25 Bible Verses to Turn to When You Need a Pick-Me-Up

In today’s crazy culture and corrupt world, people often tend to feel anxious, worried, and even depressed about the latest news story or stressful situations at work or home. Fortunately, as authentic Catholics we can always turn to our Lord when we are experiencing unsettling times not only to receive a quick pick-me-up in the moment but to be given an abiding sense of peace that comes with His calming presence. 

Recall how the Apostles cried out to Jesus when they were terrified that a storm would sink their boat, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” Jesus calmly replied, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” He can do the same to settle us during the storms in our personal lives. 

Scripture gives us many comforting, reassuring words from Jesus, prophets, and future Saints that speak to us in times of anxiety or sadness. Following are 25 such passages. You might want to highlight them in your Bible or stick post-it notes on the pages in which they appear so you can easily turn to them the next time you fret over personal finances, political events, world conflicts, struggles at work, or family problems: 

1.  Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
2.  Isaiah 35:4 – “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
3.  Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
4. Isaiah 41:10 – “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.”
5. Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.”
6. Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
7. 1 Samuel 12:24 – “Fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.”
8. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “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.”
9. Proverbs 12:25 – “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
10. Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
11. Psalm 23:1-6 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
12. Psalm 27:14 – “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”
13. Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”
14. Psalm 34:17 – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.”
15. Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
16. Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”
17. Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
18. Psalm 94:19 – “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
19. Psalm 105:1-5 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!”
20. Matthew 6:25-34 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 
21. Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
22. John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
23. Philippians 4:6-9, 13 – “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. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things…. and the God of peace shall be with you…I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.”
24. Hebrews 13:5-6 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”
25. Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”