Discouragement creeps in quietly, usually after the battle rather than before it, whispering that the labor has all been in vain. Scripture answers with David, who encouraged himself in the LORD when everything was lost, and with a promise that well-doing has a harvest. These verses are for the heavy-hearted who are tempted to quit just short of it.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
See also: Isaiah 40:31 · Psalms 31:24 · Isaiah 30:18 · Psalms 37:34
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
See also: 1 Corinthians 15:58 · 2 Thessalonians 3:13 · Isaiah 40:30 · Hebrews 10:35
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. cast: Heb. bowed praise: or, give thanks for the...: or, his presence is salvation
See also: Psalms 37:7 · Hebrews 10:36 · Psalms 61:2 · Matthew 1:23
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
See also: Genesis 28:15 · Jeremiah 1:7 · Psalms 27:1 · Joshua 1:6
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
See also: Joshua 1:9 · Isaiah 43:1 · Romans 8:31 · Deuteronomy 31:6
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; in despair: or, altogether without help, or, means 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
See also: James 1:2 · Romans 8:35 · 1 Peter 4:12 · 2 Corinthians 12:10
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
See also: 2 Corinthians 5:7 · Romans 8:18 · Romans 8:24 · 1 Peter 5:10
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
See also: Psalms 27:14 · Psalms 146:5 · Colossians 1:11 · Isaiah 35:3
8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
See also: Exodus 33:14 · Deuteronomy 31:6 · Joshua 1:9 · Romans 8:31
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. unto...: Heb. to the broken of heart of a contrite...: Heb. contrite of spirit
See also: Psalms 147:3 · Psalms 145:18 · Isaiah 57:15 · Isaiah 61:1
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. renew: Heb. change
See also: Lamentations 3:25 · 2 Corinthians 4:16 · Psalms 27:13 · Psalms 103:5
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
See also: John 14:27 · 1 John 5:4 · 2 Thessalonians 3:16 · 1 John 4:4
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. grieved: Heb. bitter
See also: Psalms 56:3 · Psalms 56:11 · Psalms 62:5 · Psalms 27:1
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
See also: 1 Chronicles 28:20 · Zechariah 8:9 · Joshua 1:9 · Deuteronomy 31:23
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: perform: or, finish
See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 · Philippians 2:13 · Ephesians 4:12 · Hebrews 13:20
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. strength: Heb. rock
See also: 2 Corinthians 12:9 · Isaiah 40:29 · Psalms 138:3 · Psalms 18:2