Bible Verses about Faith in Hard Times

Looking for Bible verses about faith in hard times? Nobody in the Bible has more to say about faith in dark times than the prophets of the Old Testament. Sure, they did some weird stuff to make their point (Then the Lord said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush.” Isaiah 20:3, NIV) As they saw the sorrow and suffering that their people dealt with, they also pointed to the goodness of the Lord.

Bible Verses About Faith During Difficult Circumstances

The Faith of Isaiah

The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. – Isaiah 51:3, NIV

Isaiah is where we can find several prophecies that are fulfilled by the birth, life, and suffering of Jesus. You can see the portrait of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, a passage is one of how God’s empathy for our suffering is on clear display. Prophets such as Isaiah looked beyond the suffering in the short term to the more excellent picture of love that God was telling all along.

The book of Isaiah is a journey from sorrow to gladness, from living in darkness to living in light. The promise that hard times will not last is the crux of the prophecies. Going through hard times, whether it be the loss of a relationship, a death, a decline of health, or any other form of hardship, the compassion of God can sustain your faith throughout.

The Faith of Jeremiah

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

This a favorite verse of many when experiencing hard times, but pulling it out of its context can strip it of its full weight.

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” – Jeremiah 29:4-5,7, NIV

Jeremiah’s words are for a people in exile who were uprooted from their homes and put somewhere else. The prophet encourages the people to seek the prosperity of the Lord right where they are, the ultimate “bloom where you are planted.” Much of the hardship of life is that things did not turn out how we planned or preferred. Instead, we wistfully say, “I didn’t think it would be like this.”

Remembering the encouragement of Jeremiah in hard times is about living faithfully where we are, with faith that God knows our life’s plan. The hard times are when our faith is put to the test. And if we believe in the goodness of God, we will trust Him every day, even when it seems hard.

The Faith of Zechariah

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the Lord Almighty. – Zechariah 8:4-6, NIV

When hardship feels like it has become the norm, it can be challenging to think about a future that will be any different. While Jeremiah and Isaiah spoke prophecies before the hardship of exile, Zechariah was speaking hope with his fellows in exile. Decades of being settled, the hard life of being in exile can lead to a false sense of security. Staying focused on faith requires reminders and practice.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” – Zechariah 8:23, NIV

Holding onto faith through hard times is easier when you know about other stories. If you read the stories of the prophets, you may find the inspiration you need to carry on. If you would like additional support beyond these Bible verses about faith in hard times, you can talk to one of the faith-based counselors at Stone Oak Christian Counseling in Texas. Contact us today.