Powerful Bible verses about strength and courage (With Biblical Commentary)

Strength and courage are recurring themes in the Bible, reflecting the human need for resilience in the face of challenges and adversity. These virtues are often intertwined with faith, as believers draw strength from their relationship with God. This compilation of 30 Bible verses about strength and courage, accompanied by detailed commentaries, aims to explore the multifaceted nature of these virtues as portrayed in Scripture.

Bible verses about strength and courage

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV):

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

Isaiah 41:10 offers assurance and encouragement. It emphasizes that divine strength and assistance are available to those who trust in God, alleviating fear and dismay.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV):

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13 is a declaration of empowerment through Christ. It underscores the believer’s ability to navigate challenges with Christ’s strength as an unwavering source.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV):

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 highlights the intertwined nature of strength, courage, and God’s presence. It assures believers that God is a constant companion in their journey.

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV):

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 reinforces the divine command to be strong and courageous. It serves as a reminder that God’s presence nullifies fear and provides a foundation for courage.

Psalm 27:1 (NKJV):

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 expresses unwavering confidence in God as a source of strength and salvation. It prompts believers to question the legitimacy of fear when anchored in the Lord’s strength.

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV):

“But those who wait on 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.”

Isaiah 40:31 illustrates the symbiotic relationship between waiting on the Lord and gaining renewed strength. It paints a vivid picture of the transformative power of divine strength.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV):

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

1 Corinthians 16:13 issues a call to spiritual vigilance and fortitude. It encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, displaying bravery and strength.

Psalm 18:32 (NKJV):

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”

Psalm 18:32 acknowledges God as the provider of strength and the orchestrator of a perfect path. It reflects trust in God’s guidance and empowerment.

2 Samuel 22:33 (NKJV):

“God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect.”

2 Samuel 22:33 echoes the sentiment of relying on God’s strength and attributes all power to Him. It emphasizes the perfection found in following God’s way.

Psalm 28:7 (NKJV):

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I will praise Him.”

Psalm 28:7 intertwines trust, help, and rejoicing in the context of God being the source of strength. It highlights the natural response of praise when anchored in God’s strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV):

“…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10 introduces the concept of deriving strength from the joy found in the Lord. It suggests that a joyous connection with God fuels inner strength.

Ephesians 6:10 (NKJV):

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

Ephesians 6:10 emphasizes strength derived from being anchored in the Lord and tapping into His mighty power. It frames spiritual strength as an essential component of Christian living.

Psalm 31:24 (NKJV):

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Psalm 31:24 pairs courage with the strengthening of the heart through hope in the Lord. It underlines the interconnectedness of courage and hope in the context of divine strength.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV):

“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!”

1 Chronicles 16:11 advocates for an ongoing pursuit of the Lord’s strength through seeking His presence continually. It portrays strength as a continuous outcome of seeking God.

Psalm 73:26 (NKJV):

“My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Psalm 73:26 candidly acknowledges human frailty but juxtaposes it with the enduring strength derived from God. It frames God as the eternal source of strength.

Bible verses about strength and courage

Psalm 138:3 (NKJV):

“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.”

Psalm 138:3 recounts a personal experience of receiving strength in response to prayer. It highlights the soul-transforming power of God’s strength.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV):

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

2 Timothy 1:7 contrasts fear with the attributes bestowed by God—power, love, and a sound mind. It encourages believers to embrace their divine endowment of strength.

Psalm 119:28 (NKJV):

“My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:28 portrays a soul burdened with heaviness seeking strength through God’s Word. It underscores the transformative power of scriptural reinforcement.

Colossians 1:11 (NKJV):

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.”

Colossians 1:11 links divine strength to the capacity for patience and longsuffering, emphasizing the holistic empowerment provided by God’s glorious power.

Psalm 118:14 (NKJV):

“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”

Psalm 118:14 intertwines strength, song, and salvation, encapsulating the multifaceted role of the Lord in the believer’s life. It echoes gratitude for God’s comprehensive deliverance.

1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV):

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

1 Peter 5:10 acknowledges suffering while expressing confidence in God’s transformative work—perfecting, establishing, strengthening, and settling believers through His grace.

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV):

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Psalm 119:105 introduces the illuminating power of God’s Word, suggesting that divine guidance contributes to inner strength by lighting the believer’s path.

Psalm 144:1 (NKJV):

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

Psalm 144:1 metaphorically portrays the Lord as a Rock providing military training. It signifies preparation and empowerment for facing life’s battles with divine strength.

Psalm 138:7 (NKJV):

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.”

Psalm 138:7 acknowledges the reality of trouble but expresses confidence in God’s reviving and saving power. It reinforces the theme of strength amid challenges.

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV):

“Yea, 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.”

Psalm 23:4 illustrates courage derived from the comforting presence of God in the midst of life’s darkest valleys. It underscores the transformative effect of divine companionship.

Psalm 34:10 (NKJV):

“The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

Psalm 34:10 draws a contrast between natural lack and the abundance promised to those who seek the Lord. It implies that seeking God leads to a sustaining strength.

Psalm 29:11 (NKJV):

“The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.”

Psalm 29:11 connects divine strength with the subsequent blessing of peace. It emphasizes that God’s strength brings not only empowerment but also tranquility.

Psalm 18:39 (NKJV):

“For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”

Psalm 18:39 envisions God arming the believer with strength for spiritual battles. It portrays divine strength as a weapon against adversarial forces.

Psalm 138:8 (NKJV):

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.”

Psalm 138:8 expresses confidence in God’s ongoing work and the perfection of matters concerning the believer. It affirms God’s enduring mercy as a foundation for strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NKJV):

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 encapsulates the paradoxical strength found in weakness through reliance on God’s grace. It encourages believers to embrace their vulnerabilities as opportunities for Christ’s power to manifest.

Conclusion: This compilation of 30 Bible verses about strength and courage, accompanied by detailed commentaries, offers a profound exploration of these virtues in the context of faith and reliance on God. From the assurance of divine presence to the transformative power of God’s Word, these verses provide a comprehensive guide for believers seeking strength and courage in the midst of life’s challenges.

They underscore the interconnectedness of spiritual fortitude, trust in God, and the transformative work of His power in the lives of those who seek Him.

Read: Powerful Bible verses about joy and peace (With Biblical Commentary)

10 Disciplines of a Godly Pastor