This list gives you encouraging Bible verses for a women’s retreat, arranged by the moments a retreat tends to bring up: the nerves before speaking, the tiredness of a long weekend, the quiet of the final night. It is written for women who want Scripture they can read aloud in a circle, pin to a journal page, or carry home afterward. Most of these verses share one thread: God is present and faithful in ordinary, tired, uncertain days, not only in the mountaintop moments a retreat is meant to produce.
Verses for Arriving Tired and Unsure
Many women arrive at a retreat carrying more than their luggage. These verses speak to the hour of unpacking, the first awkward introductions, and the worry that you do not belong in the room. They remind you that God meets people where they are, before they have anything to offer.
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (WEB)
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus invites the weary to come to him, not after they have recovered but while they are still worn out. When you walk into the first session with a heavy heart, you can pause, breathe, and tell him plainly that you are tired. Let that be your first prayer of the weekend.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10 (WEB)
Psalm 46:10
Retreats often pack the calendar, and the psalmist’s call to stillness can feel like an impossible instruction. Try taking ten slow breaths before your next meal, letting the words settle as you exhale. Stillness here is not doing nothing; it is making room to know who God is.
Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10 (WEB)
Isaiah 41:10
God’s promise to be with his people in fear is spoken directly to someone who feels small and out of place. When the room feels too big, name one thing you fear and then speak this promise over it. Carry it into the afternoon session as a steady reminder that you are not facing the weekend alone.
Verses for Sharing, Speaking and Being Known
A retreat asks you to open up in small groups, speak in front of others, and listen to stories that move you. These verses address the vulnerability of being seen and the courage it takes to share what is true. They also point to a community built on mutual care rather than performance.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
The writer observes that two people working together get more done and help each other up when one falls. In a small group session, notice who is struggling to stand and offer a hand, even a simple word. Let your presence be the encouragement you hope to receive.
Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15 (WEB)
Romans 12:15
Paul calls believers to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Before you speak in a circle, listen for the emotion in the room and respond to it honestly. At dinner, ask a sister what made her laugh or cry this week, and then let her answer shape your conversation.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 (WEB)
James 1:5
Many women come to a retreat unsure what to say or what God is doing in their lives. James promises wisdom to anyone who asks without grudging. Before each talk or discussion, ask God for the words that are needed and trust that he hears you, even when your voice shakes.
Verses for Rest, Renewal and Hope
The closing hours of a retreat often bring a mix of fullness and fatigue. These verses encourage you to receive rest as a gift, to trust God with the future waiting at home, and to hold on to hope when the weekend ends. They are well suited to a quiet evening or a final morning walk.
1 The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:1-3 (WEB)
Psalm 23:1-3
The shepherd psalm pictures God leading his sheep to green pasture and still water, restoring their souls. If the retreat has left you depleted, sit somewhere quiet and let these images be your prayer. Ask God to show you one small way he is restoring you before you leave.
22 It is because of the LORD’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail. 23 They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (WEB)
Lamentations 3:22-23
Written from the ruins of Jerusalem, these words insist that God’s mercies are new every morning. When you wake on the last day, read them slowly before checking your phone. Let the new morning be a fresh start, not a list of what still needs doing.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (WEB)
Romans 15:13
Paul prays that God would fill believers with joy and peace as they trust in him, so that they overflow with hope. As you pack up, name one hope you are taking home, however small. Write it on a card and place it where you will see it on Monday morning.
How to Use These Verses
Choose three or four verses before the retreat and write each one on a separate card or page in your journal. Keep them in your bag so you can reach for them during a quiet moment in a session, at a meal, or in your room at night. Reading one verse slowly, twice, is often more helpful than rushing through the whole list.
Consider reading one verse aloud in your small group and asking others what it brings to mind. Many women find that sharing a verse opens the way to honest conversation. Afterward, take a few minutes to pray over the verse by name, asking God to help you live it out at home.
A Short Prayer for a Women’s Retreat
Lord, thank you for gathering us here, tired and hopeful, each carrying different burdens into this space. Settle our restless hearts and help us to listen well, to one another and to you. Give us courage to speak honestly and grace to receive what our sisters offer.
As the weekend ends, hold each woman in your care and remind her that she is known and loved. Let the words we have read take root and bear fruit in our homes, our work and our friendships. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
