The word of God is replete with stories and verses that speak about endurance. This is because not giving up as a child of God has many benefits. It teaches perseverance, strengthens faith, and will lead to receiving a crown of righteousness.
Today we will explore: how do Christians endure, what the Bible says about not giving up, and Bible verses about enduring hard times.
What does the Bible say about endurance?
Many verses on the topic of endurance admonishes followers of Christ to stand firm. The books of Ephesians, Peter, and Matthew link firmness in faith as very important to endurance. Matthew 10:22 speaks about standing firm to the end.
It pointed out that, “…the one who stands firm to the end will be saved”.
Hebrews 11:6 looks at the importance of faith to perseverance and gives the assurance that all who continue in diligence will be rewarded. “And without faith it is impossible to please God…he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
How do Christians endure?
As a Christian you may endure by having faith, depending on the Lord to give you strength, and having a determined mindset.
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
Christians can endure when they cultivate a mindset of determination. The journey of faith is like a race. It requires us to keep moving forward as we face obstacles. Our focus should never be on the hurdles in our path but on getting to the finish line.
Focus on the heavenly prize that God will give to everyone who completes the race. Find hope by affirming yourself with these words.
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8 KJV
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 NIV
This text is a reminder that faith and endurance go together. Servants of God will from time-to-time experience difficult situations that challenge the very essence of their faith. It is in these difficult times that trusting in God and waiting patiently on Him is very critical.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 NIV
Hadn’t it been for endurance, the apostle would not have been able to say these words. Ministry, parenting, a course of study, or any other role or responsibility requires determination, persistence, and great faith. Don’t surrender when you need to keep fighting. Don’t quit when you need to keep going, and don’t lose faith.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 NIV
This verse not only reminds followers of Christ that they are involved in spiritual warfare but gives very important advice. It points out that the whole armor of God is required to endure against the wiles of the devil.
Evasive tactics will not work either because you are expected to stand firmly with the steadfastness of Job as you fight the battle of faith.
Listen to the words in Ephesians 6:11 and “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:14-18 NIV
Truth, righteousness, readiness for the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and fervent prayer are some of the things that are needed for each follower of Christ to endure the Christian pathway.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NIV
With the encouragement of the scriptures, you and I can cling to hope and God’s promises. He promised that He will give us strength like an eagle and if we believe this promise it will motivate us to keep going even when we feel like giving up. Nothing is too hard for us when we rely on God’s strength.
What the Bible says about not giving up?
Not giving up as a child of God has many benefits. It produces endurance that results in overcoming temptations, fiery trials, and sufferings and leads to heavenly rewards.
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. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
It is not the will of God for you to be overtaken by temptation. The Lord however will use a fiery trial to fortify you and help you to become resilient.
This verse provides two comforting points for not giving up. First, it gives the assurance that our God of hope is faithful. Secondly, it states that He will provide a way of escape.
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV
This scripture passage is also another reminder that trials of various kinds should be considered as tests. There are usually two outcomes when you take a test. If you give up you will fail the test. So, if you want to pass you have to complete the entire exam.
This means you will suffer as Christ did and also that you will experience great joy when His glory is revealed.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Revelation 2:10 NIV
God’s word is telling you in this verse that you should not be afraid. If you are fearful, more than likely you will give up. Instead, be vigilant and patient as you go through your crucibles. Job did not have this text when he was going through his sufferings yet he didn’t give up.
Instead of cursing God to escape his sufferings, Job remained faithful and, in the end, he was blessed by the Lord. Have the patience of Job and the Lord will give you a victor’s crown.
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
This is another scripture that speaks about the need of endurance and receiving a crown. Don’t look at your trials as reasons to give up. Instead, consider them to be blessings that will help you to claim the promise God made to those who love Him.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:14 NIV
If you ever feel like giving up, this is the perfect text to inspire you. It urges you to, ‘press on toward the goal’. When you realize that your attention is on the hardships you are going through, change focus and think about the goal. Fix your eyes on the prize of the upward call of God.
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
This is a timely reminder that you should not become weary when you are doing good work. Sometimes a lack of support and other negative factors may seem discouraging but this does not mean you should give up hope and quit. Continue in faithfulness and in due season you will reap the rewards.
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
Here is another text that encourages you to endure as you do good and work in the service of the Lord. It calls for vigilance and firmness as nothing should be able to dissuade or demotivate the co-laborers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What does the Bible say about enduring hard times?
God’s word has many comforting scriptures to help with enduring hard times. It gives the reminder: that endurance produces character, to be alert, to focus on Jesus, and to be hopeful knowing that the Lord will restore and give strength.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV
Enduring hard times is very crucial for Christian maturity to take place. This is so because trials and the testing of faith results in patience and resilience.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ 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. Romans 5:3-5 NIV
This is another text that connects the importance of suffering and makes the link on how critical it is to learn perseverance and hopefulness. The verse also provides hope in the fact that with the love of God in the heart of each believer, all things are possible.
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Revelation 14:12 NIV
The King James Version of this text words it more forcefully by identifying those who have great endurance and remain faithful to the end. It states, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus”.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV
To endure hard times, you have to pay keen attention to what is happening around you. Be alert and stand firm in faith as you resist the devil. Jesus resisted him in the wilderness and with the mindset of Christ you are able to resist him too.
As you make your stance, pray for the mind of Christ, resilience, and find assurance in Romans 15:5. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”
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
Our Savior Jesus endured the cross and is now sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God. If you endure the crucibles and tribulations that you are faced with, you too will one day join the perfecter of our faith at the throne.
This assurance is given in Revelation 7:14-15. The text states, “…these are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
¹⁵ Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence”.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11 NIV
Two distinct points are found in this text. The first one indicates that suffering will not last forever. The other point is that we serve an all-powerful God.
Tell yourself that whatever you are facing now will only last for a little while and with the help of your all-powerful God, you will make it to the end.
Final thought
God’s word has a number of scriptures for endurance and perseverance. There are verses that: show how Christians endure, speak about not giving up, and give encouragement for enduring hard times.
