8 Bible Verses About Staying Positive in Hard Times

The cumulous clouds are stacked in a thick layer on the western horizon. I gaze at them from the room where I’m supposed to be writing inspiring words about life and God, but I’m too worn down to find a single thoughtful thing to say.  Instead of writing, I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about staying positive in hard times.

Bible Verses About Staying Positive in Hard Times

Here are the verses I discover.

8 Bible Verses About Staying Positive in Hard Times

1. Galatians 6:9

“Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary” (Galatians 6:9, NASB).

Several years ago, a close friend asked me to pick a verse she could pray over our family throughout the upcoming year.  I was deeply touched by her love and loyalty.  Yet, for the life of me, I couldn’t settle on a verse.

As I talked about this with God, I sensed a nudge to ask my friend to pick a verse for our family.

She picked Galatians 6:9.

For an entire year, she prayed these words over our family.   Throughout that year, God frequently reminded me to cling to his encouragement in challenging times.  I faced setbacks in my writing career and moments that made me question my parenting.  Meanwhile, I committed to continuing on God’s path for me.

At the end of the year, I reflected on the many blessings that resulted from simply persevering.

This principle is true for all of us.  As we remain faithful to God’s calling, he promises that we will bear fruit.

2. Isaiah 59:1

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1).

When life is tough, it’s easy to wonder if God has abandoned us.  If this is you today, cling to this promise: The Lord’s arm is not too short to save you, no matter how far you have fallen.

When you begin to feel like you might sink, lift your eyes to the One who holds the power to immediately reach out and save you.

Ask him for help.  He is waiting to carry you and sustain you.  He will give you all you need to continue following hard after him.

3. Philippians 1:6

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

God is not done writing your story.

He is not finished with you.

Hold onto this Bible promise when you feel discouraged: God will finish what he starts in your life.  Your role is to trust him as you continue to put one foot in front of the other—one day at a time.

If you feel like giving up today, talk to God about your life.  He might want to redirect certain areas of your life.  Yet if you sense that he is calling you to stay the course, you can trust that he finishes what he starts.  He will finish the story he started writing in your life.

4. Isaiah 42:6

“I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over you” (Isaiah 42:6).

The next time you feel like quitting or feel all alone, hold onto this promise: The God who made you will hold you by your hand.  He has not left you.

He is watching over you, and he hasn’t missed a moment of the journey you are facing.  Keep drawing near to him.  Continue talking to him and opening your Bible.  He is present with you.  He wants to encourage you to keep pressing forward.

5. Hebrews 10:35-36

“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Instead of giving up, ask God to give you endurance.  Ask him to show you what you can do to encourage yourself.

This might include reaching out to someone who can build you up, connecting with like-minded friends who can offer inspiration, or calling an older mentor who can speak into your situation.

6. Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

God invites us to turn toward him and find refuge and protection in his presence.  When life feels defeating, run to the Lord.  Rest in his love.  Imagine him holding you and giving you strength.

He wants to help you in times of trouble and defeat.  He can lift your head and give you hope.

7. John 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

We all face trouble in life.

Turn to Jesus in times of trouble and remember that he stands above every power and authority.  He fights for you and wants to carry you and defend you.

8. Isaiah 43:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you” (Isaiah 43:2).

Perhaps you feel like you’re walking through a refining fire.

If so, cling to this promise: God is using this fire to purify you and help you grow.

Affliction is God’s primary tool for helping us grow into emotional and spiritual maturity.  We miss the gifts hidden in affliction when take offense toward God for permitting difficulties.

Ask God to help you keep a soft heart.  He uses life’s fires and floods to transform us into the image of his Son.

Let’s apply these Bible verses about staying positive in hard times to our everyday moments.

Reflections on these Bible verses about staying positive in hard times

I’ve been seriously pursuing writing for years now.

This pursuit was exciting when I first stepped out in faith and let my words sail into the wide world.  It felt risky and courageous. like something I had to trust God to accomplish.  First steps can be like this.  Your friends cheer for you, and the applause goads you forward.

But what about the fifty-thousandth step?

What’s the truth for when you’ve been putting one foot in front of another for so many years you lose count?

The exciting and scary dream becomes a part of the daily routine.

Encouragement for When You Feel Like Giving Up

The slow birth of your dream doesn’t typically feel like you think it’s going to feel.  When you’re on the fifty-thousandth step, it’s easy to get to thinking maybe you made the whole thing up.

You start to wonder if maybe you never heard from God in the first place.

Perhaps this life you’ve created for yourself was carved from your ambition and passion.  Maybe God’s just waiting for you to throw in the towel.

Maybe.

These are considerations worth exploring.

But maybe the worn-down drudgery of your tenth year of quietly doing that thing you believe God has called you to do is working something out in your heart.  Maybe it’s God’s way of seeing if you have the endurance necessary to carry the dream to its fullness.

Are you confident God is in this work? Keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Trust he is working in the obscurity of your daily grind.

God might be doing one of these works in your heart while you work through your weariness:

1. When you feel like giving up, God is softening your rough edges.

We all have rough edges.  We need our Maker to shape us, soften us, and mold us to look more like him.

I wish God did the formative soul-work on the mountaintops of victory because maybe there would be more mountaintops.  Contrary to my desires, God does most of his transforming work in the valleys of life.  He shapes us in the seasons of darkness and obscurity.  He molds us in the quiet and unseen realm of the daily grind.

God is softening you here, friend.  He is molding you to look more like him.  Keep going.

2. God builds your endurance when you are worn down.

Marathon runners know what it is to build endurance.  They start training with relatively few miles, and by the end of their training, they are heading out on 20-mile runs.

The worn-down seasons of everyday life build our endurance.

I often take my kids for walks.  They begin complaining about their aching legs, and I tell them this is where they’re building new muscle.

The same is true for our everyday lives.  When we keep pushing through the monotony and weariness of worn-down seasons, God strengthens us.  We become people who can gut it out when the going gets tough.

3. God tests your resolve when you are weary.

God doesn’t tempt us, but he does test us.  The worn-down seasons of the daily grind test us to see if we will keep going when the platform grows and the territory expands.  God is testing you in the daily grind, but it is a loving test, a test that is for your good and for his glory.

4. God extends an invitation when you feel like giving up.

God believes in you.  He believes in you the way a proud father believes in his child.  He looks upon you with eyes of love and compassion.  God thinks kind thoughts about you.  He calls you the apple of his eye.

Because God loves you unconditionally, he longs to partner with you.  He invites you to bring your weary and burdened self to him, take his yoke upon your shoulders, and learn to live lighter.

You will never long for a lighter way of living if you never come to the end of yourself.

Learn to stay in step with the Lord, and he will invite you into a way of living that is restful on a soul level, even in the most strenuous kinds of work.  He will lead you to a place of deep peace, even in the middle of the most grueling kind of fire.

Learn to stay in step with the Lord, and he will invite you into a way of living that is restful on a soul level, even in the most strenuous kinds of work. #walkingwithGod #restinGod #flourishinthefire Share on X

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As for me, I spend some time reflecting on my list of Bible verses about staying positive in hard times.  I then turn my gaze away from the window.  I settle behind the white screen.  It feels like the millionth day in this spot.  Nonetheless, I write the next word.  Every journey begins with one small step, but the same holds true for the weary middle of the journey: One small step at a time.

A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God

God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment.  Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us.  I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment.  Find it for free here. 

Calling All Parents and Grandparents!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God.  Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision.  They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love.

A Devotional for Boys

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom.  Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world.  I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven!  You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord.  Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion.  I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven.  Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

 

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20.  It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing.  This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start.  Bekah and I will help you right here.

Find Our Family Devotionals Here

Find all three books right here.  They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial!  These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them.  Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.

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