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5 Scriptures for When You Feel Discouraged

Scriptures can give us strength and peace when we are weary

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Let's be honest, 2020 has been a difficult year for many of us. Then, you add school and homework and tests on top of that, and it can be easy to feel tired or discouraged, uncertain or disappointed. But these emotions are the thieves of joy and progress. As we remember our Savior and the blessings He has promised in the scriptures, we can see our divine worth and receive help during these challenging times.

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Scriptures can give us strength in difficult times.
Elder Richard G. Scott shared, “Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life.” 1
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Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Oct. 2011, 6
Through scripture, Heavenly Father offers us these blessings, as well as inspiration and encouragement. Here are five scriptures that illustrate His love for us.

God is always listening

“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am” ( Isaiah 58:9 ).

We can have constant, instantaneous communication with Heavenly Father, who is always available to us. He is always listening. To receive comfort and guidance from our Father, we simply need to reach out to Him — through prayer, scripture study, or by inviting the Spirit into our lives.

Our burdens will be lifted

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” ( Matthew 11:28 ).

Sometimes in courses, we work hard on assignments, study earnestly for exams, and still don’t get the grade we want. Or, in the midst of school, we have other heavy burdens to carry. This can be rightfully difficult and disappointing, but Heavenly Father offers peace as we exercise faith in His plan for us (in His own timing and way), continue to work hard, and pray to Him.

We are never alone

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“Be strong and of a good courage.”

“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” ( Joshua 1:9 ).

When we experience challenges, it’s natural to feel alone in our suffering — but that’s not the case! Heavenly Father is always with us, wherever we are. And His Son, our Savior, went through the Atonement so He could understand us and our trials perfectly, so we need never feel alone. When we feel stress or worry, we can turn to the gospel for guidance and strength in order to tackle our troubles with faith.

God will support us

“For I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day”( Alma 36:3 ).

Wanting to put all our trust in Heavenly Father can be a hard thing to do when we experience setbacks, especially when we can’t see the outcome. But we can have confidence that God will support us in our trials and afflictions. When we trust in Him, we will be blessed.

Receiving peace with faith

“Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him” ( 1 Nephi 7:12 ).

two women reading their scriptures
Scriptures can restore our confidence.

Holding onto our faith during challenging times can bring us peace. God has said that He can do all things if we exercise faith in Him, which includes offering us comfort during fearful or discouraging events in our lives. As we study the scriptures and pray to our Heavenly Father, our faith can become strong and we will have greater strength to overcome our challenges.

The power of scripture

Challenges are an integral part of life. But Heavenly Father has given us several defenses we need to come out on top, including the scriptures. It's His way to communicate with us and give us rest from our hardships. When we study scriptures daily, God can provide guidance and comfort.

As Elder Richard G. Scott said, they can restore our confidence and offer peace and hope to our souls.