40 Bible Verses About Not Giving Up

Every one of us has felt like giving up at some time in our lives (usually, many times!). But, the Bible tells us constantly to not give up, to press on, to keep hoping in the Lord. Here, I’ve rounded up 40 Bible verses about not giving up, to encourage you.

40 Bible verses about not giving up

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We’ve all been there. When life gets hard, giving up seems like the easy thing to do.

Living with narcolepsy, there are so many times I want to give up (and do, even when I could’ve pressed on). I’m exhausted, so I give up any hope of being disciplined, and instead sit on the couch scrolling through my Instagram feed. Of course, there are times when I really NEED to give in (like, it’s better to take a nap than to muddle through sleepiness and risk making mistakes or taking so much longer to complete a task).

And then, there’s the times I want to give up on OTHER PEOPLE. Like, giving up any hope that my co-worker will come to know Jesus. Maybe it’s tempting to write off a rude person as just being that way, that there’s no hope that they’ll see the err of their ways. Or, giving up on someone who’s constantly trying to lose weight and failing miserably (oops, that would be me actually!)

Not to mention, giving up on long-term dreams, like getting married, or just owning my own home.

Have you been there?

With so much adversity in the world, it’s no wonder it’s so tempting for us to give up! That must by why the Bible is so filled with Scriptures about persevering through trials, Bible characters who didn’t give up, and an abundance of other Bible stories about not giving up. Clearly, we need the encouragement!

Bible verses about not giving up

40 Bible Verses About Not Giving Up

For that very reason, I’ve rounded up 40 such Bible verses about not giving up. I divided them into five categories, each catering to a specific dilemma we face (like failure). Of course, there are several verses that fit into more than one category, but all of them relate to not giving up. I hope you’ll find them tremendously encouraging, as do I!

Quick Links:
Verses 1-8: Never Give Up, Even When You’re Weary
Verses 9-16: Keep Pressing On After Failure/During Trials
Verses 17-24: Never Give Up On Doing Good
Verses 25-30: Never Give Up On Your Future
Verses 31-40: Never Give Up on God!

Never Give Up, Even When You’re Weary

I don’t know about you, but I especially need to remember these verses every day. Whether you have a chronic energy-sapping condition like me, or you’re weary from your job or motherhood or something else, these Scriptures for encouragement will lift you up!

1) Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

2) Philippians 4:12-13 (NLT)
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

3) Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
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.

4) Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

5) Hebrews 12:1-3 (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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

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6) 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

7) 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

8) Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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Keep Pressing on After Failure/During Trials

No matter how many times you’ve failed (a million times like me?), or how long the trials have dragged on, there is always reason to get back up again. Here are some great Bible verses for discouragement and depression, hard times, and so forth. If you need a Bible verse about staying positive during those trials, these will help…

9) Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

10) Psalm 43:5 (NIV)
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

11) Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)
The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

12) John 16:33 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

13) Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

14) Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

15) 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

16) James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

serving doing good love

Never Give Up Doing Good

Have you ever tried to help someone, only to have your efforts backfire? Lots of times in life, we try to do good (share the Gospel, give to the poor, be a good friend, etc.), but we may not see anything positive come out of it. In some cases, it may take years to see results. In those times, it’s especially helpful to remember these Bible verses about not giving up on doing good.

17) Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

18) Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

19) Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

20) Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

21) Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

22) 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

23) Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

24) 1 Peter 3:17 (NLT)
Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

prayer and worship

Never Give Up On Your Future

Have you been tempted to give up on God’s plans for your future? Or maybe you wonder if He has good plans for you at all? These Bible verses about not giving up, will remind you that God has a purpose for your life!

25) Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
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.

26) Job 23:10 (NLT)
But he knows where I am going.
And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

27) Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

28) Romans 4:18-21 (NIV)
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet 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.

29) Romans 8:25 (NIV)
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

30) Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

God's love never fails

Never Give Up on God!

Even if our own efforts fail—and they do!—we know that God NEVER FAILS! And, our unfailing God never gives up on us. Let these sink in…

31) Psalm 31:24 (NLT)
Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!

32) Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.

33) Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

34) Luke 18:1, 7 (NIV)
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. […] And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.

35) Matthew 19:26 (NIV)
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

36) Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

37) Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

38) Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

39) 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

40) Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

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Our #1 Reason to Never Give Up

In all these Bible verses about not giving up, what stands out to me the most, is that God is faithful, and with Him all things are possible. If you need ONE reason to never give up, that’s IT. Keep pressing on, and put all your hope in the Lord.

8 thoughts on “40 Bible Verses About Not Giving Up”

  1. I myself am tempted to give up so many times. There are times when I actually do give up and then discover I was in God’s way the entire time and He was waiting for me to release my grip on something or someone. But other times, He wants me to persevere. Isaiah 41:10 strengthens me and reminds me who is in control.

    1. Barbara Austin

      That is a great point, that there are actually times when we SHOULD let go of something. I like to think of it as letting that door close, while trusting that God will open a new door.

  2. Motherhood has been the hardest for me, especially with one child who is extremely strong-willed. I’ve often felt like giving up. The last point really hit home for me: Never give up on God. He’s the one who can work the seemingly impossible!

  3. I always appreciate lists of verses like this. They are handy for days when I’m just not doing well or need encouragement and strength. Thank you for putting this together!

  4. This is so encouraging. In life we can easily feel defeated and want to just throw in the towel. These verses are such great reminders of God’s promises and encouragement. Thank you so much for sharing!

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