Push From God

Bible verses for strength

Isaiah 40:31 is the one people mean: those who wait for the LORD renew their strength, mount up with wings like eagles, run and not be weary. What's easy to miss is the order — the waiting comes first, and the strength is described as borrowed rather than summoned. Nearly every passage below works the same way, which is why they're more use to an exhausted person than a motivational quote is.

14 passages · World English Bible & King James · public domain

  1. but those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.Isaiah 40:31 · World English Bible

    Note the order: waiting, then strength. It's described as renewed rather than produced, which is a relief if you have none left.

    King James

    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.

  2. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.Philippians 4:13 · World English Bible

    Read the verses either side. Paul is talking about coping with plenty and with nothing — this is about contentment under pressure, not achievement.

    King James

    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

  3. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Psalms 46:1 · World English Bible

    Refuge and strength in the same breath: somewhere to hide, and something to stand on.

    King James

    God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

  4. He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.2 Corinthians 12:9 · World English Bible

    The uncomfortable, useful one. The strength turns up in the weakness rather than replacing it.

    King James

    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  5. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”Nehemiah 8:10 · World English Bible

    Said to people weeping over how far things had gone wrong. Joy as a source of strength, not a reward for having it.

    King James

    Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

  6. The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.Psalms 28:7 · World English Bible

    The order here is worth noticing: helped first, then the heart catches up, then the singing.

    King James

    The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

  7. The LORD is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.Exodus 15:2 · World English Bible

    Sung on the far side of the Red Sea. This is what strength sounds like in hindsight.

    King James

    The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

  8. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.Ephesians 6:10 · World English Bible

    Be strong in the Lord — the strength is located somewhere other than in you, which is the whole point.

    King James

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

  9. The LORD, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.Habakkuk 3:19 · World English Bible

    The end of a book that spends most of its length complaining to God. High places, on feet that were never built for them.

    King James

    The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

  10. My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.Psalms 73:26 · World English Bible

    Written by someone watching his own body and resolve give out, and finding the floor lower than he expected.

    King James

    My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

  11. Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!1 Corinthians 16:13 · World English Bible

    Four short imperatives. Useful on a day when you need instructions rather than comfort.

    King James

    Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

  12. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them, for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”Deuteronomy 31:6 · World English Bible

    Said to a whole nation on the edge of something frightening. The strength and the company arrive together.

    King James

    Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

  13. the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?Psalms 18:32 · World English Bible

    Two halves: the strength, and then a level place to put it. Both matter.

    King James

    It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

  14. Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.Isaiah 41:10 · World English Bible

    Four promises stacked in one verse, none of them conditional on how you're holding up.

    King James

    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.

Borrowed strength, not manufactured strength

There's a version of this list that reads like a gym poster, and it misses what these verses actually say. Philippians 4:13 is written by a man explaining how he has learned to cope with having plenty and having nothing — it is about contentment under pressure, not achievement. 2 Corinthians 12:9 goes further and says the strength shows up precisely where the weakness is. If you came here running on empty, that's the one to sit with.

When strength means 'keep going', not 'feel powerful'

Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 73:26 and Habakkuk 3:19 are all written by people in genuinely bad situations. None of them promise the situation improves. They promise footing — which, on the days you need this page, is usually the more useful offer.

What this looks like on a phone

Push From God sends one of these when it fits what you've told it about your week — not on a schedule you have to keep up with.

Push From God5:58 AM

For the fourth week of this

but those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

You said you're running on fumes. This one puts the waiting before the strength on purpose.

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Questions

What is the best Bible verse for strength?

Isaiah 40:31 is the most quoted: those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint. For strength in weakness specifically, 2 Corinthians 12:9 is the passage — my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

What does Philippians 4:13 actually mean?

In context, Paul is describing how he has learned to be content whether well fed or hungry, with plenty or in need. 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' is about enduring both extremes, not about achieving any goal you set.

Which Bible verse helps when you feel weak?

2 Corinthians 12:9, where God's power is described as being made perfect in weakness, and Psalm 73:26, which acknowledges flesh and heart failing while calling God the strength of the heart.

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