If you are in leadership, hard times will come, testing your resilience and decision-making abilities like never before. During these challenging periods, I believe true leaders are forged. They gain muscles emotionally and spiritually as they navigate the complexities of their roles while providing guidance and support to others. Embracing adversity not only helps in personal growth but also strengthens your bonds with those you lead. Still, I was thinking about how hard it can be to stay positive and encouraged, which is why I wrote this post on spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times—just for you!
I think the best spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times come at the right time and from people you respect.
So what do you do? But first, I’ll tell you after I share how I organized this blog post.
Table of Contents -“Spiritual Words of Encouragement and Strength in Hard Times”
Why this article?
Because hard times will come. There is no doubt about it. They will come to you and to those around you.
Also, I think life can easily empty you and drain you. You may wonder if your labor is in vain or if you are actually making a difference.
My purpose for writing this is to provide spiritual encouragement and biblical principles.
If you are not into the Bible, click the little “X” near the top right of the screen and close this tab.
Okay.
I know that by exploring scriptural teachings, I aim to inspire you to embrace your roles in the Kingdom and in life with purpose and responsibility.
The Bible is our source of strength,encouragement, and it has the power to transform and energize you in a way nothing else can!
Through practical applications of the principles I present, you will be empowered to navigate your challenges with grace, resilience, and Godly wisdom.
I initially wrote this directed as leaders.
“But, Terri, I am not a leader!”
I respond saying, “Yes, you are!”
If nothing else, you are a leader in your home, or at the very least, you are the leader of yourself!
Or at least you should be.
So, let’s begin with what God says about you. Yeah, you…The leader.
What God says about a good leader…I still say you are one!
When I think about leadership, I believe Moses in the Bible was an excellent example.
Number 12:3 says Moses was humble and caring.
The Bible says:
“…Moses was very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth.)”
He also embodied compassion.
In the same chapter, he cried out for the Lord to have mercy on his sister Miriam after she had spoken against Moses and his Black wife to Aaron. The Lord smote her with illness, and Moses, in his compassion, cried out, “Moses cried out to the Lord (in verse 13), saying, “God, heal her, please!”
In scripture, leaders are called to care rather than dominate.
Moses could have easily just left his sister to suffer. After all, she sort of had it coming.
But he didn’t. He interceded. He advocated. That is God’s kind of leader.
What is an inspiring Bible verse for leaders?
I’ve said it once, and I will say it again: scriptures are the best, most potent spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times.
The Word of God never falls short of what the Lord wants it to accomplish.
Ordinary human, earthly words have very little strength of their own. However, the words from the Bible, inspired by God, hold a special significance as they are promises meant to uplift and guide. They serve as a comforting reminder of the covenant we share with God.
One verse that comes to mind is in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”
It reminds you that your leadership is rooted in servanthood. You are a servant to Jesus and to the people you lead.
That should take some of the pressure off you as you ultimately realize that God is accountable for the results – not you. Your job is to serve and lean on the Lord.
God loves you so much.
He is real and is a very present Help in your time of trouble. Turn to Him in your time of despair and exhaustion.
Now for scriptures to provide spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.Psalm 9:10
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.Psalm 34:17–18
Note: if you are a Christian and have simply accepted Jesus as your Savior, that alone makes you righteous.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,Psalm 46:1–2
Encourage yourself
Every single day, remind yourself you can get through this leadership experience. Whatever is going on, maintain your servant posture and encourage yourself with scripture.
When you need spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times turn to the Lord. He is the best Encourager imaginable! He will meet you right where you are..
Again, God can carry you through anything that comes your way.
Do you journal?
I hope so! It can be so healing to journal your thoughts. You might even find that the spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times you need will flow from your very pen.
A journal can be a brain dump, but it can also be a way to speak to yourself in an encouraging way. Here is a suggestion.
Find a scripture in Psalms that encourages you and reminds you of God’s faithfulness.
Then, personalize that scripture and write encouraging notes to yourself in your journal, just like you would for a friend. Take the scripture below (Yes, those are supposed to be hearts in my Bible. Don’t judge. haha)
Seriously, consider the scripture below. It is a perfect example of spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times!
To personalize it in your journal, you can write something like below:
A Reflection/Journal Activity: Remembering God’s Faithfulness
The goal of the activity:
Journaling provides an opportunity for spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times .
Reflecting on past experiences the Lord has brought you through, you will build faith and trust in God in the current season.
Materials Needed:
- Journal or notebook
- Pen or pencil
- Bible
- Quiet space for reflection
Steps:
- Preparation:
Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can reflect without interruptions. -
Prayer for Guidance:
Begin confidently with a prayer, asking God to direct your thoughts through the Holy Spirit and remind you of all the times He’s proven His faithfulness.
You might pray something like this:
“Lord Jesus, as I take this moment to reflect on Your unwavering faithfulness, please open my heart and mind. Help me recall the times when You guided me through challenges and fortify my faith in You. Amen.” - Scripture Reading:
Read a passage from the Bible that speaks about God’s faithfulness.
Consider Psalm 77:11-12: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” - Reflect on Past Challenges:
Think about specific hard times in your life when you felt overwhelmed or defeated.
Write down these experiences in your journal.
Be detailed about what you were feeling and the circumstances you were facing. - Identify God’s Intervention:
Reflect on how God brought you through each of these situations.
Consider the following questions and write your responses:
- How did God provide for you during this time?
- What prayers did He answer?
- Who did He place in your life to support and encourage you?
- What lessons did you learn from this experience?
- Express Gratitude and Praise to the Lord:
Write a prayer of gratitude for each situation you wrote down.
Thank God for His faithfulness and for the ways He has shown His love and provision in your life. - Build Future Faith:
Consider the current challenges you are facing.
Reflect on how remembering God’s past faithfulness can help you trust Him with your present struggles.
Write down your thoughts and any insights you gain. I recommend you free-write. This is just a brain and spirit dump. Don’t worry about punctuation, how words sound, or whether or not they fit together. Just write. Empty your spirit on God’s faithfulness and how He will bring you through this season. - Closing Prayer for this spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times:
End your reflection with a prayer, asking God to help you trust Him more fully in your current and future challenges.
You might pray something like:
“Lord, thank You for the ways You have faithfully guided me through past difficulties. Help me to remember Your goodness and to trust You with my current struggles. I trust you in all I am going through. Encourage me and comfort me through the Holy Spirit. Strengthen my faith and help me to lean on You in all circumstances. Amen.”
Looking back will help you move forward. In your journal, you’ll likely find you will generate organic personal words of encouragement for hard times. You’ll be able to reflect on those words in the future.
Some more spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times
Okay, here are more things you can say to yourself as you go through a really rough time in your leadership journey.
Ready? Let’s go!
- “It may not feel like it, but this will strengthen me.” This hard time is like an emotional and spiritual gym working out your faith and resilience muscles!
- “This will help others because one day I will tell people how I made it through this, and that will help them get through whatever comes their way.”
- “I have people who care for me and will be there for me.”
- “I am loved unconditionally by the Lord.”
- “I am and will be okay.”
- “How can I focus on myself and my mental health right now.”
- “Am I eating properly?”
Let’s talk about your brain and spiritual words of encouragement and strength in hard times
Words of encouragement for these challenging times have some physical implications.
If you are feeling stuck in the drudgery or stress of your leadership, shift your thinking from negative to positive. Activate your faith.
Research says you can re-program your brain to be positive. The Bible says it in a different way. See below:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Understanding and addressing common negative thinking patterns is essential for reprograming your brain to be positive in hard times.
Research says our brain has a “negativity bias,” meaning it tends to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones. Isn’t it wild? Of course, you can feel defeated if you allow your brain to lean toward the unpleasant for faithless outcomes.
We have to fight the urge.
I know for a fact with practice, we can train our brains to adopt a more positive outlook through various techniques.
As a pastor’s wife, I have force myself to think positively when I get bad news or someone is struggling at church.
I try to be “present” in the moment.
When I’m overwhelmed, I am learning to focus on what I know and what is in front of me.
Some call this practicing mindfulness, which involves maintaining awareness of our immediate thoughts and feelings without judgment.
For eample, is someone I love is having marrige problems or an illness, I do not assump the future is going to be catastrophic. I stay in the present.
This practice helps decrease worry and promotes positive thinking.
Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine, such as Christian meditation on scripture or prompted awareness, can be beneficial. Source
Another strategy is challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones.
Hey, did you know you cannot think of two things at once?
It’s true.
Right this minute: Try NOT to think about a bowl of ice cream and elephants.
You can’t … unless you think of ice cream on the elephant.
For instance, when you catch yourself thinking negatively, ask yourself if that thought is really true or helpful. Sometimes, we listen to lies of the enmey or we, in our negative mindset beleive our own lies.
When the negative thoughts come, replace them with faith-filled positive ones.
This technique, known as “cognitive restructuring,” can help shift your mindset towards more productive thoughts.
Using scripture or what researchers call positive affirmations can reinforce positive thinking and counter negative self-talk (Source).
Lastly, understanding what triggers your negative thoughts.
When you know, these triggers and are aware of them, you can find ways to adapt mid-stream..
You need to stay positive as a leader because negativity helps no one!
Recapping and Concluding
Okay. I’ve said a lot.
So, let me review what we can do to encourage ourselves in our hard times.
Hard times will come in leadership.
Words alone won’t encourage you. But spiritually fueled by the Bible, words can move mountains in your life!
God loves you so much.
Remember that you can get through wha to crave encouragement.
You’ve got this! You’re resilient and will bounce back.
I also introduced an activity you can do to reflect on God’s past interventions in your life. The many, many times He bought you through things you were convinced would break you.
Finally, I shared how you can replace thoughts when you feel yourself veering toward negativity. I also gave you some fancy academic sources to prove I’m not drunk on honey wine spouting foolishness.
Listen, you will get through this trial.
Please hang in here, my dear.
I will do the same. We got this because God’s got us!
