No one ever said that living a life of faith was going to be easy. There are times when we feel like giving up, and what do we do then? How can the Bible help us in these times of need? Read on for some Bible verses and some other suggestions for those times when you feel like giving up.
Hope
One of the key themes of the Bible is hope. As Christians, we believe in a life beyond death, we believe in hope for healing, hope after depression, and hope after grief. Whatever we are going through, Jesus offers us hope.
Bible verses for hope
Read on for three Bible verses about hope.
“Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 (NASB)
How wonderful that hope can not disappoint us. It lifts us up and gives us hope for a new day.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
The hope of God fills us with joy and peace, so hope is good for us too. This hope and peace can be supernatural. I have often felt God’s peace in the midst of turmoil, and at times when I shouldn’t have naturally felt at peace.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
God has good plans for us. So whatever you are facing, remember that. Remember to keep dreaming and keep searching for new tomorrows. It can be really hard to trust that He has our best interests at heart, especially when things seem hard. But have faith. Wait and watch.
Heroes of the faith
In times of discouragement, I find it incredibly uplifting to read about the heroes of the faith in Hebrews.
Think about Abraham, who left his home, to follow God’s calling:
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8
Abraham left his home and went to an unknown place. He had full trust in God even though he had no idea where it would take him. Can we learn to live like this too? To live with the questions and unanswered prayers. Can we learn to live trusting that God wants the best for us?
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed… He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” Romans 4:18-22
This is what is so wonderful about the Christian faith: hope! It literally does away with death. It breathes life into the tomb, and even in death, looks forward to tomorrow.
So if you feel like giving up today, then pick up your Bible, and fill your heart and mind with the living, breathing Word of God.
Practical steps to take in hard times
- Go back to the Bible. Follow the links above to hopeful Bible verses. Read them each day for a week, and see how these words of truth permeate and transform your soul.
- Go back to the promises that God has spoken over you. For each of my children, I have a file on my computer that lists the words that have been spoken over them, or any verse that we have felt was particularly significant for them. The files feel like a road map of sorts. Not that they would dictate the life that our children will lead, but that they would give them clues to follow. As a parent, this is one of the greatest honors: to help our children find out who they are.
- Be kind to yourself. When circumstances are tough, it is normal to feel down. Allow yourself to feel all the emotions that are within you. Trying to hide them away and put a brave face on things won’t help anyone. If you do that, your emotions will go below the surface and will reappear later on. The psalmists show us it is okay to be real with God. He knows the depths of you anyway, so you can’t hide anything from Him. Be real with Him. Tell Him you’re angry. Give Him the pieces of your broken heart and He will put them back together.
- Be thankful for the little things. It is possible to have a sense of renewed hope even against the backdrop of a difficult situation. Everything doesn’t have to be okay for you to feel small moments of gratitude, and in fact, these small moments can carry you through hard times. Try seeking out tiny moments of pleasure. Be present in the moment that you are in. Go for a walk and feel the sun on your face. Buy a ripe mango and eat it all in one go. Run a bath and allow your worries to melt away. Look after yourself.
A prayer for when you feel like giving up
Heavenly Father,
Please take these burdens from me. Help me to understand how You are working in my life, even when it feels like You are far away. Give me the peace to be able to rest and be kind to myself while I am living through these difficult circumstances. Help me to keep going when I feel like giving up. Amen.
We hope you found these Bible verses on keeping going when you feel like giving up helpful. Visit the Glorify App to read more on keeping going through hard times.
