10 Encouraging Bible Verses About Hope in Hard Times
Discover hope and encouragement through 10 powerful Bible verses about hope in hard times. Learn how to hold onto faith and find peace in God’s promises, even when life feels overwhelming.
Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances of life? Let’s face it, life isn’t easy, and the world is not kind.
Over the last few years, life has brought pain to so many of us. Whether it was through the pandemic, natural disasters, or just the normal hard times of life, many people feel hopeless.
When I feel myself overcome by hopelessness, I turn to the Bible. God’s Word is filled with just what we need, and is filled with Bible verses about hope in hard times.
We live in a world that is constantly throwing struggles our way. It’s not just something new either; suffering has been a part of the human experience since the beginning. But now, it’s right in our faces—on our phones, in the news, on social media. It’s everywhere.
As a mom, I wish that I could make life easy for my children. I wish they would never have to face hard times. While I know that’s unrealistic, I can share with them the hope that I find in Christ.
What the Bible Says About Hope in Hard Times
Friend, take a deep breath and don’t lose heart. Our hope isn’t found in the things of this world.
It’s not found in a perfect Instagram life or in the fleeting comfort of earthly things. Our hope is in something much bigger.
The Bible reminds us over and over that our faith isn’t about what we can see—it’s about trusting God even when life feels overwhelming.
If you’re wondering how to hold onto your faith in the midst of difficult times, let me encourage you: spend time in God’s Word, pray without ceasing, and stay connected to a community of believers.
These are the pillars that will hold you up when everything around you feels like it’s crumbling.
Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” If you feel like your faith is running on empty, start by filling yourself up with Scripture.
The more you immerse yourself in God’s truth, the more your faith will grow. I’ve created this list of Bible verses about hope to encourage your heart.
Trust me—hopelessness doesn’t stand a chance when God’s Word is filling your mind and heart.
Practical Ways to Hold onto Hope
Here’s a little something I’ve learned: sometimes you have to speak hope into your life. If you’re feeling down, read these verses aloud.
Turn them into prayers. Write them on sticky notes and plaster them around your house, your car, wherever you need to be reminded of God’s promises.
I get it—there are days when the darkness feels too thick to see any light. But hold onto this: He will never leave you.
God promises us in John 16:33 that although we will face trouble, He has already overcome the world. That’s huge! Jesus has already claimed victory, and that gives us hope not just for today but for eternity.
Don’t Fall for the “Prosperity Gospel” Trap
It’s easy to get swept up in the idea that if we’re good Christians, we won’t face problems. There’s a whole “prosperity gospel” movement out there that claims you’ll always be healthy, wealthy, and problem-free if you have enough faith.
But that’s not what the Bible teaches.
Jesus didn’t promise us a life without struggles. In fact, He told us the opposite.
John 16:33 is a verse that has brought me so much comfort over the years. It says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Our hope isn’t that we will avoid pain or hardship, but that Jesus has already conquered it all.
Scripture Verses About Not Giving Up Hope
There are times in life when we are tempted to give up all hope. Things just seem so dark that we think they can never be changed.
On this earth, things may never get better. Our lives will never be perfect, and we will always have problems. That’s why we have this hope for Heaven in our hearts.
I love Romans 8:24-25: For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Our hope is in something more than earthly things. We hope for something we can’t see, but we have faith that one day we will see it! As long as we have Jesus with us, we cannot (and should not!) give up hope.
Don’t be discouraged at the hard times in life! God’s Word offers us hope and strength in hard times. The Bible is full of verses about hope, and I wish I could make a list of all of them.
10 Encouraging Bible Verses About Hope in Hard Times
Here are some of my favorite verses about hope. These are my go-to scriptures when life feels overwhelming, and I hope they bring you the same comfort they’ve brought me:
- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11 KJV - Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Hebrews 6:19 KJV - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13 KJV - Why art thou cast, down, O my soul? and why are thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:5 KJV - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Romans 12:12 KJV - Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 KJV - But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
Psalm 71:14 KJV - Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Psalm 33:18 KJV - This I recall to my mind, therefor I have hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:21-23 KJV
Take these verses to heart, friend, and let them be a reminder that hope is never lost when God is involved.
Download the free Bible verses about hope Scripture writing plan to help you keep these verses nearby when you need them!
More Bible Verses to Love
Here are a few more encouraging Bible verses you might enjoy:
