28 Scriptures to Encourage Christian Students

The day had arrived—and all the excitement, uncertainty, and apprehension with it. My boxes were packed and in the van. So was my guitar. And my bright green desk chair. And my two favourite houseplants, George and Atticus. I couldn’t move away to college without them.

But none of these were the things I’d need the most over the following four years. Surviving the challenges, pressures, and unbiblical teachings I’d encounter on campus would require that I’d packed something else—not in my boxes, but in my heart. David said it best in Psalm 119:11 (ESV): “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

If you’re a student packing your boxes or backpack for a new semester, I can’t encourage you enough to pay at least as much attention to what you’re packing in your heart. There’s no way to overstate the importance of filling up with God’s Word, both before college begins and every single day afterward. All Scripture is profitable, so there’s no limit to the verses that will help you—especially because the Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 12:13). As you feed on his Word every day, you’ll notice God giving you specific truths from his Word to sustain you for the day ahead.

With that in mind, here are just a few of the verses1 you may find especially useful to pack into your heart:

Verses for Holding Fast to Truth

Because of the way our brains process information, false messages (like unbiblical teachings) can begin to sound true if we hear them repeated often by authoritative, eloquent speakers (like professors) in an environment where everyone else seems to agree (like a classroom). These biblical reminders can help us hold fast to God’s truth while being bombarded by lies.

• 2 Peter 1:16–21: For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. . . . For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
• John 6:68: Simon Peter answered [Jesus], “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
• Romans 1:20: For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
• 2 Timothy 1:8–12: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord . . . . I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
• 2 Timothy 3:14–15: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Verses for Fearing God, Not Man

Holding fast to God’s truth often means standing against the tide of culture. That can easily land us in trouble, both in college and beyond. Here are some biblical truths to remember when the going gets tough:

• Matthew 5:11–12: Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• 1 Peter 4:14: If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
• John 15:18–19: If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
• Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• 2 Corinthians 12:10: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Verses for Maintaining Your Foundations

To navigate the hostile environments of secular classrooms and culture, Christians need strong personal foundations. These include spiritual foundations (a close personal walk with God fueled through Scripture, worship, and prayer), intellectual foundations (apologetics knowledge and critical thinking skills to defend the faith), and interpersonal foundations (strong Christian community, including older mentors). Here are a few verses relevant to these themes:

• Colossians 2:6–8: Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
• Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
• Colossians 4:2: Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
• 1 Peter 3:15–16: [But] in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
• Hebrews 10:24–25: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Verses for Living as Christ-Followers in Dark Places

As Christians, the whole of our lives belongs to God, so everything we do—including school—becomes an offering to God. Along the way, he gives us his strength to do the tasks he’s given us in the places where he’s called us, shining his love in a sin-broken world. Here’s some biblical encouragement along these lines:

• Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
• Galatians 6:9: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
• Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
• Colossians 4:5–6: Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
• Titus 2:7–8: Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Final Encouragements

College, while an exciting life chapter, brings about stresses, pressures, and challenges. These biblical truths offer all-around encouragement for the journey:

• Philippians 4:6–7: [Do] not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• 1 Peter 5:7: [Cast] all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
• 2 Peter 1:3: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. . . .
• Hebrews 13:5–6: [He] has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
• 1 Corinthians 1:8–9: [He] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Philippians 1:6: And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
• Romans 12:21: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• 1 Corinthians 16:13–14: Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

There you have it: 28 truths from God’s Word to pack in your heart for the new school year. By staying filled with Scripture, you’ll be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17) God calls you to at college—and beyond.