Encouraging Scriptures for Journaling

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There is something deeply powerful about putting pen to paper. Something shifts when we slow down, quiet the noise of our daily lives, and allow ourselves to sit with God’s Word in a meaningful way. If you have ever felt drawn to journaling but weren’t sure where to start or if you’ve journaled before but it started to feel routine, Scripture-based journaling might be exactly what your spiritual life needs right now.

This isn’t about perfection. It isn’t about writing beautifully or journaling for hours on end. It’s about creating a sacred space between you and God, one word at a time. In this post, I’ve put together a collection of encouraging Scriptures organized by theme to help guide your journaling journey. Whether you’re going through a difficult season, seeking peace, or simply wanting to draw closer to God, there is a verse here waiting for you.

Why Scripture Journaling Works

We live in a world that constantly pulls our attention. Our phones buzz, our to-do lists grow, and our minds race from one thing to the next. Journaling offers us an invitation to slow down, and when we pair that practice with Scripture, we create an opportunity to let God’s Word sink deeper into our hearts and minds.

When we read a verse quickly and move on, it often doesn’t stay with us. But when we write it down, reflect on it, and sit with its meaning, something changes. The act of writing engages our minds in a way that simply reading does not. It forces us to slow our pace, consider each word, and think about what God might be saying to us in that moment.

There is also something beautiful about keeping a written record of your walk with God. Over time, your journal becomes a testimony — a collection of moments where you felt His presence, His peace, or His guidance. On hard days, you can look back through those pages and be reminded that God has been faithful before, and He will be faithful again.

Scripture journaling isn’t a replacement for reading your Bible or spending time in prayer. It’s a companion to those practices, a way to make them more intentional and personal.

How to Use These Scriptures in Your Journal

One of the best things about Scripture journaling is that there is no single “right” way to do it. The goal is simply to engage with God’s Word in a way that feels meaningful to you. Here are a few approaches you might try:

Copy the verse. Simply write out the Scripture by hand. There is something grounding about the act of handwriting, and it slows you down in a way that typing cannot. As you write, let each word settle in your heart.

Reflect and respond. After writing the verse, spend a few minutes journaling about what it means to you. What stands out? Why does this verse feel important in your life right now? What is God trying to teach you through it?

Write a prayer. Let the Scripture inspire a prayer. You might thank God for the promise in the verse, ask Him to help you trust in it, or simply talk to Him about what you’re feeling in that moment.

Apply it to your life. Think about how this verse connects to something you’re currently experiencing. How can you carry this truth with you today? What might it look like to live out this Scripture in a practical way?

Feel free to mix and match these approaches, or create your own. The most important thing is that you show up, even if it’s just for five minutes.

Encouraging Scriptures for Your Journal

The following verses have been organized by theme to help you find exactly what you need in any given season. Each theme represents a different area of encouragement, and each verse is a gift from God meant to uplift, comfort, and strengthen you.

Hope

Hope is one of the greatest gifts we can cling to, especially when life feels uncertain. These verses remind us that God’s plans for us are good and that He never abandons us, even when it feels like He has.

Romans 8:28 – This verse assures us that God works all things together for our good when we love Him and are called according to His purpose. It doesn’t promise that every moment will be easy, but it promises that nothing in our lives is wasted.

Jeremiah 29:11 – God’s plans for us are to prosper and not to harm, to give us a future and a hope. This is one of the most encouraging verses to journal with during times of uncertainty, because it reminds us that God sees our future even when we cannot.

Lamentations 3:22–23 – The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies are new every single morning. What a beautiful truth to write down and return to again and again.

2 Corinthians 5:1 – This verse offers hope beyond what we can see, reminding us that we have an eternal home waiting for us. It’s a wonderful verse to journal with when grief or loss feels heavy.

Psalm 40:1–3 – A beautiful reminder that even when we feel stuck in the deepest pit, God hears our cry and lifts us out. It is a testament to His faithfulness and patience with us.

Strength

There will be days when we feel weak, overwhelmed, or completely drained. These verses remind us that God’s strength lives within us and that we do not have to face anything alone.

Philippians 4:13 – We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. This is not a verse about relying on our own ability — it is a declaration that with God, nothing is impossible.

Isaiah 40:31 – Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. This verse is a reminder that strength often comes not through striving but through trusting and waiting on God.

Joshua 1:9 – God commands us to be strong and courageous, and He promises that He will be with us wherever we go. Journal with this verse when fear feels louder than faith.

2 Corinthians 12:9 – God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. This is a deeply liberating truth — we do not have to be strong on our own. In our vulnerability, God shows up in the most powerful way.

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Write this verse down and let it anchor you when the storms of life feel too strong to bear.

God’s Love

At the center of everything is this truth: God loves us. These verses explore the depth, the breadth, and the unchanging nature of that love.

Romans 8:38–39 – Nothing — not life, not death, not angels, not demons, not anything in all of creation — can separate us from the love of God. This is one of the most powerful verses to meditate on and journal about during dark seasons.

1 John 4:8 – God is love. These three words carry the weight of an entire theology. Journaling with this verse can help us understand that love is not just something God does — it is who He is.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. This is perhaps the most familiar verse in all of Scripture, but it never loses its power. Write it out slowly and let its meaning wash over you anew.

Zephaniah 3:17 – God rejoices over us with singing. He calms us with His love. He takes great delight in us. This is an incredibly tender verse to sit with in your journal.

Psalm 136:1 – Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. The repetitive nature of this psalm makes it a perfect verse to write out as a meditative exercise.

Peace

In a world that is constantly loud and chaotic, peace can feel elusive. These verses are an invitation to release your grip and let God carry what is too heavy for you to hold.

Philippians 4:6–7 – Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, present your concerns to God through prayer and thanksgiving. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds.

Isaiah 26:3 – God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him. This verse is a gentle nudge to turn our minds toward God rather than toward our worries.

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives. This is Jesus’ own promise of peace — one that is deeper and more lasting than anything the world can offer.

Romans 5:1 – Because we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God. This verse reminds us that peace is not something we earn — it is a gift given to us through Christ.

Psalm 23:1–4 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. There is an unmatched comfort in these words.

Identity & Worth

So often, we measure our worth by what we do, what others think of us, or what we accomplish. But God sees us differently. These verses remind us of who we truly are in His eyes.

Psalm 139:13–14 – You have knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Journal with this verse as an act of gratitude for the life God has given you — exactly as you are.

Ephesians 2:10 – We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. You were made with purpose. That purpose matters.

1 Peter 2:9 – You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. You are not an afterthought. You are chosen by God for something meaningful.

Colossians 3:12 – Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. This verse reminds us not only of who we are, but of how God invites us to live.

Jeremiah 1:5 – Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. God has always known you — before you were born, before you made any mistakes, before you doubted yourself. He knows you completely, and He loves you still.

Gratitude

Gratitude is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines we can practice. When we journal with a grateful heart, we align ourselves with the truth that God is good, even when our circumstances are not.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. This doesn’t mean we give thanks for everything painful — it means we can find gratitude even in the hardest seasons.

Psalm 100:1–2 – Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Let this verse inspire a grateful prayer in your journal.

Colossians 3:15–17 – Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, and let the word of Christ dwell among you richly. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Philippians 4:8 – Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. This verse is a wonderful prompt for a gratitude list in your journal.

James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. When you journal with this verse, consider the gifts in your life — both big and small — and thank God for each one.

Healing & Comfort

If you are hurting, emotionally, physically, or spiritually, know that God sees your pain. He does not look away from it. These verses are for the moments when you need to feel held.

Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Write this verse out and let it be a declaration of God’s presence in your pain.

Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Jesus does not dismiss our grief — He blesses it. He promises that comfort will come.

Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. If you are broken, God is not far away. He is close — closer than you might feel.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we may comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. This verse holds the promise of a future where all sorrow is made right.

Faith & Trust in God

Ultimately, Scripture journaling is an exercise in faith. It is a practice of saying, “I trust you, God”, even when we cannot see the full picture. These verses invite us into that trust.

Proverbs 3:5–6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Matthew 6:33–34 – 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.

Isaiah 54:10 – Though the mountains may shake and the hills may be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not shake, and my covenant of peace will not be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is the very definition of faith, and journaling with it can help us hold onto that confidence even when doubt creeps in.

Psalm 22:24 – For He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from Him but has listened to His cry for help. God hears us. He listens. He does not turn away.

Tips for Making Scripture Journaling a Habit

Starting a new habit can feel daunting, but Scripture journaling doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple tips to help you get started and keep going.

Start small. You don’t need to journal for an hour. Even five minutes a day can make a difference. Pick one verse, write it out, and spend a few moments reflecting on it. That’s enough.

Find a consistent time and place. Whether it’s first thing in the morning with your coffee or in the quiet of the evening before bed, having a routine helps. When journaling becomes part of your rhythm, it becomes easier to show up for it.

Let go of perfection. Your journal doesn’t need to be beautiful. Your handwriting doesn’t need to be neat. Your reflections don’t need to be profound. This is a conversation with God, not a performance. Show up as you are.

Keep your journal somewhere visible. A simple reminder, like your journal sitting on your nightstand or kitchen counter, can be all it takes to nudge you back to the practice on days when life gets busy.

Closing

You don’t need to have it all figured out to start journaling with Scripture. You don’t need to be in a perfect place spiritually or emotionally. You just need to show up with an open heart and a willingness to listen.

Scripture journaling is a gift you give to yourself and to your relationship with God. It is a quiet, sacred practice that says, “I want to know You better. I want to let Your Word sink into my life.” And in that simple act, God meets you right where you are.

So grab your journal, pick a verse that speaks to your heart, and begin. You might be surprised at what God has to say to you today.

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