Skip to content
Pace with Grace
Open menu
Bible VersesDevotionalsGuidesVerse FinderEmailAboutGet email updates

Strength

Bible Verses for Strength and Courage

Courage is not the absence of fear. In Scripture it is the choice to take the next step because God is with you. These verses are for the moment you have to walk in before you feel ready.

Written by

If you searched for Bible verses for strength and courage, you may be standing in front of something hard. Maybe it is a new job, a medical appointment, a difficult conversation, a move, or simply facing another day when you feel worn thin. The Bible's call to be strong and courageous was first spoken to people who had every reason to be afraid. Moses spoke it to a nation about to enter an unknown land. God spoke it to Joshua as he stepped into leadership after Moses died. Paul wrote it to a young church facing pressure. In each case, the strength did not come from pretending they were not scared. It came from the promise that God would go with them. You do not have to feel brave to take a brave step. Below you will find NIV verses for strength and courage, each with context and one practical way to lean on it today.

Moment quiz

Not sure which verse fits?

Four quick questions. We match you to verses and short reads already on this site. No email required for Scripture.

Question 1 of 4

How are you feeling right now?

Bible verses for this situation

Joshua 1:9

,NIV
“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.”

Context

Joshua was taking over from Moses, the only leader Israel had known, and was about to lead the people into hostile territory. God's command to be courageous rests entirely on the promise of his presence.

For your life

Write this verse on a card or your phone lock screen before the hard thing you are facing. Read it right before you walk in.

Deuteronomy 31:6

,NIV
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Context

Moses spoke these words near the end of his life, knowing he would not go with the people into the land. He wanted them to know that the One who mattered most would go with them.

For your life

Name the specific thing you are afraid of. Then pray: God, you go with me into this. Say it out loud if you can.

Isaiah 41:10

,NIV
“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.”

Context

God spoke through Isaiah to a people who felt small and threatened. Notice who does the work in this verse: God strengthens, helps, and upholds. Courage grows from being held.

For your life

When you feel weak, ask God for one specific kind of help today, like steady words, a calm body, or clear thinking for a decision.

1 Corinthians 16:13

,NIV
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Context

Paul closes his letter to the Corinthian church with four short commands. The church was dealing with division and pressure, and Paul calls them to steady, everyday courage rooted in faith.

For your life

Choose one of these four phrases as your word for the week. Each morning, ask what standing firm or being courageous looks like in one specific situation that day.

Ephesians 6:10

,NIV
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

Context

This verse opens Paul's description of the armor of God. The strength he describes is in the Lord and in his power, not in our own willpower.

For your life

When you notice yourself trying to white-knuckle through, pause and pray: Lord, I am leaning on your strength, not mine, for this next step.

Psalm 31:24

,NIV
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”

Context

David wrote Psalm 31 during a season of distress, slander, and fear. He ends not with everything resolved but with an encouragement to everyone still waiting and hoping in God.

For your life

Send this verse to someone else who needs courage today. Encouraging another person often strengthens your own heart too.

2 Timothy 1:7

,NIV
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

Context

Paul wrote to Timothy, a young leader who seems to have struggled with timidity. Paul reminds him that God's Spirit supplies power, love, and self-discipline for the work ahead.

For your life

Before a hard moment, ask which of the three you need most right now: power, love, or self-discipline. Pray for that one specifically.

What scripture really says

The thread running through these verses.

In Scripture, strength and courage are almost always tied to God's presence. Be strong and courageous is a command given to frightened people, and it rests on a promise: the Lord your God goes with you. Courage is not a personality type. It is trust in action, one step at a time.

How to apply this

This week, try this.

Read Joshua 1:9 and Isaiah 41:10. Name the one situation that needs courage from you this week. Write down the smallest brave step you can take in it, and take that step today while repeating the promise that God is with you. If fear or anxiety is constant or keeping you from daily life, it is wise and faithful to talk with a doctor, counselor, or pastor. In the US, call or text 988 if you are in crisis.

Get app updates (and more).

Join for Pace with Grace app updates, new verse pages, and occasional notes. No spam.

Questions

Common questions.

What is the best Bible verse for strength and courage?

Joshua 1:9 is one of the most loved: be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Deuteronomy 31:6 and Isaiah 41:10 carry the same promise of God's presence.

Where does the Bible say be strong and courageous?

The phrase appears several times, including Deuteronomy 31:6, where Moses encourages Israel, and Joshua 1:9, where God commissions Joshua. Paul echoes the idea in 1 Corinthians 16:13: be courageous; be strong.

Does having courage mean I should not feel afraid?

No. God told Joshua not to be afraid because there was plenty to be afraid of. Biblical courage is choosing to move forward with God while fear is still present, not waiting until it is gone.

How can I find strength when I feel weak?

Isaiah 41:10 and Ephesians 6:10 point to God as the source of strength. Pray honestly about your weakness, ask for specific help, lean on trusted people, and take one small step instead of trying to fix everything at once.

What verse can I pray before a hard day?

Try praying Joshua 1:9 or Deuteronomy 31:6 in your own words: God, you are with me wherever I go today, and you will not leave me. Psalm 31:24 is also a short, steady prayer for a hard morning.

More on Strength

Other situations.

Bible Verses for Strength When You Feel Weak

When you have nothing left, these verses remind you that God's strength is not waiting for you to be strong first.

Bible Verses for Strength When You Are Exhausted

When your body and spirit are worn thin, these verses point to a God who renews strength, invites rest, and stays with you when you have nothing left to give.

Bible Verses for Strength to Keep Going

When you are tempted to quit, these verses point you to the God who arms you with strength and keeps your way secure.

Bible Verses for Strength Through Trials

Trials can drain every bit of strength you have. These verses point you to a God who is your refuge, your strength, and your help right in the middle of the testing.

Bible Verses About Strength in Grief

Grief can take every bit of strength you have. These verses show that God does not ask you to be strong on your own. He offers his strength for the days you have none.

Bible Verses for Strength in Depression

When depression drains every ounce of energy, God does not ask you to be strong first. These verses offer strength for the heavy days, one small step at a time.

Related devotionals

Short reads.

(strength)4 min

Embracing the Weakness That Precedes Strength

A devotional on finding strength in vulnerability, honest conversation about the struggles we face and the weakness that often comes before growth.

(strength)4 min

Embracing Vulnerability as Strength

A devotional on finding strength in vulnerability, with honest Scripture and practical application, no toxic positivity or cliches.

(strength)4 min

Finding Strength in the Weak Moments

A devotional on finding strength in the moments you feel weakest, with honest Scripture and real talk about mental health and faith.