100 Bible Verses about Despair

Psalm 34:17-20 ESV / 500 helpful votes

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV / 432 helpful votes

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

1 Peter 5:7 ESV / 324 helpful votes

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 247 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 15:13 ESV / 220 helpful votes

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.

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV / 201 helpful votes

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 4:19 ESV / 178 helpful votes

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 21:4 ESV / 175 helpful votes

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.”

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 173 helpful votes

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ...

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 158 helpful votes

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 156 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

2 Corinthians 4:8 ESV / 154 helpful votes

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 137 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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. ...

Joshua 1:9 ESV / 127 helpful votes

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 147:3 ESV / 123 helpful votes

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

John 5:24 ESV / 121 helpful votes

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 119 helpful votes

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Psalm 55:22 ESV / 117 helpful votes

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 106 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV / 102 helpful votes

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

James 4:7 ESV / 96 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 4:12 ESV / 94 helpful votes

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Proverbs 30:5 ESV / 87 helpful votes

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 40:1-3 ESV / 81 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 94:18-19 ESV / 69 helpful votes

When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

John 3:16 ESV / 65 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 ESV / 63 helpful votes

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ...

Isaiah 40:30-31 ESV / 63 helpful votes

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.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

John 10:10 ESV / 55 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Isaiah 61:3 ESV / 52 helpful votes

To grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 130:1-2 ESV / 49 helpful votes

A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

Psalm 43:5 ESV / 49 helpful votes

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Job 11:18-19 ESV / 47 helpful votes

And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor.

Romans 8:1 ESV / 46 helpful votes

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ESV / 44 helpful votes

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. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV / 42 helpful votes

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

John 16:33 ESV / 41 helpful votes

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 121:1-8 ESV / 40 helpful votes

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. ...

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 ESV / 39 helpful votes

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Psalm 18:1-3 ESV / 37 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 42:5 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

Matthew 6:24-34 ESV / 33 helpful votes

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ...

Matthew 12:20 ESV / 32 helpful votes

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;

Psalm 34:1-22 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. ...

Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESV / 26 helpful votes

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Psalm 42:11 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Isaiah 46:10 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Psalm 57:10 ESV / 24 helpful votes

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalm 37:23-24 ESV / 24 helpful votes

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

Psalm 34:17 ESV / 24 helpful votes

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 27:13-14 ESV / 24 helpful votes

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Exodus 14:13 ESV / 23 helpful votes

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

Luke 22:44 ESV / 22 helpful votes

And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Job 1:21 ESV / 22 helpful votes

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2 Corinthians 1:10 ESV / 21 helpful votes

He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Psalm 3:3 ESV / 21 helpful votes

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Job 2:10 ESV / 21 helpful votes

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Romans 8:37-38 ESV / 20 helpful votes

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Mark 16:16 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

James 1:2-4 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Hebrews 12:2-3 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Isaiah 46:4 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Ecclesiastes 2:20 ESV / 18 helpful votes

So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,

Psalm 32:10 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

Exodus 6:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV / 17 helpful votes

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV / 16 helpful votes

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.

Romans 8:38-39 ESV / 16 helpful votes

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:9 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

Isaiah 40:31 ESV / 15 helpful votes

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.

1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

2 Corinthians 4:1-18 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ...

Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV / 14 helpful votes

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 9:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 46:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 ESV / 13 helpful votes

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 12 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ezekiel 12:19 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it.

Ezekiel 4:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay.

Proverbs 18:10 ESV / 12 helpful votes

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

Psalm 62:5 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Psalm 13:3-6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Job 7:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope.

James 4:8 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

2 Corinthians 4:10 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Matthew 26:38 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

Matthew 11:28 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Micah 4:9-10 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pain seized you like a woman in labor? Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.

Psalm 144:14 ESV / 11 helpful votes

May our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets!

Revelation 9:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

Matthew 11:1-30 ESV / 10 helpful votes

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ...

Isaiah 60:1 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2 Corinthians 1:8 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

Psalm 71:23 ESV / 8 helpful votes

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

Suggest a Verse


Visit the Bible online to search for words if you don’t know the specific passage your’re looking for.