Let’s face it – men need encouragement. We try to act tough like we can handle everything on our own. But if we are honest, we need to be lifted up just like anyone else. So it’s a good thing there are many encouraging Bible verses for men from which we can draw inspiration.
The Bible is full of encouragement to all people. There are so many stories and verses that give us inspiration, strength and comfort in our time of need.
But are there verses that speak a little more directly to men and our issues? I think so. Men have challenges that women don’t face on the same scale or level of intensity. There is nothing wrong with that as we are all made differently. And some Bible verses may mean more to one person over another or one gender over another based on what we struggle with.
So today I’d like to highlight a few encouraging Bible verses for men that stand out to me and share a little about why they do.
Encouraging Bible Verses for Men
Genesis 2:15
“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”
This may seem like an odd place to start on a list of encouraging Bible verses for men. However, this one speaks to God’s original intent for men. God didn’t place Adam in the Garden of Eden to relax and have a party. There was work to be done. Adam was to find fulfillment and pleasure in following through with God’s plan for him.
God places all of us in a specific position (jobs) for a reason. We can find purpose where we are planted even if we may be struggling with certain aspects of our job. Even through tough circumstances we can honor God with our effort and fulfill his purpose for us to work until he moves us on to the next destination.
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
God spoke this to Joshua before he led the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Can you imagine that? Leading an entire nation into a foreign country to do battle with your enemies? And to top it off, his mentor Moses had died. Now Joshua is on his own. No wonder he felt fear.
God’s words to Joshua serve as encouragement in times of fear. God promises to be with us wherever we go, no matter what insurmountable odds we may face.
Psalms 1:1-3
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
These encouraging Bible verses for men hold such promise. For the man who rejects godlessness and follows the ways of the Lord, tremendous blessings follow.
The imagery here that describes the man who puts his delight in the Lord is powerful. Just like a giant tree, this type of man will be fruitful, steadfast, alive and thriving. He will not wither when the heat of difficult times comes.
Related Content: 15 Bible Verses to Remind Us to Be Thankful
Psalm 118:6
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
It seems there are a lot of encouraging Bible verses for men that deal with the subject of fear. Here is another one. We may feel vulnerable at certain times of our lives. Those moments can come from our own self-imposed failings and conflicts or from external forces around us. In those times, it’s comforting to know that we have an advocate, someone who will stand beside us even though all others may desert us.
In the end the Psalmist says – for those who have a relationship with the Lord – what can other men really do to us? Even if they would threaten us harm, we know our ultimate destination is in heaven, a place infinitely better than our current life on earth. The Christians of the early church recognized this and were willing to give their lives at the hands of their Roman oppressors.
Psalm 119:9
“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”
Are you mixed up in some kind of sin? Does it feel like you can’t escape the pattern of poor behaviors that are dominating your life? This Bible verse makes it clear there is hope to turn tings around. There is a path out of whatever has you trapped.
The formula for cleansing your way and turning from sin all has to do with God’s Word. This verse tells us to “take heed” to it. That means not only will you have to read it, but you will have to follow the instructions found in it. If you make that a consistent habit in your life, then sin and ungodly behaviors will slowly fade away. God’s Word has the power to turn around any life.
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
As a general rule, woman are a lot more talkative than men. Men tend to keep things inside whereas women generally feel more freedom to share with one another. This verse tells us though the power of being there for a friend. Not only is their a bonding that occurs from togetherness, but being there for a brother in Christ can uplift them, keep them accountable and makes them feel better.
Men need each other in the worst way. We tend to keep things bottled up because we don’t think anyone wants to hear or wants to help. That only leads to problems. We need to come along beside our friends who need someone to share with and be an encouragement to them. If you know someone you could reach out to, do so today.
Related Content: 8 Bible Verses About Worry for All Life Situations
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Of all the encouraging Bible verses for men, this one may be the most valuable. Men love to make plans. Everyday we dream about our plans for the future – plans for our family, for our career, for our finances and for the giant deck off the back of the house. It’s in our DNA to want to know what’s coming in the future and have a plan to guide us.
Unfortunately, our planning can get out of hand sometimes. We can become obsessed with it. When that happens we neglect the moment, miss out on opportunities in the present and disrupt the lives of those around us.
God has a plan for each of us. While it may be hard sometimes, we need to rest in His future for us. The other great thing about this verse is that God’s thoughts for us don’t include evil. Rather, they are thoughts of peace.
I Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
The Apostle Paul must have had many of us in mind when he wrote this verse. Temptations bombard us every day. We face temptations to have our own way, to gain power, to take short cuts by lying, stealing or cheating, to lust after things that we can’t have or are harmful, and to do generally anything that makes our bodies feel good. Temptations are everywhere!
It seems like the temptations never stop coming. But God is faithful this verse says. He won’t let you experience more temptation than you can handle. The best part is, with each temptation, He will provide a way out, if you will take it.
And perhaps most importantly, He will give you the strength to endure through the temptation. That’s reassuring to know because we can’t beat temptation in our own power.
I Corinthians 16:13
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”
I love short Bible verses that pack a powerful message. There are four big bullet points in this one that every man can relate to:
The verse says to “watch” – in other words, be a guardian.
It says to “stand fast” – to hold your ground and defend your faith.
We are told to “be brave” – in the face of persecution, ridicule or mockery for what we believe.
And finally, we are challenged to “be strong” – to be a rock of determination and leadership to those around us.
Related Content: 8 Bible Verses About God’s Love You Should Never Forget
II Corinthians 4:16
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”
This verse makes the encouraging Bible verses for men list because there may be nothing more emotionally demoralizing for a man than to see his body deteriorate. The physical prowess you once had in your teens and 20s will fade away as you continue to age. You may be able to stay reasonable fit but your body will become weak and perish one day. God didn’t design our physical bodies to last forever.
While the outward body experiences a decline in vitality, it’s not so with the inward man. As least that’s God’s design. We should renew our inward (spiritual) man each day. As we spend time in the Word and time in prayer, God’s spirit grows within us and our connection with Him is strengthened. The thought from this verse is similar to what Paul said in I Timothy 4:8, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
James 1:2-3
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
I don’t know any man that enjoys trials. We’d just assume life proceed at a smooth pace without any obstacles rearing their ugly head. Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) that’s not the case. Trials will come. And sometimes they come in waves that really test your faith.
God has a purpose for the trials you face. This verse clearly states the reason. It’s to produce patience in your life – patience in others, patience in yourself and patience in God. So the next time you are faced with a hefty trial, thank God for it. He’s doing a work in your life that can’t be accomplished unless you face some adversity.
James 1:19-20
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
These verses brings several hot-button issues for men to the forefront. We don’t listen the way we should. We don’t think about the things we say and how they impact others around us. And we let our emotions boil over into anger. Unfortunately, that anger in many cases causes us to do things we regret.
Could many of our problems be solved if we’d truly listen to what’s being said instead of thinking of what to say next while the other person is talking? Would we reduce conflict by holding our tongue and not letting every idle word slip out? Might we live a more peaceful life if we didn’t get angry all the time? The answer is “Yes” to all three questions.
James 5:16
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
The final of our encouraging Bible verses for men touches on the topic of prayer. It challenges us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other so there can be healing within the body of Christ. It does no good to withhold forgiveness and begrudge those who have done you wrong. This will only allow bitterness to take hold of your life. You won’t be able to move forward and live an effective, joyful life if you harbor bitterness towards others.
In the end we are told that the prayer of a righteous man “avails much.” In short, that means prayers help. Prayer is beneficial. So do it daily and seek God for everything. You may have to wait for some answers but He won’t disappoint.
Leave a Comment or Answer a Question Below: What other encouraging Bible verses for men do you have to share? How have you seen the Bible impact your life?
Thanks for sharing these inspiring bible verses. I think men in particular need guidance from the Bible more than ever in this day and age!
This is a very powerful verses for men
very powerful verses.
going through them in preparation of a men meeting
This is really good list of bible verses for men. It is awesome indeed.
Appreciate it Denise…thanks for reading!
Brian, I asked for encouraging scriptures for the adult kids/men in my step family to tuck in their Christmas stocking gifts. Thanks.
You are welcome Janis. What a cool gift…I hope it’s an encouragement to them. Have a blessed Christmas!
These have been great verses to read for encouragement this Sunday morning. Thank you Brian
Rich blessings
No problem Andrew. Glad they were a blessing…thanks for reading!
This is amazing! I have just prayed through each of the points for a specific man in my life and it has helped so much! Keep writing and encouraging God’s kingdom.
That’s awesome Harriet! So glad this was a helpful resource for you.
I am definitely sharing these with my husband!
Thanks a lot Brian.
You bet Stephie. Thanks for reading (and sharing)!
Brian, can these be copied and printed for distribution at our men’s retreat?
Absolutely…I’d be honored! I’d appreciate you just site in your literature where they came from. Thanks for reading and God bless your retreat.
Amen. I always keep coming back to your blog Brian for these wonderful uplifting Bible versus. Thanks.
Great article Brian, I couldn’t wait to share this with my husband and all of the men I know. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for reading and sharing Dani! Praying that it brings hope and encouragement to those with whom you share.