Bible Verses About Hope (KJV) With a Prayer

What the Bible Means by Hope

In everyday speech, hope often means a wish: "I hope it doesn't rain." In Scripture, hope is firmer. It is a confident waiting on God, resting on who He is and on what He has already done, above all in raising Jesus from the dead.

The verses below show a pattern. Hope is a gift from God (Romans 15:13). It grows through hard times, because tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience, and experience, hope (Romans 5:3-4). It steadies us like an anchor, which holds even when the sea is rough (Hebrews 6:19). And it is lived out in waiting, in prayer, and in worship (Psalm 130:5; Romans 12:12).

How to use these verses: pick one, read it slowly aloud, and carry it through the day. If you are in a dark season, begin with Psalm 42:11. It does not pretend the pain is not there. It simply tells the soul where to look.

A note on Jeremiah 29:11: it was written to exiles in Babylon, promising that God had not forgotten them. In the King James Version it speaks of "an expected end," meaning the future God intends for His people.

Scripture to Pray With

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13 (KJV)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42:11 (KJV)

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:12 (KJV)

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 5:3-5 (KJV)

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Hebrews 6:19 (KJV)

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Lamentations 3:24 (KJV)

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

Psalm 71:5 (KJV)

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Psalm 130:5 (KJV)

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3 (KJV)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 8:24-25 (KJV)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Bible verse about hope?

Romans 15:13 is the one most often chosen: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing." Jeremiah 29:11 and Hebrews 6:19 are also loved.

What does the Bible say hope is?

Hope in the Bible is a confident waiting on God, based on His character and promises. It is more than wishful thinking.

What does Jeremiah 29:11 really mean?

It was a promise to God's people in exile that He had not forgotten them and still had good purposes for them. It is best read with the verses around it, including the call to seek the Lord.

How can I find hope when I feel hopeless?

Start small: pray a single verse such as Psalm 42:11, tell God honestly how you feel, and reach out to a trusted person or priest. Hope often returns slowly.

What is hope in the Catholic faith?

Hope is one of the three theological virtues, with faith and charity. It is the gift of trusting God for eternal life and for the help we need on the way.