I need encouragement, strength, or perspective.
When fear threatens to overwhelm me, remind me that You are my refuge and strength. When I’m exhausted and ready to give up, help me remember that those who hope in You will renew their strength. When I feel alone, let the truth that You will never leave me nor forsake me bring comfort to my soul.
Teach me to speak these verses over myself and others, using Your Word to encourage the discouraged, strengthen the weak, and bring hope to the hopeless. Let these truths shape how I think, how I respond to challenges, and how I view my circumstances.
May these short verses become weapons against discouragement, anchors in storms, and light in darkness. Help me to live in the reality of these truths rather than just knowing them intellectually.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.