In the midst of our busy lives, we may find ourselves drained and weary. Whether we feel worn down by the responsibility and stresses of daily life, or facing a particularly difficult season, we crave support and comfort. Thankfully, in these moments, we can turn to the Book of Psalms to encourage and inspire us. 

We offer you this list of encouraging psalms and soothe your soul, where ever you are on your journey. Reflect on them yourself, or send them to a friend or loved one who could benefit from the encouragement of scripture.

Why is the Bible So Vital?

As we ruminate on these encouraging Bible verses, let us first reflect on why we turn to the Bible for spiritual comfort and guidance. The Bible is God’s Word to humanity. Through scripture, God’s character and nature are revealed to us. We turn to the Psalms and the Bible as a whole for guidance because it is through scripture that we are reminded of God’s power and providence. 

When it feels like the whole world is against us, we remember God is for us. Be strong and courageous! The Bible is our greatest resource, a reminder that the Lord is good, and a source of hope.

Overview of Psalms

The Book of Psalms is most importantly about worship and the trials and triumphs of life lived in pursuit of God. The psalms were written by various authors (read more, “Who Wrote the Book of Psalms?”), over many many years, with psalms spanning across a wide emotional spectrum. This Biblical book continues to ever present help us to fix our eyes upon God and encourages us to give thanks for the blessings we have received.

Psalms for Daily Encouragement

In our regular day-to-day lives, we may find ourselves in seasons when the daily grind wears on us and leaves us weary. During these times, the words of the psalmists assure us of God’s grace and mercy and remind us that God is ever present. Reflect upon these psalms and take comfort in the sovereignty and refuge of our Creator.

Psalm 23

"1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4 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.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever."

Psalm 16

“1 Keep me safe, my God,

    for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

    apart from you I have no good thing.”

3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,

    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

4 Those who run after false gods will suffer more and more.

    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods

    or take up their names on my lips.

5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;

    you make my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

    surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise God, who counsels me;

    even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

    my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,

    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 91

“1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,

    my God, in whom I trust.’

3 Surely he will save you

    from the fowler’s snare

    and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,

    and under his wings you will find refuge;

    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,

    nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

    nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

    ten thousand at your right hand,

    but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes

    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’

    and you make the Most High your dwelling,

10 no harm will overtake you,

    no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

    to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;

    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 ‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him;

    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;

    I will be with him in trouble,

    I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him

    and show him my salvation.’”

Psalm 142

“1 I cry aloud to the Lord;

    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.

2 I pour out before him my complaint;

    before him I tell my trouble.

3 When my spirit grows faint within me,

    it is you who watch over my way.

In the path where I walk

    people have hidden a snare for me.

4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;

    no one is concerned for me.

I have no refuge;

    no one cares for my life.

5 I cry to you, Lord;

    I say, 'You are my refuge,

    my portion in the land of the living.'

6 Listen to my cry,

    for I am in desperate need;

rescue me from those who pursue me,

    for they are too strong for me.

7 Set me free from my prison,

    that I may praise your name.

Then the righteous will gather about me

    because of your goodness to me.”

Encouraging Psalms for Times of Hardship

Set apart from our regular day-to-day struggles are those moments of unexpected struggle. As we grapple with grief, insecurity, upheaval, we may feel the need for encouragement more than ever. When it all feels too overwhelming, we can lift up the words of those who came before us—crying out for help from God. The Lord heard the psalmist; we can praise God assured that we are heard as well. Take heart; you are God’s beloved child.

Psalm 46

"1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease

to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the shields with fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Psalm 121

“1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—

    he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—

    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,

    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—

    he will watch over your life;

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going

    both now and forevermore.”

Psalm 118

“1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:

    ‘His love endures forever.’

3 Let the house of Aaron say:

    ‘His love endures forever.’

4 Let those who fear the Lord say:

    ‘His love endures forever.’

5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;

    he brought me into a spacious place.

6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.

    What can mere mortals do to me?

7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.

    I look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to trust in humans.

9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to trust in princes.

10 All the nations surrounded me,

    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.

11 They surrounded me on every side,

    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.

12 They swarmed around me like bees,

    but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;

    in the name of the Lord I cut them down.

13 I was pushed back and about to fall,

    but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my defense;

    he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory

    resound in the tents of the righteous:

‘The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

16     The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;

    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’

17 I will not die but live,

    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.

18 The Lord has chastened me severely,

    but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;

    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord

    through which the righteous may enter.

21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;

    you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone;

23 the Lord has done this,

    and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 The Lord has done it this very day;

    let us rejoice today and be glad.

25 Lord, save us!

    Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

    From the house of the Lord we bless you.

27 The Lord is God,

    and he has made his light shine on us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

    up to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise you;

    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever.”

Psalm 138

“1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;

    before the ‘gods’ I will sing your praise.

2 I will bow down toward your holy temple

    and will praise your name

    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,

for you have so exalted your solemn decree

    that it surpasses your fame.

3 When I called, you answered me;

    you greatly emboldened me.

4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,

    when they hear what you have decreed.

5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord,

    for the glory of the Lord is great.

6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;

    though lofty, he sees them from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

    you preserve my life.

You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;

    with your right hand you save me.

8 The Lord will vindicate me;

    your love, Lord, endures forever—

    do not abandon the works of your hands.”

Final Thoughts

No matter the season or circumstances of our lives, the psalmists encourage all the earth to give praise to our Creator. These Bible verses help guide us back to God in moments of struggle and encourage us to give thanks for the blessings we have received. The Holy Spirit is with us; we can remain confident of the steadfast unfailing love of God.

To learn more about the Book of Psalms and the rest of the wisdom literature of the Bible, take a look at the Wisdom Collection. Or consider the entire collection available from Alabaster.