Bible Verses About Courage When Facing a Terminal Illness
When you're facing a terminal illness, the Bible's wisdom about courage becomes deeply personal. These carefully selected KJV scriptures bring together God's timeless truth about courage with the specific comfort and guidance you need when facing a terminal illness. Let these verses anchor your heart in faith.
17 Scriptures About Courage for Facing a Terminal Illness
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
"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."
"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."
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."
"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain."
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me."
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
A Prayer for Courage When Facing a Terminal Illness
Lord, I do not understand why, but I trust You. Give me courage for each day, peace for the journey, and the assurance that to be absent from the body is to be present with You. Help me love my family well in the time I have. Give me grace for the hard moments — the pain, the fear, the goodbyes. Prepare me for what is to come, and prepare those I love for life beyond this. Be glorified in how I live and in how I die. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about courage when facing a terminal illness?
The Bible offers many verses about courage that are especially meaningful when facing a terminal illness. Key scriptures include Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10, which remind us of God's faithfulness.
What is the best Bible verse about courage for someone facing a terminal illness?
Joshua 1:9 is a powerful verse: "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever t…" This verse speaks directly to those seeking courage during this season.