There is a specific moment in every hard thing where stopping becomes the most attractive option available. Not at the beginning, when the energy is high and the purpose is clear. Not at the end, when the finish line is visible and the effort finally makes obvious sense. But in the middle — the long, unglamorous, unwitnessed stretch where the progress is invisible, the results are nowhere in sight, and every reasonable part of the mind is making a very persuasive case for why this might simply not be worth continuing. That moment is not a sign that the thing was wrong to start. It is the moment that separates the people who get somewhere from the people who almost did — and Scripture has been speaking directly into it since the beginning.
That’s exactly what this collection of Bible verses about not giving up is here to reach you in. You’ll find the best Scripture verses on enduring to the end, not growing weary in doing good, running the race with patience, the strength that arrives when human strength runs out, and the testimony of every biblical figure who kept going through something hard enough to quit and found — on the other side of their perseverance — that God was faithful in the middle in ways they could only see clearly once they had made it through. Read them when the middle is longest. Write the most important ones somewhere you will find them on the hardest day. The breakthrough has not been canceled. The race is not over. And the God who called you to this has never once abandoned someone in the middle of something He started.
JUMP TO:
You’re Still Here — and That Is Not Nothing
- “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
- “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” — Hebrews 10:35–36 (NIV)
- “Do not throw away your confidence.” — Hebrews 10:35 (NIV)
- “The righteous may fall seven times and still get up, but the wicked will stumble into trouble.” — Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)
- “Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” — Proverbs 24:16 (BSB)
- “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” — Micah 7:7 (NIV)
- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
- “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” — Revelation 3:5 (NIV)
- “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” — Revelation 2:7 (NIV)
- “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12 (NIV)
- “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” — James 1:4 (NIV)
- “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:13–14 (NIV)
- “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” — Acts 14:22 (NIV)
- “But he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” — Matthew 24:13 (NIV)
- “In your patience possess ye your souls.” — Luke 21:19 (KJV)
- “By standing firm you will gain life.” — Luke 21:19 (NIV)
The Race Is Still Running — You Haven’t Been Disqualified
- “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.” — Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
- “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.” — Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
- “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” — Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)
- “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)
- “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” — 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)
- “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:14 (NIV)
- “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.” — Philippians 3:13 (NIV)
- “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.” — Philippians 3:13–14 (NIV)
- “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on.” — Philippians 3:12 (NIV)
- “I press on.” — Philippians 3:12 (NIV)
- “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)
- “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.” — 1 Corinthians 9:26 (NIV)
- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NIV)
- “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” — Romans 8:37 (NIV)
- “More than conquerors.” — Romans 8:37 (NIV)
- “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)
God Sees the Effort — Even When Nobody Else Does
- “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” — Hebrews 6:10 (ESV)
- “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.” — Colossians 3:23–24 (NIV)
- “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
- “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” — 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)
- “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” — Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
- “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things.'” — Matthew 25:21 (NIV)
- “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
- “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
- “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” — Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
- “And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
- “Never tire of doing what is good.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
- “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” — 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NIV)
- “Your work is not in vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
- “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
- “For God will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers.” — Hebrews 6:10 (NLT)
- “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
The Strength to Keep Going — Where It Actually Comes From
- “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13 (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.” — Isaiah 40:29–31 (NIV)
- “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” — Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
- “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
- “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.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
- “When I am weak, then I am strong.” — 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)
- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
- “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” — Psalm 28:7 (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.” — Psalm 121:1–2 (NIV)
- “He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber.” — Psalm 121:3 (NIV)
- “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
- “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” — Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)
- “But David found strength in the Lord his God.” — 1 Samuel 30:6 (NIV)
- “God is my strength and power, and he makes my way perfect.” — 2 Samuel 22:33 (NKJV)
- “For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” — Proverbs 3:26 (ESV)
- “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” — Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
When You’ve Already Fallen — the Verses for Getting Back Up
- “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.” — Psalm 37:23–24 (NIV)
- “Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” — Psalm 37:24 (NIV)
- “The righteous may fall seven times and still get up.” — Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)
- “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” — Psalm 40:2 (NIV)
- “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” — Psalm 40:3 (NIV)
- “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” — Psalm 40:1 (NIV)
- “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
- “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” — Psalm 51:12 (NIV)
- “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” — Joel 2:13 (NIV)
- “Come back to me with all your heart.” — Joel 2:12 (NLT)
- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
- “The old has gone, the new is here.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
- “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” — Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
- “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten.” — Joel 2:25 (KJV)
- “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV)
The People Who Nearly Quit — and What Happened When They Didn’t
- “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said.” — 1 Kings 19:3–4 (NIV)
- “‘I have had enough, Lord.'” — 1 Kings 19:4 (NIV)
- “All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.'” — 1 Kings 19:5–7 (NIV)
- “‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.'” — 1 Kings 19:7 (NIV)
- “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'” — 2 Corinthians 12:8–9 (NIV)
- “‘My power is made perfect in weakness.'” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
- “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.'” — Exodus 4:10–12 (NIV)
- “‘Now go; I will help you speak.'” — Exodus 4:12 (NIV)
- “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” — Acts 16:25–26 (NIV)
- “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.” — Lamentations 3:32–33 (NIV)
- “Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.'” — Genesis 32:26 (NIV)
- “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” — Job 42:10 (NIV)
- “When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” — Job 23:10 (NIV)
- “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go.'” — Ruth 1:16 (NIV)
- “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” — Ruth 2:12 (ESV)
- “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” — 2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV)
Not Giving Up on Others — the Verses for the Long Haul of Love
- “Love is patient.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
- “Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)
- “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)
- “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)
- “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)
- “Be patient with everyone.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)
- “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” — Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
- “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” — Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
- “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
- “Do not grow weary in well-doing.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (ESV)
- “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
- “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” — Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
- “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” — Romans 12:15 (NIV)
- “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” — Hebrews 10:24–25 (NIV)
- “Not giving up meeting together.” — Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
- “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
The Enemy of Giving Up — Why Discouragement Lies
- “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10 (NIV)
- “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
- “Resist him, firm in your faith.” — 1 Peter 5:9 (ESV)
- “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7 (NIV)
- “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness.” — Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
- “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” — Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)
- “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” — Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)
- “And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” — Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)
- “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4 (NIV)
- “No weapon forged against you will prevail.” — Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)
- “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
- “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” — Revelation 12:11 (NIV)
- “They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” — Revelation 12:11 (NIV)
- “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31 (NIV)
- “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” — Romans 8:37 (NIV)
- “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)
The Harvest Is Coming — Don’t Quit Before It Arrives
- “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
- “At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
- “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” — James 5:7 (NIV)
- “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” — James 5:7 (ESV)
- “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” — James 5:8 (NIV)
- “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” — Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
- “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” — Psalm 126:5–6 (NIV)
- “Will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” — Psalm 126:6 (NIV)
- “In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” — Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NIV)
- “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” — Ecclesiastes 11:1 (ESV)
- “The farmer who waits for perfect weather never plants; if he watches every cloud, he never harvests.” — Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)
- “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.” — Romans 5:3–5 (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.” — James 1:2–3 (NIV)
- “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” — Hebrews 10:35–36 (NIV)
- “For yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay.” — Hebrews 10:37 (ESV)
- “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
The Finish Line Is Real — What Waits for the One Who Doesn’t Quit
- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” — 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NIV)
- “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)
- “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12 (NIV)
- “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” — Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
- “Come and share your master’s happiness.” — Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
- “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” — Revelation 2:7 (NIV)
- “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.” — Revelation 2:26 (NIV)
- “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life.” — Revelation 3:5 (NIV)
- “He who is victorious will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” — Revelation 21:7 (NIV)
- “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” — Romans 8:18 (ESV)
- “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
- “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” — Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)
- “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'” — Revelation 21:5 (NIV)
- “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.” — Jude 1:24 (ESV)
- “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” — Revelation 22:21 (NIV)