33 Bible Verses About Having Hope in Hard Times

Every day we wake up, we have something to look forward to, good or bad.  Hopefully, it is something extraordinary!  Nevertheless, having something great to look forward to is a motivator to get up and make the best of every situation that comes our way. 

We can all admit not everything goes the way we expect it to all the time.  However, we expect the best, and that hope motivates us to keep trying, no matter how bad our situations appear to be.    

When times get hard, we may be tempted to give up to lighten the pressure of the pain we are experiencing.  In addition, we may spiral into bad habits and addictions to cope with or dull the pain. 

Unfortunately, this happens because of an absence of hope in a person's heart, and they cannot see a clear-cut solution for their problems.  However, when we can have hope, despite the situation, we are more likely to endure and come out on the winning side of what we are facing. 

Lastly, as Christians, we know we can place our hope in the Lord.  He will never fail us.

What is Hope, and Why is it Important?

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.   In addition, it is also when we expect something good to happen.  I believe that each of us live with a tremendous amount of hope every day. 

We don't know what to expect each workday, but we go to the job wishing for the best.  We don't know how we will feel in the morning, but we expect the best.  We don't know what traffic will look like on a family trip; however, we expect the best. 

Hope is so important because it gives us something in life to look to.  Have you heard the saying, “Keep hope alive!”  It means that even when something seems more and more unlikely, do not stop believing.   

The Bible says in Proverbs 13:12 that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”  When we are waiting for something positive to happen, and it doesn't come in the expected timeframe, we can feel defeated. 

We may also feel frustrated and sick to our stomachs.  However, we must keep hope alive because when the desire comes, it gives us life, joy, and strength. 

In the book of Genesis, chapter 29, a man named Jacob traveled to a foreign country.  Upon his arrival, he saw a lady named Rachel and fell in love with her.  In fact, he loved her so much that he agreed with her father Laban to work for her hand in marriage. 

The agreement was for seven years.  Scripture says that those seven years seemed like a few days to him because he loved her so much.  That is what hope does for us. 

Being hopeful means trusting the outcome of a situation.  Furthermore, it gives us joy and excitement throughout the process.  Jacob trusted Rachel's father, Laban, to be honest with him and honor his agreement. 

He had no reason not to be hopeful because he was putting forth so much effort for what he desired.  Even Laban seemed to agree that the offer was more than generous. 

But unfortunately, Jacob was tricked into marrying Laban's older daughter Leah after the seven years were over.  No one told Jacob that in that country, it was customary to give the older daughter in marriage to a suitor before the younger. 

So, after the wedding feast (which lasted for days in the Middle East during that time), Jacob woke up the morning after the banquet to find he had consummated the marriage with Leah and not Rachel. 

He was drunk during the feast, which could have contributed to his lack of attention to the woman he was marrying.  But Jacob had so much hope that he was marrying the love of his life and was greatly let down.   

He had his hope deferred and became angry and sick from the disappointment.  Scripture even says that Jacob hated Leah because of it.  Finally, however, he came to a new term with Laban and severed another seven years for Rachel. 

The Bible described Rachel as fair, beautiful, and shapely.  But described Leah as “weak-eyed.”  Many of us can relate to Jacob.  We got up one morning, expecting a beautiful day (like Rachel) but ended up having to deal with situations we hated.  A problem that was thrust upon us. 

These situations made us angry and disappointed.  Just as Leah was weak-eyed, these situations can often be things we cannot “see” how we will overcome or make it through them.  But because we place our faith in God, and He has an excellent plan for our lives, we must continue to have hope.  Even in the face of adversity.

And you thought you had a rough day at work.

33 Bible Verses about Having Hope in Hard Times

1.  Matthew 19:26

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”

2.  Psalms 25:5

“Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long.”

3.  Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

4.  Psalms 33:18

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], on those who hope [confidently] in His compassion and loving kindness”

5.  Romans 8:28

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”

6.  Psalms 42:11

“Why are you in despair, O my soul?  Why have you become restless and disquieted within me?  Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

7.  Philippians 1:6

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”

8.  1st Peter 3:15

“But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord.  Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.”

9.  1st Peter 1:3

“Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

10.  Jeremiah 17:7

“Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord And whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord.”

11.  Psalms 33:22

“Let Your [steadfast] loving kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion as we have hoped in You.”

12.  Isaiah 43:1-2

“But now, this is what the Lord, your Creator says, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity]; I have called you by name; you are Mine!  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.  When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.”

13.  Psalms 71:14

“But as for me, I will wait and hope continually and will praise You yet more and more.”

14.  Romans 5:5

“Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us because God's love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

15.  Isaiah 40:29-31

“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who has no might, He increases power.  Even youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly.  But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.”

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who has no might, He increases power.  Even youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly.  But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.” – Isaiah 40:29-31

16.  2nd Thessalonians 3:3

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one.”

17.  Psalms 130:5

“I wait [patiently] for the Lord, my soul [expectantly] waits, and in His word do I hope.”

18.  Psalms 16:8

“I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

19.  Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].”

20.  Lamentations 3:24

“The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore, I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.”

21.  Micah 7:7

“But as for me, I will look expectantly for the Lord, and with confidence in Him I will keep watch; I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation.  My God will hear me.”

22.  Psalms 38:9

“Lord, all my desire is before You, and my sighing is not hidden from You.”

23.  Romans 12:10-12

“Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength].”

24.  Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”

25.  Psalms 46:5

“God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved; God will help her when the morning dawns.”

26.  Hebrews 10:23

“Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word];.”

27.  Lamentations 3:25

“The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, to those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word].”

28.  1st Peter 5:10

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be].”

29.  Mark 9:23

“Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!”

30.  Psalms 25:21

“Let integrity and uprightness protect me, for I wait [expectantly] for You.”

31.  1st Corinthians 13:13

“And now there remain, faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.”

32.  Psalms 33:20

“We wait [expectantly] for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.”

33.  Matthew 11:28

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].”

Final Thoughts on 33 Bible Verses About Having Hope in Hard Times

There is nothing like having hope in troubled times.  Hope works a lot like faith.  Both are the expectation of something better and trust that it will come to pass.   We live life with hopeful anticipation for what lies ahead. 

Faith is often the vehicle that will get us to the expected outcome we have been praying and working hard for.  For example, we hope for a raise, but we put faith in our supervisor to make the right decision and give us the raise we deserve. 

I want to encourage you to place your faith in God to give you the outcome you have been praying and hoping for in your family, on your job, with your health, in your community, and in this world.   

And when it feels like hope may be deferred, keep on believing.  Reference and meditate on these bible verses about hope to get you through the hard times.   God is faithful and can work things out better than you ever expected.