Poems, Poetry & Quotes

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Uplifting Poetry To Feed The Soul

Encourage yourself by encouraging others. It's tough to encourage others without lifting your own spirits up. ~ Kevin Ngo

Never underestimate the power of encouragement we all need someone cheering us along from time to time.

Here, you will find a selection of poetry that we hope you will find encouraging to your heart and soul ...

Poems of Encouragement

The Bend in the Road

Sometimes we come to life's crossroads
And we view what we think is the end.
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows it's only a bend -
The road will go on and get smoother
And after we've stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that is best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow
You've just come to a bend in the road.
~ Helen Steiner Rice

Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity
to accept things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen

~Reinhold Niebuhr

Seeds of Encouragement

man sitting on shore contemplating life

Making a new start
Is like planting a garden...

It starts out slow at first
but with work, a little sunshine
and some rain now and then,
It can blossom into something beautiful

 

Encouraging Poem: Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road your trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and its turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victors cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when your hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit!

Author believed to be Rev Wade Watts


Encouraging Poem: I Promise Myself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of
others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the
greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile
to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I
have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side,
so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

~ Christian D. Larson

Poem of Encouragement

Charge the Hill

At the base of the mountain I raise my eyes
To the climb that looms ahead.
And though I tremble at the road before
It is the path that I must tread.

My heart beats wildly and my legs feel weak
but my comfort comes in knowing
There’s a power greater than all of me
So my faith just keeps on growing.

Though the world may try to tell me
Faith is simple and quite naive,
I’ve felt His presence in the blackest of times
And I shall continue to believe.

There may be days to come where I feel alone
During the pain and hardest trials.
But there’s an unseen world holding me up
And protecting me all the while.

I know prayers and love will come to Him
From those who share my suffering.
Whose hearts and souls are tied with mine
In this journey laid out for me.

So I take the first step and begin the climb
and I know love will gently lead.
Each hand firmly held by family and friends
We charge the hill to victory.

~ Kristen Feighery

Your greatest power
is the power to be.
To be more courageous.
To be more joyous.
To be more friendly.
To be more sensitive.
To be more aware.
To be more forgiving.
To be more tolerant.
To be more humble.
To be more patient.
To be more helpful.
To be a greater human being.

Be True To You

As you set out on life’s road
unsure of the path you’ll go,
the most important thing you can do
is to always be true to “you”

Always remember who you are
in moments of struggle or fear.
Never forget or give up on
the hopes and dreams you hold dear

There will be setbacks and rejection
and moments of failure too,
but you must overcome any frustration
to achieve the potential of you.

Don’t forget to smile, or laugh,
or to live in the present;
no matter where life takes you
make every memory pleasant.

As you travel along your journey,
know that you’re never alone
and I’ll always be here for you
should you need the comfort of home.

Inspirational Poem: My Creed

To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man;
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honor still;
To do my best, and let that stand
The record of my brain and hand;
And then, should failure come to me,
Still work and hope for victory.

To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.

To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind,
If enmity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.

This, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed.

~ Edgar A. Guest

A Prayer for Hope

Heavenly Father, I am your humble servant,
I come before you today in need of hope.
There are times when I feel weak.
I pray for hope.
I need hope for a better future.
I need hope for a better life.
I need hope for love and kindness.

Some say that the sky is at it's darkest just before the light.
I pray that this is true, for all seems dark.
I need your light, Lord, in every way.

I pray to be filled with your light from head to toe.
To bask in your glory.
To know that all is right in the world,
as you have planned, and as you want it to be.

Help me to walk in your light,
and live my life in faith and glory.

In your name I pray, Amen

Encouraging Poetry

Coloured Rainbows

Dare to dream of coloured rainbows
and fine "castles in the air" -
and a Sun that shines so brightly
making cloudy days seem rare!

When you aim to find a purpose
then your life becomes worthwhile.
You will dazzle those about you -
when you show your own true style!

Our dreams are not for keeping -
simply borrowed for a while;
to console us in adversity
and teach us how to smile!

Dream again of coloured rainbows
and of bluebirds flying high.
You will overcome the obstacles
once you decide to try!

~ Roslyn Mansell

Old English Prayer

Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, it is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

Words of Encouragement: It Couldn't Be Done

Somebody said it couldn't be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;"
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.

~ Edgar Albert Guest

Encouragement

Encouragement like flowers
Can brighten a way,
Turn storms into rain
Paint colors from grey.
Find good in the bad
Bring laughter from pain,
Lift up a spirit
Even loosen a chain.
Rainbows from darkness
Or a peek at the sun,
Blessings enjoyed
Or a moment of fun.
Sharing is easy
With a little each day,
Blossoms of joy
To brighten the day.

~ Jim Ness

Words of Encouragement

You Can Do It!

Giving up is easy.
When your dreams seem far away.
And life is full of obstacles,
You face them everyday.
But, no matter what the challenge.
Some faith will get you through it.
So never quite believing,
Just remember, You Can Do It!

The Heights Within You

You have often felt tied down
And dreamed of being free,
Of fulfilling the potential
Of who you want to be.

Now you've finally earned your wings,
It's time for you to soar
And reach the heights within you,
That's what wings are for.

Be the Best That You Can Be

Be the best that you can be
Pursue your goals persistently
Make your fondest dreams come true
and most of all believe in you.

You've overcome where many would fall,
But you stand up again and give it your all.
You're strength and endurance are apparent to me;
You're love, joy and faith are wonderful to see.

Encouraging Poem: Keeping On

I've dreamed many a dream that never came true
I've seen them vanish at dawn
But I've realized enough of my dreams, thank God,
To make me want to dream on

I've prayed many prayers when no answer came
Though I waited patient and long
But answers have come to enough of my prayers
To make me want to keep praying on

I've trusted many a friend that failed
And left me to weep alone
But I've found enough of my friends true blue
To make me keep trusting on

I've sown many seeds that fell by the way
For the birds to feed upon
But I've held enough golden sheaves in my hands
To make me keep sowing on

I've drained the cup of disappointment and pain
And gone many days without song
But I've sipped enough nectar from the roses of life
To make me want to live on


Encouragement Poem: What will Matter

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.

~ Michael Josephson

The poem Risk by William Arthur Ward is my personal favourite, an encouragement and a challenge to go through life not fearing rejection, but enjoying life to the full.

My Favorite Encouraging Poem

Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails.

~William Arthur Ward

Storms... Bring Out Eagles

When the "storms of life"
Gather darkly ahead,
I think these wonderful words
I once read ...

And I say to myself
As threatening clouds hover,
"Don't fold up your wings
And run for cover."

But like the eagle,
Spread wide your wings
And soar far above
The troubles life brings.

For the eagle knows
That the higher he flies,
The more tranquil and brighter
Become the skies.

And there is nothing in life
We were ever asked to bear
That we can't soar above
On the wings of a prayer.

And in looking back over
The storm you passed through,
You'll find you gained strength
And new courage, too.

For in facing life's storms
With an eagle's wings,
You can fly far above
Earth's small, petty things.

~ Helen Steiner Rice

A Hundred Ripples

Drop a stone into the water
In a moment it is gone
But there are a hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on.
Say an unkind word this moment -
In a moment it is gone
But there are a hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on.
Say a word of cheer and splendor -
In a moment it is gone
But there are a hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on.

~ Author Unknown

The Blessings of a Storm

I did not know his love before,
the way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him,
my pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care,
the "self-sufficient lie".
My path was smooth, my sea was still,
not a cloud was in my sky.

I thought I knew His love for me,
I thought I'd seen His grace.
I thought I did not need to grow,
I thought I'd found my place.
But soon my way grew rough and dark
and storm clouds quickly rolled.
The waves began to rock my ship,
my anchor would not hold.

The ship that I had built myself
was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare,
with nowhere left to hide.
I had no strength, nor faith to face
the trials that lay ahead.
So I simply prayed to Him,
and bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me,
and then He helped me stand.
He said, "You must still face this storm,
but I will hold your hand".
So thru the dark and lonely night,
He guided me thru the pain.
I could not see the light of day,
or when the storm might wane.

Yet thru the aches and endless tears,
my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
but my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in a brand new light,
His Grace and Mercy too.
For only when all self was gone,
could Jesus' love shine thru.

It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes questioned "Why?"
At times I'd thought, "I can't go on",
then I would hurt and doubt and cry.
But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day.
Thru the pain and strife, the fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.

And now I see, as never before,
how great His love can be.
How in my weakness, He is strong;
how Jesus cares for me!
He worked it out for my good,
although the way was rough
He only sent what I could bear,
and then He cried, "Enough!"

He raised His hand and said, "Be Still";
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of Joy,
and flooded me with peace.
I see His face, now clearer still,
and I felt His presence strong.
I found a new, His faithfulness;
He never did me wrong.

Now I know more storms will come,
but only for my good.
For pain and tears have helped me grow,
as naught else ever could.
I still have so much more to learn,
as Jesus works in me.
If in the storm I'll love Him more,
then that's where I want to be.

~ David Massey

Our Gifts Are For Encouraging

Help us Lord to see ourselves
Through your loving eyes,
To see what you see in us
And to come to realize

That everything that we possess
Comes directly from you,
The gifts, the talents you've placed within
Are there for us to use

To reach with hope to those that hurt,
To those who've lost their way
It's your gifts, Lord, they're not our own,
So take them, Lord, we pray

And use them for your glory,
So others may be blessed
And have their spirits lifted
And their souls also refreshed

So they can then be challenged
To seek more after you,
To be much more empowered
For what ever they may do

For each of us have talents
That God has placed within
So we can encourage others
To have a closer walk with Him

And as we encourage another,
We can be encouraged ourselves,
For there needs to be a continual flow
And a continual pouring out

And as we do this, we will find
Insecurities will disappear
And we'll be strengthened in His love
To overcome our fears.

~ M.S. Lowndes

Please submit your favourite encouragement poems or any
other suggestions or additions to this page,

Here's another quote from the author:-

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.
If you can dream it, you can become it."

You will also find some inspiring poems on our graduation poem page.
For spiritual encouragement, visit christian poems.

For special poems for daughters, mom or dad, please follow our links.

Words of Encouragement

You can use these encouraging statements verbally or in a card to encourage those around you to keep up the good work or to hi-light those qualities that you find most attractive.

  1. You're a star student!
  2. You shine!
  3. You make me smile!
  4. I'm so proud of you!
  5. You are special!
  6. You are unique!
  7. I believe in you!
  8. You made my day!
  9. You are so helpful!
  10. You brighten my day!
  11. You have a great attitude!
  12. Keep up the good work!
  13. You're a shining star!
  14. You're so talented!
  15. You amaze me!
  16. You are incredible!
  17. You are so kind!
  18. You are so thoughtful!
  19. You are a joy to be around!
  20. You're #1!

A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.

Thanks for visiting - I hope that you have found some suitable encouraging words.

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Words of Encouragement at Poem4Today

... encouraging the heart and bringing hope

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