Here are 12 encouraging Bible verses to share with your college students as they begin navigating freshman year. While college can be filled with positive experiences, exciting opportunities, new friends, and fun, it also presents students with unexpected challenges and pressures, increased stress and anxiety, and sometimes fear.
Chances are, your college student will struggle at some point with feelings of inadequacy, disappointments in relationships, and frustrations of all kinds. However, as our children move from our constant care into the beginning stages of independent living, we should continue speaking words of truth into their lives.
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Freshman year, in particular, can be a difficult time of transition for many students. But as we are reminded in the Bible, be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19 ESV). Your kids probably do not want to hear a sermon from you. And if that’s what’s delivered each time they phone home with a problem, they’ll most likely stop calling — or at least sharing — and that is NOT what you want.
Parenting your children during the college years looks different, and developing your relationship with them as an adult is important. However, there are easy and subtle ways to provide biblical encouragement that doesn’t come across as heavy-handed yet continue to remind them of the truth of God’s Word.
Below you’ll find a handy list of 12 Bible verses to encourage your college student. You can send these via text, or if you like, I’ve included a printable form, as well. The link to the printable Bible verses is at the end. Simply scroll down, download, and print on cardstock for a cute insert for that next care package or card.
What is a good Bible verse to encourage your college student?
Knowing how to encourage your student when he/she is away at college can be difficult. You’re no longer there for the day-to-day, so you don’t always see the struggles. However, God’s Word never returns void.
Whatever pressures your student may be facing — whether studying, taking exams, school-related stress, relationship issues, or something else — each of the Bible verses below can speak truth to your student and provide reminders of God’s unshakeable love.
Because no matter the circumstance, God works all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
1. Deuteronomy 31:6
“…for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
As exciting as it is for our teenagers to be taking those steps toward independence, the journey for many isn’t always easy. For kids who spent K-12 wrapped in relative stability and ease, the transition to college {for some} can feel unsettling at best to completely overwhelming at worst.
Being able to remind our children that God is on their side, that he is a promise keeper, is an excellent place to start. Because whatever fears we face, God is there.
2. Psalm 34:17-18
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Our God sees. He is not uncaring or uninvolved in the plight of his children, even when some of the trials we face are of our own making. Throughout the Bible, we see God responding to the cries of his people (Genesis 31:42, Exodus 2:24–25, Deuteronomy 26:7, just to share a few). We are never alone. God hears us; he sees us, and he acts.
3. Psalm 145:18
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
But the good news? The God of the Bible is the same today and for always. Like the song, Ancient Words, by Michael W. Smith remind us:
Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the Ancient words impart.
It’s important we remember that we can cry out to God, and when our children are in the middle of heartbreak and trouble, we need to remind them of this, as well.
4. 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.“
When the things of this life seem too much, we have hope in the Lord. Sometimes we face seasons of struggle, and it can feel crushing.
As our teenagers enter college, they are faced not only with academic challenges but also with challenges to their faith and moral beliefs. For many of them, this might be the first time in their lives where they’ve felt such pressures.
5. Isaiah 40:30-31
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
As you are listening to them share their struggles, let them know they are not alone. Knowing that God loves them and wants only the best for them can be hard to hear when you’re in the middle of something that either “is” or “seems” devastating.
6. Isaiah 41:10
“So 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.”
As we grow in faith, it’s easier to place our trials in perspective, but in youth, gathering those experiences often just seems painful and unfair. Pray over them; pray with them; pray for them. As your teen struggles, pray that he or she will see God move.
7. Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I love this verse, but let’s not forget that God spoke these words to the Israelites while in captivity and exile. God’s people were in a place of deep trouble; life was hard.
Yet, in the midst of struggle, God reminded the Israelites they were not forgotten. That still is true today. I want my children to know (regardless of their age) that God is moving even when they feel lost or lonely or rejected.
8. Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)
God’s unique plan for all of our lives still marches on, and perhaps the hardship simply is a season of preparation for what comes next. Whatever your child is facing—whatever your family is facing—God’s plan includes goodness and hope.
9. Philippians 1:6
“…[be] confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
As our teens step into college life, they also begin testing what they believe. For some, the freedom and independence that comes from being “alone” (i.e. not directly under a parent’s supervision) on a college campus tempts them to push and explore new boundaries.
10. Colossians 2:6-7
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Dr. Jim Denison shares this about sin:
“Sin always takes you further than you wanted to go, keeps you longer than you wanted to stay, and costs you more than you wanted to pay. Always.“
Painful life lessons can be the result. As a parent of young adults, I often pray two things: 1) that their hearts will be pierced to recognize the sin in their lives and 2) that they will have the faith and courage to turn from it.
Our sins are a heavy burden to bear, but in Jesus, we find freedom.
11. Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.“
As your child enters college, rejoice! It’s an exciting and transformative time. God blesses us with children, but it’s our job to raise them, not keep them.
12. Philippians 4:6-7
“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.“
Learning to Let Go: Preparing Your Teen to Launch, launching them into adulthood, is an important next step, and you both will need prayer every step of the way. Let the Bible lead the way!
What is a good Bible for a college student?
Now might also be a good time to make sure your student has a good study Bible. When my son left for college, we realized that the Bible he had been using as a teenager was one his dad was no longer using. And while there’s nothing wrong with that it had his dad’s name, not his, embossed on it.
While I realize the Bible is easily accessible from any smart phone, which is nice and super convenient, I think it’s important to have a physical copy that can be used for study. Not only does it decrease distractions it also provides rich commentary that helps with understanding difficult scripture.
Before we get to that, here’s a fabulous resource from Thomas Nelson Bibles, one of the oldest Bible publishers in the world, if you are looking for a little more guidance: “What Do You Need To Know When Buying a Bible?”
And if you get stuck trying to decide which translation you prefer, I love this resource about Bible translations from Christianbook.com.
So, here’s a round-up of Bibles that would be good for college students:
NIV Study Bible
The NIV Study Bible is a solid choice and generally a top seller. It’s also been recently revised. They print this Bible in a variety of configurations.
Here’s a brief summary of the NIV Study Bible from Zondervan, the publisher:
Set in Zondervan’s exclusive NIV Comfort Print® typeface, this stunning, full-color study Bible answers your pressing questions with just the right amount of information, placed in just the right location.
With its decades-long legacy of helping readers grasp the Bible’s meaning, the NIV Study Bible, Large Print, embodies the mission of the NIV translation to be an accurate, readable, and clear guide into Scripture. Specifically designed to expand upon the NIV, the NIV Study Bible’s editorial team crafts that same accuracy and clarity into every study note…Thousands of newly written or revised notes and articles combine with hundreds of four-color maps, charts, photos, and illustrations to create an entire library of study helps designed to increase your understanding and application of God’s word.
Life Application Study Bible
The Life Application Study Bible has been a bestseller for over 30 years, and it’s the one I used until just recently. It comes in a variety of translations (NIV, KJV, NKJV, NLT, NTV and the RVR), but the most recent revisions are to the NLT, NIV and KJV.
My only word of caution would be to stay away from colored “leather” options (i.e. teal, etc.) and stick with the more classic, natural leathers options like brown and black.
Several years ago, a friend gifted me an NIV Study Bible that had a blue and green cover. It was super cute (and now kind of dated-looking), but the biggest issue is that the synthetic Italian Duo-Tone™ cover did not withstand the test of time. The colored cover began peeling to the point that it makes a mess, which was disappointing. So with that experience in mind, proceed with caution should you choose to purchase a cutely-colored Bible.
This review of the Life Application Study Bible offers some good information, and here’s a snippet from the publisher:
Impacting more than 30 million lives over 30 years, the Life Application® Study Bible is the #1–selling study Bible of our generation. Now, it has been thoroughly updated and expanded to be even more helpful and relevant for your life and today’s world.
With a fresh, new interior page design and comprehensively updated study notes and features, this Bible will help you better understand God’s Word and provide you with practical ways to apply it to your life every day. The Life Application Study Bible—It’s how to do life!
Study the stories and teachings of the Bible with verse-by-verse commentary. Gain wisdom from people in the Bible by exploring their accomplishments and learning from their mistakes. Survey the big picture of each book through overviews, vital statistics, outlines, and timelines, and grasp difficult concepts using in-text maps, charts, and diagrams.
ESV Study Bible
The ESV Study Bible is a bestseller, and this is the exact one I recently bought for myself. I stumbled onto the ESV translation when I was searching for a personal-sized thinline (non-study) Bible to carry to church. When I started looking for a new study Bible, I was planning to get an NIV, but I’ve really grown to prefer the ESV.
There’s also a wide-margin version ESV study Bible, which is the one my daughter bought for herself in college.
Here’s a brief summary from Christianbook.com:
Winner of the ECPA Book of the Year Award- The ESV Study Bible ranks at the top of the list of the most comprehensive study Bibles ever published. It was created by an outstanding team of 95 leading Bible scholars and teachers from 9 countries, nearly 20 denominations, and 50 seminaries, colleges, and universities. The ESV Study Bible features a wide array of study tools equivalent to a 20-volume Bible resource library, making it an invaluable resource for serious readers, students, and teachers of God’s Word.
The Apologetics Study Bible
I don’t have any personal experience with this Bible. However, I ran across it while researching good Bible options for college students, and now I’m considering purchasing one to have for reference.
If you are unfamiliar with the term apologetics, put simply, it is defense of the Christian faith. The Apologetics Study Bible supports doing just that. As the publisher explains:
The CSB Apologetics Study Bible helps today’s Christians better understand, defend, and proclaim their beliefs in an age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. This revised and updated edition includes new articles and extensive apologetics study material from today’s leading apologists to reflect and provide deeper understanding of the relevant apologetics issues and questions being discussed today.
Here’s a review that provides additional insight.
Thinline
If your student simply needs a Bible that is convenient to carry, a thinline (which simply means it’s usually 1″ thick or less) is the way to go. You usually can take your pick of translation in a thinline version, as well.
Free printable Bible verses
The printable linked below includes all the verses shared in this post. I hope you enjoy this free printable version of Bible verses to encourage your college student and find it helpful for sharing! Printed on cardstock, they make great inserts into care packages and cards, or even placed inside a small frame.
Click the link below to download the printable file. It’s quick, easy, and FREE!
So what Bible verses do you turn to when you are seeking to encourage your teens-turned-young adult children with reminders of God’s goodness?
I’d love to hear from you; you can click here to email me!
My brother has been thinking about learning more about the bible while he is going to college. He would really like to take some online classes in order to be safer. I liked what you said about how physical copies can be easier to study with because it decreases distractions.
That’s wonderful! Electronic versions are convenient and certainly nice to have, but when it comes to actually studying the Bible…sitting with the verses, digging into the context, etc….a physical copy of a study Bible definitely is the way to go. However, if an electronic copy is what someone has ready access to, then I’d recommend turning off all notifications. That’s the biggest issue…getting a text message, email, etc….that pulls your attention away. Thanks for commenting!
THANK YOU for making and sharing your printable Bible verses to encourage college students! I work in Activities in a retirement home. We have 19 OneLife Christian “gap year” students moving on campus and wanted to welcome them. We printed these verses out and included them in little paper bags full of mini chocolates for the new students!
Dottie,
Thank you for your kind words, and I appreciate you taking the time to reach out and share how you are using the printable Bible verses! I love it! Blessings to you in the work you do and for the difference you are making in the lives of others. 🙂