25 Top Bible Verses About Faith in Hard Times

Bible verses about faith in hard times bring encouragement during turbulent times and give security and hope in God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

Christians are not exempted from trials and hard times even if we practice our faith religiously. We do not get any free passes. We deal with grief, loss, doubts, and fear. It can range somewhere from losing a job to losing a loved one. At times we look at the future, and it seems so bleak. We may find ourselves losing hope at times. These Bible verses about faith in hard times can help keep our hearts, minds, and spirits strong, and they can help us keep the faith.

What is the Significance of Reading Bible Verses About Faith in Hard Times?

We cannot control anything that happens in our lives no matter how hard we try. We can control our response to whatever is happening in our lives. Most of the time, we respond to them negatively. We are all human, and that is understandable. But, going through hard times and having negative feelings can make matters worse rather than better. 

What can we do to avoid that? The best thing we can do as Christians is to turn to God and His Word. We seek the Bible for whatever God tells us because we know that He is always there, wanting to communicate with us. Reading Bible verses about faith in hard times while we are going through said hard times can bring us many good things. 

It can give us peace that comes from God, understanding of what is happening and what can happen, and strength to face anything that comes our way, and it can boost our faith and draw us closer to God instead of away from Him. 

Bible Characters Who Kept Their Faith During Hard Times

Faith amidst Suffering (The bleeding woman)

There was once a woman who experienced bleeding for twelve years (Luke 8:43-48). There are many debates regarding her sickness, but some believe it is a condition called menorrhagia, abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. This would take a toll on any person. An imbalance in the hormones causes menorrhagia, and whenever imbalances in the hormones happen, it can also affect our mood, our physical bodies, and so much more.

The woman was not just suffering from continuous bleeding. There is a huge possibility that this condition has also affected her emotional and mental well-being. The way people viewed bleeding or menstruation in those days is also vastly different from our views today. They consider any woman on her period as unclean (Leviticus 15:19-30).

According to their law, this means that physical contact is compromised. Anyone who touches even their bed or where they sat down would be considered unclean and would have to perform specific tasks or rituals to be clean again. She had to shout “Unclean! Unclean!” in public so that people would steer clear of her and not touch her or even her clothes and this caused her to be isolated and cast out from society. She was also not allowed to enter the temple to worship.

People constantly steered away from her. This woman’s life is not just about physical suffering but suffering in all aspects of her life. She went to all the doctors and healers to be cured, but nothing worked. Despite all this, she never lost her faith; instead, she believed that she would be healed if she just touched the hem or the edge of Jesus’ cloak. She was right. 

Jesus looked for her, listened to her story, called her daughter, and assured her that her faith had healed her. This woman has been starving for wellness, affection, and acceptance for twelve years but was filled right there on the streets by Jesus because she kept her faith. What are you suffering from today? Keep the faith and experience a miracle.

Faith amidst Mistakes (Jacob)

Jacob led a colorful life. He had a twin brother called Esau, who was the eldest. Being the eldest child might not mean much to us these days, but the eldest son gets more responsibility in those days, and they will also get twice the portion of the inheritance among the children. He would also get the blessing given by the father exclusively for him. (Genesis 32-33)

The twins grew old; Jacob became a farmer while Esau became a great and mighty hunter. One day, Esau was starving when he came home from hunting. He saw Jacob cooking some red beans and asked Jacob to give him some. Jacob agreed to provide him with a bowl only if Esau would give him his birthright. Esau was so hungry that he said yes.

Years passed, and their father grew old and blind. The day came when their father knew he was about to die, so he called for Esau to give him the blessing. With the help of his mother, Jacob killed some sheep and used the fleece to cover his arms because Esau was very hairy. Jacob pretended to be Esau, and the blessing meant to be given to the eldest son was given to him instead.

Esau was furious when he came home and found out what Jacob had done. Esau wanted to kill Jacob after their father’s death, but their mother told Jacob to run. Years passed, and Jacob went to see his brother when they were both old. He sent generous gifts ahead to appease Esau. Then a messenger informed him that Esau was on his way to meet him with four hundred men. 

Jacob feared that his brother was coming to kill him, his wives, and his children. He prayed hard to God and wrestled with him. Jacob received God’s blessing in the morning. Esau reached Jacob’s camp, and he ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him. Esau only took the presents from Jacob because Jacob insisted. 

Throughout his life, Jacob made many mistakes, but he never wavered from his faith. It might seem like all is lost after we make mistakes, or maybe, like Jacob, we are being chased by the mistakes we have made in the past and overcome with fear. Be strong, make things right, and trust that God never leaves His children.

Faith amidst Doubt (John the Baptizer)

John the baptizer or John the Baptist was a great man who Jesus respected. He was the one to baptize Jesus. John has never been boastful or arrogant. He never forgot his place, and he even told people who followed him that he was not even worthy to tie the sandals of the one coming after him, which was Jesus. (Luke 7:18-28)

He was straightforward and very honest to the point where he would expose religious leaders in front of people for their hypocrisy and wrongdoings. And most of all, John was faithful and committed. He lived in the wilderness, ate nothing but locusts and honey, and wore cloth from camel’s hair and a leather belt for his faith and beliefs.

No one could fault John when it comes to matters of faith. But, because of his honesty and commitment to his faith, he called out Herod for taking Herod’s wife as his own. Herod did not like that, so he got John imprisoned. About a year later, John was still in prison, and his disciples were giving him reports regarding Jesus. 

Many debates arise regarding the explanation as to why John had his disciples ask Jesus if He was the one the people were waiting for or if they should keep on waiting. Some experts say that John asked this because he had been cut out from the outside world for around a year and did not know if the one people are talking about is Jesus and not some impostor.

Yet, the more likely explanation is that John had been loyal to his faith and God, to Jesus, and yet he was experiencing injustice, and Jesus did not seem to care. He was imprisoned for telling Herod that he was sinning. Keep in mind that correcting our brothers and sisters is part of our duty as God’s children. He was doing what was right, and he suffered for it.

Understandably, John was having doubts and feeling bitter at this point. Jesus responded by reporting about his ministry. God does not always straightforward answers that we might prefer, but He does answer. John expected Jesus to be the Messiah that would free them from the oppression of the Roman empire, as so many did in the days of the prophets. 

He was mistaken in this regard, and Jesus lovingly corrected him by saying, “Well, I am the Messiah, but I am not the kind of Messiah you were waiting for. I heal people and show them the right path; I teach them to look to God. A Messiah brings salvation, and I will bring salvation. But the salvation I bring is not the one you expected but the one you need.”

Despite this, John kept his faith until the day he died despite the doubts. He did not take back what he said to Herod, which cost him his life. John held on to his faith even when doubts beset him. It is easy to doubt God in hard times because we cannot encounter Him with our senses. 

It is easy to doubt God when we do what is right and suffer for it like John. But it is the way of the world. John suffered, Jesus suffered, and the disciples and the early church suffered. Despite the doubts, let us cling to our faith and see God’s rewards in store for us.

Best Bible Verses About Faith in Hard Times

Bible verses about Faith

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

“For we live by faith, not by sight.”

John 11:40

“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Jeremiah 29:13

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Mark 9:24

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Bible verses to inspire faith in hard times

Jeremiah 32:27

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

James 1:2-3

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Romans 8:18

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Ecclesiastes 7:14

“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

Encouraging Bible verses in hard times

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 54:10

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 31:24

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Matthew 17:20

“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Strengthening Bible verses in hard times

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.”

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Mark 10:27

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Comforting Bible verses in hard times

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.”

Isaiah 41:13

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

Psalm 94:18-19

“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Romans 8:38-39

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

In Summary

It is very challenging to keep our faith when we go through hard times. It might feel easier just to lie down and surrender everything. We have to submit, but we have to surrender everything to God. We have to give Him all of our doubts, mistakes, and suffering because He loves us, and He will never leave us. So let us keep the faith and keep fighting because we know that great things are waiting for those that remain faithful.