35 Powerful Bible Verses for Perseverance

These Bible verses for perseverance remind us to place our trust in God when we face difficult circumstances. Perseverance means being persistent despite the difficulties or delays we face. The Bible teaches us to persevere in faith, trusting God to fulfill his promises. When we face difficulties we can trust that God understands our situation and sees our distress. When we feel like giving up, taking time to remember God's faithfulness can strengthen our resolve.

Examples of Perseverance in the Bible

There are many examples of perseverance in the Bible where people endured difficult situations by placing their faith in God.

The Israelites were being chased through the desert by the Egyptian army. Stuck between the sea and the desert, the Israelites couldn't find an escape route. Petrified by fear they cried out to Moses, "Did you lead us out of Egypt to die in the desert? Were there not enough graves for us in Egypt?"

The Israelites were meditating on the severity of their situation instead of remembering the miraculous salvation God had provided. Ruminating on negative thoughts produces discouragement and despair. Reflecting on our experience of God's grace, produces hope for the future.

Moses reminded the people to put their faith in God. "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:13-14).

God delivered the Israelites from their enemies in miraculous fashion, by parting the sea and allowing the Israelites to escape unharmed. God's faithfulness to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors became a touchstone of faith for future generations. 

The Psalmists often recalled God's faithfulness to remind their audience to persevere through their hardships by placing their faith in God. "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it...Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes" (Psalm 81:10, 13-14).

We can trust the Lord to fight our battles. When we feel ourselves giving into discouragement, we should remember God's faithfulness. He will help us to persevere. Our role is to wait in faith, trusting God for his deliverance.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo were persecuted for their faith in God. When they refused to worship a Babylonian idol, King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to cast them into a blazing furnace. 

They trusted God to save them saying, "The God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

The three men persevered in faith. They remembered God's faithfulness. They trusted God to deliver them from their oppressor. Even if God did not deliver them, they were willing to die for their beliefs. Instead of compromising their faith, they trusted God to save them.

Renewing our thoughts by meditating on God's promises will not change our circumstances but it will change our attitude. Remembering God's faithfulness will give us the strength and courage we need to withstand the hardships we face in life.

Reflect on the following Bible verses about perseverance to grow your faith in Jesus Christ. He will help you in your time of trial. He will help you overcome discouragement, distress, and doubt. He will help you to remain faithful despite the circumstances you face.

Job's Perseverance

Scripture describes Job as "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). Satan tests Job's faithfulness by killing his livestock, his family, and afflicting Job with a painful skin disease.

Job looks for a redeemer to save him from his affliction, "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth" (Job 19:25). His faith foreshadows the coming of Christ Jesus, who saves us from sin and death, and will provide us with resurrected bodies when we enter our eternal glory.

Job's friends tell him to repent of the sins that have brought about affliction from God, but Job maintains his innocence. His affliction drives him to question God, and curse the day he was born.

Reading Job helps to normalize the emotions we feel when enduring hardship. It is difficult to trust in God's providence when our lives are crumbling around us.

But this Bible verse from the Book of Job, provides encouragement when we are suffering from hardship and affliction, "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). 

In the end, Job accepts God's providence. We can trust in God's faithfulness and submit to God's will even when things are hard, knowing that "God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Christ's Perseverance

There are more encouraging Bible verses from God's word that help us to endure times of trial. Like Job, our Lord Jesus Christ submitted to God's providence when facing persecution. 

The night before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemene. 

"Jesus prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground" (Luke 22:42-44).

Prayer helps us to align our will with God. Jesus taught his disciples to pray this way too saying, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Luke 11:2-3). When we surrender our hearts to God, the Holy Spirit comforts us in our affliction, bearing witness to grace of God at work within us.

When we feel discouraged the Bible teaches us to look to Christ Jesus, as an example of endurance, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that isset before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).

What does the Bible say about Perseverance?

The following Bible verses about perseverance teach us to align our thoughts and intentions with God's will. The Bible teaches us to resist temptations that threaten to derail our faith. We are encouraged to persevere to obtain the goal of sharing in God's salvation.

The Christian perseveres in faith to obtain God's promise of glory (Romans 8:18-21). Those who persevere will receive a resurrected body and will eternally inhabit the new heavens and new earth with God and His triumphant church. 

The Bible teaches the church to persevere in faith, as Jesus works to conquer those who oppose God's rule (1 Corinthians 15:20-28). When Jesus completes his work, he will hand the Kingdom to his Father, so that God may be all in all. 

In the new heavens and the new earth, God the Father and Jesus His Son will reign in the presence of God's people (Revelation 21:3). Sin and death will be defeated. Suffering will come to an end (Revelation 21:4). God will fully establish His glory on Earth for all of eternity.

The object of the Christian's perseverance is to share in God's glory at the consummation of His Kingdom. On the day of resurrection, faithful Christians will receive a resurrected body, impenetrable to corruption, and will reign with God as priest-kings (Revelation 1:6; 20:6), fulfilling God's will for humanity to have dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28). 

God's kingdom will be governed by his ethic of perfect love (1 John 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13).

Until then, the Bible teaches followers of Jesus to persevere in faith, to endure trials and temptation, to resist evil, to pray and do good works through the grace that God provides.

God Will Reward Perseverance

2 Chronicles 15:7

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Timothy 2:12

If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.

Hebrews 10:36

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Revelation 3:10-11

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Bible Verses to Strengthen Your Faith

1 Chronicles 16:11

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.

Remember God’s Grace

Psalm 107:9

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Psalm 138:8

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Lamentations 3:22-24

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

John 6:37

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

Philippians 1:6

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Colossians 1:11-12

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

2 Timothy 4:18

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

How to Persevere in Faith

Psalms 27:14

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Psalm 86:11

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalms 119:11

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

John 8:32

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Peter 5:7-8

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Bible Verses about Endurance

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Ephesians 6:18

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

How to Persevere through Adversity

Matthew 10:22

And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Acts 14:22

Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Romans 5:3-5

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 8:37-39

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Christian Quotes about Perseverance

“We are always in the forge, or on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things.” - Henry Ward Beecher

“God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.” - C. S. Lewis

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.” - Warren Wiersby

“We can do nothing without prayer. All things can be done by importunate prayer. It surmounts or removes all obstacles, overcomes every resisting force and gains its ends in the face of invincible hindrances.” - E. M. Bounds

“Do not be lazy. Run each day's race with all your might, so that at the end you will receive the victory wreath from God. Keep on running even when you have had a fall. The victory wreath is won by him who does not stay down, but always gets up again, grasps the banner of faith and keeps on running in the assurance that Jesus is Victor.” - Bailea Schlink

A Prayer for Perseverance

God, you are faithful. Your word is true and your promises are sure. Throughout history you have provided for your people. You are my savior and in you I will trust.

I confess that I struggle at times with discouragement and despair. I often forget your faithfulness. I get distracted by the cares of the world, and give into doubt and temptation.

Thank you for the grace and kindness you have shown to me throughout my life. Thank you for the strength you provide.

Help me to keep my focus on you. Help me to remember the times you have provided for me. Help me to be steadfast in my faith, and to persevere through hardships. I know that I can trust in you. Amen.