Christian Faith & Lifestyles
15 Bible Verses About Not Giving Up for Strength in Hard Times
Jun
Does your heart just feel… tired? I know I’ve felt that deep-in-my-bones weariness that has less to do with sleep and more to do with carrying the weight of it all. The world keeps spinning, the lists keep growing, and you’re left wondering how you can possibly keep going.
If you’re there right now, in that quiet place of exhaustion, please hear this: it’s okay. You’re not failing. You’re human. If you’ve been searching for bible quotes when you feel like giving up, you’ve come to a safe place. This isn’t another article that will tell you to just “try harder” or “have more faith”.
This is a quiet space to catch your breath. We’re going to gently look at a few powerful Bible verses about not giving up, not as a new to-do list, but as a warm invitation to lean into God’s strength when yours feels gone.
A Gentle Reminder…
- Your weakness is not a failure; it’s an opportunity for God’s grace to shine.
- Perseverance is about rising again with God’s help, not about never falling down.
- God’s promises are anchors of hope available to you right in the middle of your struggle.
When You’re Tired: Scripture for When You Want to Give Up
The first and most important truth for a weary soul is that you are invited to rest. Not later, not after you finish one more thing, but right now. Before you try to solve, fix, or push through, Jesus offers a simple, beautiful invitation.
1. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
I know that feeling of a mental to-do list that shouts at me before my feet even hit the floor in the morning. It’s heavy. This verse has become God’s gentle hand on my shoulder, giving me permission to set that weight down. This “rest” isn’t about laziness; it’s about surrender. It’s about finding a safe place at His feet to admit I’m tired and to let His peace begin to quiet the noise, a principle echoed in the call to be still and know that He is God.
When You Feel Weak: Encouraging Bible Verses About Strength
It’s one thing to be tired, but it’s another to feel completely weak and powerless. We live in a world that tells us to be strong, to hustle, to handle it all. But what happens when you just… can’t? This is where the gospel turns our thinking upside down.
One of the most powerful things the Bible teaches is that our weakness isn’t something to be ashamed of; it’s the very place God’s power is perfected.
2. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
I’ve faced challenges that felt impossible, where the most honest prayer I could muster was simply, “Lord, I can’t do this. I am not strong enough.” It’s in that moment of surrender that His grace meets us. This is the heart of trusting God when it feels hard; admitting our inability to make room for His ability. We don’t have to pretend. We can be honest about our limits and discover that’s exactly where His strength begins.
When You Feel Unseen: A Bible Verse About Persevering
Sometimes, the reason we want to give up is that our efforts feel invisible and fruitless. You’ve been patiently parenting, working diligently at a thankless job, or pouring your heart into a ministry, and you see no change. You’re sowing seeds of faithfulness into what feels like dry ground, and you begin to wonder, “Does any of this even matter?”
For that specific weariness, this bible verse about persevering is a lifeline I have to remind myself of often.
3. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
This verse doesn’t promise an immediate result. It acknowledges the long, tiring work of “doing good”. But it holds out a firm promise: “at the proper time”. Your efforts are not unseen by the Lord of the harvest. He knows the love and care you are pouring out. Trusting Him means believing that a harvest is coming in His perfect timing.
More Bible Passages About Not Giving Up
When you need an immediate anchor of truth, hold fast to these promises. Let them be a gentle balm for your soul.
For When You Feel Alone
4. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV): "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
A beautiful reminder that you are never truly walking alone; He is both leading the way and walking beside you.
For When You Need Strength to Wait
5. Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV): "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."
Waiting is an active form of faith. This verse gives you permission to take heart while you wait for His goodness to be revealed.
For When You Stumble
6. Proverbs 24:16 (NIV): "for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."
This is a powerful verse of grace. Perseverance isn’t about never falling; it’s about knowing God’s grace is there to help you rise each time.
For When You Need Hope
7. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV): "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Hope in the Lord is the active ingredient that renews our spiritual energy for the long journey.
For When You Need Courage
8. Joshua 1:9 (NIV): "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."
Your courage comes from the unshakable promise of His constant presence, a powerful truth that helps us choose faith over fear.
For When You Need Strength Right Now
9. Philippians 4:13 (NIV): "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
This is the perfect verse for getting through the next hard thing – the next difficult conversation, the next challenging hour – with His help.
For When You Need to Fix Your Eyes on the Goal
10. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
When you feel like giving up, this full picture reminds you that you’re not alone (the “cloud of witnesses”) and points you to Jesus, our ultimate example of enduring for the joy that was to come.
For When You Need to Remember Your Work Matters
11. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV): "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
A direct promise that the work you do for Him, no matter how small or unseen, has eternal value.
For When You Need a Promise of Restoration
12. 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV): "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
This acknowledges the suffering but promises that God Himself will be the one to restore and strengthen you.
For When You’re Tempted to Quit
13. James 1:12 (NIV): "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
This verse reframes your trial as a test that, when endured through faith, leads to a promised, beautiful reward.
Your Gentle Next Step
Feeling like you want to give up is not a sign of a failing faith. It’s a sign that you’re human and in need of a Savior who is strong in your weakness. The goal is not to muster up more of your own grit, but to lean more fully into His grace.
Your gentle next step isn’t to fix everything today. That’s a burden you weren’t meant to carry alone. Perhaps, for this moment, it’s just to choose one verse from this list that spoke to your heart. Write it on a sticky note for your computer. Whisper it to yourself when you feel the pressure rising. Just let that single truth be your anchor.
Let these final two verses be a prayer and a blessing over your heart as you do:
14. Ephesians 6:10 (NIV): "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."
15. Romans 15:13 (NIV): "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."
Remembering these truths is a beautiful way to wear your faith on the inside, allowing His hope to shine through you in ways big and small. Living in His grace allows us to share His hope more freely.
Which of these verses is a comfort to you today? Feel free to share in the comments below – your story might be the encouragement someone else needs to see.
