There is a difference between words spoken from comfort and words spoken from the middle of something hard. The first kind sounds right. The second kind reaches something. The religious leaders, saints, theologians, and ordinary believers whose quotes have outlasted the centuries were almost universally people who encountered difficulty, doubt, suffering, or the long slow test of a faith that had to hold through circumstances that made holding difficult. Their words were not crafted in a quiet study by someone whose faith had never cost anything — they were forged in the specific, personal, often painful experience of choosing to believe when belief was not the easy option. That is what makes them worth returning to, long after the person who said them is gone.
That’s exactly what this collection of religious inspirational quotes is here to offer. You’ll find the best quotes from saints and theologians, pastors and poets, reformers and ordinary believers across traditions — on faith in the darkness, hope in the long wait, love as a daily practice, suffering as a teacher, grace as the only real foundation, and the God who has never once abandoned a person who chose to keep believing in Him despite every reasonable argument for doing otherwise. Read them when your own faith feels thin and let someone else’s tested words hold you until yours returns. Share them with someone in the middle of something hard. Write the ones that reach deepest somewhere permanent. This kind of wisdom was never meant to stay with one person — it was meant to keep traveling.
JUMP TO:
Lift Your Eyes — the Quotes That Shift Where You’re Looking
- “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” — Psalm 121:1–2 (NIV)
- “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” — Psalm 19:1 (NIV)
- “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” — Psalm 90:2 (NIV)
- “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.” — Psalm 103:11 (NIV)
- “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12 (NIV)
- “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.” — Psalm 95:3–4 (NIV)
- “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” — Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)
- “The whole earth is full of his glory.” — Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)
- “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” — Romans 1:20 (NIV)
- “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” — Psalm 139:7–8 (NIV)
- “The Lord is high above all nations; his glory above the heavens.” — Psalm 113:4 (NIV)
- “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” — Revelation 22:13 (NIV)
- “His greatness no one can fathom.” — Psalm 145:3 (NIV)
- “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” — Psalm 145:3 (NIV)
- “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” — Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
- “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” — Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
- “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
The Living Word — Quotes About the Power of Scripture Itself
- “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” — Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
- “Alive and active.” — Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
- “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
- “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” — Psalm 119:130 (NIV)
- “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” — Psalm 119:89 (NIV)
- “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” — Matthew 24:35 (NIV)
- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV)
- “God-breathed.” — 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
- “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” — Psalm 119:24 (NIV)
- “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” — Psalm 119:97 (NIV)
- “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” — Psalm 119:103 (NIV)
- “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” — Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)
- “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” — Jeremiah 23:29 (NIV)
- “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” — Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
- “It will not return to me empty.” — Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
- “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you — they are full of the Spirit and life.” — John 6:63 (NIV)
- “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” — Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
The Quiet Place — Quotes for the Soul That Needs to Be Still
- “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
- “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” — Psalm 23:2–3 (NIV)
- “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” — Psalm 62:1 (NIV)
- “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my hope comes from him.” — Psalm 62:5 (NIV)
- “He restores my soul.” — Psalm 23:3 (NIV)
- “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” — Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
- “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” — Habakkuk 2:20 (NIV)
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)
- “You will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:29 (NIV)
- “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” — Psalm 116:7 (NIV)
- “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1 (NIV)
- “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” — Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
- “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.” — Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
- “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” — James 4:8 (ESV)
- “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” — Psalm 37:7 (NIV)
- “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” — 1 Samuel 3:9 (NIV)
- “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” — 1 Kings 19:11–12 (NIV)
The Doxology of Everything — Quotes That Become Praise the Moment You Read Them
- “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” — Romans 11:33–36 (ESV)
- “To him be glory forever. Amen.” — Romans 11:36 (NIV)
- “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” — Ephesians 3:20–21 (NIV)
- “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy — to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” — Jude 1:24–25 (ESV)
- “Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.” — Psalm 150:1–2 (NIV)
- “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” — Psalm 150:6 (NIV)
- “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his.” — Psalm 100:1–3 (NIV)
- “We are his.” — Psalm 100:3 (NIV)
- “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” — Psalm 145:3 (ESV)
- “The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice.” — Psalm 97:1 (NIV)
- “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.” — 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)
- “Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” — Revelation 7:12 (ESV)
- “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” — Revelation 4:8 (NIV)
- “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” — Revelation 5:12 (NIV)
- “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him.” — Exodus 15:2 (NIV)
- “I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” — Psalm 104:33 (NIV)
Faith That Has Seen Things — Quotes for the Soul That Already Has History With God
- “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” — Psalm 40:1–3 (NIV)
- “He put a new song in my mouth.” — Psalm 40:3 (NIV)
- “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” — Psalm 77:11 (NIV)
- “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.” — Psalm 66:16 (NIV)
- “You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you.” — Psalm 71:5–6 (NIV)
- “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” — Micah 7:8 (NIV)
- “I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.” — Psalm 30:1 (NIV)
- “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” — Psalm 30:11 (NIV)
- “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” — Psalm 37:25 (ESV)
- “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” — Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
- “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” — Joshua 21:45 (NIV)
- “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
- “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” — Psalm 34:7–8 (NIV)
- “He has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” — Psalm 126:3 (NIV)
- “I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all your work, and talk of your deeds.” — Psalm 77:11–12 (NKJV)
- “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” — Psalm 100:5 (NIV)
- “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” — Psalm 126:3 (NIV)
The Soul’s Morning — Quotes to Begin Any Day With
- “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
- “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV)
- “New every morning.” — Lamentations 3:23 (NIV)
- “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” — Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
- “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” — Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
- “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
- “Rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
- “The Lord’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV)
- “Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” — Psalm 57:8 (NIV)
- “This is the day the Lord has made.” — Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
- “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.” — Psalm 145:1–2 (NIV)
- “Every day I will praise you.” — Psalm 145:2 (NIV)
- “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.” — Lamentations 3:22 (ESV)
- “I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise.” — Psalm 101:1 (NIV)
- “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” — Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)
What Worship Does to a Soul — Quotes About Praise as Spiritual Formation
- “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” — Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
- “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 can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NIV)
- “The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” — 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV)
- “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” — Psalm 100:4 (NIV)
- “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” — Psalm 103:1 (NIV)
- “All my inmost being, praise his holy name.” — Psalm 103:1 (NIV)
- “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” — Psalm 103:2–4 (NIV)
- “He crowns you with love and compassion.” — Psalm 103:4 (NIV)
- “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” — Acts 16:25 (NIV)
- “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” — Ephesians 5:19–20 (NIV)
- “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV)
- “Give thanks in all circumstances.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
- “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me, and to him who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” — Psalm 50:23 (ESV)
- “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” — Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
- “A joyful heart is good medicine.” — Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
- “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
- “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” — Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
Grace Lifted Me — the Gospel Quotes That Restore the Fallen Soul
- “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 (NIV)
- “There is now no condemnation.” — Romans 8:1 (NIV)
- “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV)
- “It is the gift of God.” — Ephesians 2:9 (NIV)
- “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” — Romans 5:20 (NIV)
- “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 (NIV)
- “While we were still sinners.” — Romans 5:8 (NIV)
- “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” — Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
- “As white as snow.” — Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
- “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” — John 1:16 (ESV)
- “Grace upon grace.” — John 1:16 (ESV)
- “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
- “My grace is sufficient for you.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
- “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
- “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14 (NIV)
- “Full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14 (NIV)
- “He gives us more grace.” — James 4:6 (NIV)
The Horizon the Soul Is Moving Toward — Eternal Quotes That Reframe Everything
- “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” — Romans 8:18 (ESV)
- “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
- “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” — 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
- “What God has prepared for those who love him.” — 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
- “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” — John 14:1–2 (NIV)
- “I am going there to prepare a place for you.” — John 14:2 (NIV)
- “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” — Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
- “No more death or mourning or crying or pain.” — Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
- “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'” — Revelation 21:5 (NIV)
- “I am making everything new.” — Revelation 21:5 (NIV)
- “And so we will be with the Lord forever.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NIV)
- “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” — John 11:25 (NIV)
- “They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” — Isaiah 35:10 (NIV)
- “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 3:20 (NASB)
- “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” — Job 19:25 (NIV)
- “I know that my redeemer lives.” — Job 19:25 (NIV)
The Final Word — Benedictions That Send the Soul Out Strengthened
- “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13 (NIV)
- “Overflow with hope.” — Romans 15:13 (NIV)
- “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” — Numbers 6:24–26 (NIV)
- “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (NIV)
- “Eternal encouragement and good hope.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:16 (NIV)
- “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will.” — Hebrews 13:20–21 (NIV)
- “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” — Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
- “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:2 (NIV)
- “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” — 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
- “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38–39 (NIV)
- “Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God.” — Romans 8:39 (NIV)
- “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 (ESV)
- “Take heart; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 (ESV)
- “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” — Revelation 22:20 (NIV)
- “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” — Revelation 22:20 (NIV)
- “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” — Revelation 22:21 (NIV)