10 Motivational Quotes and Verses for When You’re Down

We all have those tough days when we need some words of encouragement. Here's a few to remember when life isn't going quite right!

“Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created." -Esther 4:14

I have that verse on a plaque on my desk, and it helps me to remember that even when we feel useless, we actually have a much greater purpose that we may just not understand yet. God has made us just the way we are for a reason. He is going to use us to inspire, to teach, and to love others. You may not feel like you have a reason for existence, but I assure you that you do. People notice you, even when you feel invisible.

"Don't be afraid to lose what was never meant to be."

We all have regrets. That's just a fact of life. But we don't have to live in the past and fill our minds with all the "what ifs". The truth is, what is meant for you will come in its own due time. You can't rush the process and you can't ruin the process. You aren't going to miss out on all that God has planned for you, I can promise you that.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." -Nehemiah 8:10

I have a little challenge for you. Write down ten things-- any ten things-- that you are thankful for. No matter how tough your day was, don't you feel even just a little bit better? The key here is that the way we can find joy is by being grateful to God for all that He has already done for us, from sacrificing Jesus for our sins to giving us food to eat. So when you are feeling weakened by life's demands, remember that you can still find joy in who Jesus is.

"Don't cry over the past, it's gone. Don't stress about the future, it hasn't arrived. Live in the present and make it beautiful."

I think it can be so easy to live in fear of the future or be stuck in our regrets from the past. But the truth is, the only thing we really have control over is how we spend our time in the present. So make it meaningful. Make it beautiful. Make it matter. Then you don't have to worry about the future because you will be so focused on the present. And by making the present worth living in, you won't have anything to regret.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." -Romans 15:13

What a beautiful benediction. We can receive this joy, peace, and hope through putting our trust in God. God will never fail us, even when life gets hard. It can be easy to doubt God when people pass away, our country becomes corrupt, or things just don't seem fair. But our time on Earth is so short in comparison to all eternity with Jesus. We can believe no matter what that better things are ahead.

"The key to being happy is knowing you have the power to choose what to accept and what to let go." -Dodinsky

The truth is, one of the things that steals our joy the fastest is holding onto things that are not meant for us. We have to move on in order to become who we're meant to be. We can accept the comments that help us, but let go of the criticism that was meant to harm. We can forgive someone, but then find better people to be in company with. We don't have to stay stuck forever.

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." -Psalm 23:4

You've probably heard this verse many times, but it's such a good reminder that God will never leave us. We are not alone in what we are going through. God will guide is through this difficult time in order to help us grow closer to Him. We don't have to be afraid.

"We don't grow when things are easy. We grow when we face challenges." -Nurma Clarkson

There is such great truth to this quote. A lot of times we just want to become better people by living the good life and taking it easy. But you wouldn't expect a fitness trainer to tell you to sit on the couch and watch TV all day in order to gain muscles, would you? Nor would you expect a college student to walk into class one day and hear the professor say, "You are going to master the field you're studying by playing on your phones all day!" Just like learning new things and becoming healthier, we become better people through our hard experiences.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." -Luke 12:6-7

I highly recommend Cory Asbury's song, Sparrows. That song and this verse remind us that God will take care of all our needs. We are so important to Him and we will never be forgotten. Our lives have been planned out to the finest detail. We don't have to stress about anything.

"In You I find my worth. In You I find my identity." -Lauren Daigle

I just had to include a quote by Lauren Daigle, because her songs and outlook on life never cease to inspire me! It can be so hard to remember who we are, but when we remember Whose we are, everything falls into place. God loves us unconditionally and sees us as His incredible children. When we are feeling worthless, we can remember that our identity is not found in what other people think of us, but rather in who God says we are.

I hope you found these quotes and verses encouraging! I look forward to beginning our journey together!

<3 Hannah