Draw a random Bible verse about faith and trust in God, with a brief note on what it meant in its original setting.
Faith in Scripture is trust, not certainty
The Bible rarely treats faith as a feeling of total confidence. Abraham waits years for a child, Peter sinks while walking on water, and a father in Mark cries out that he believes and still needs help with his unbelief. Faith in these stories means relying on God and acting on that reliance while the outcome is still unclear.
The shape of faith across the Bible
In the Old Testament, faith often looks like obedience when the path is unknown: leaving home, crossing a sea, facing a giant. The Psalms add trust spoken in the middle of fear. In the New Testament, faith centers on Jesus, and writers such as Paul and James discuss how trust and action belong together. Hebrews 11 offers a gallery of examples, many of whom did not see the promise fulfilled in their lifetimes.
Ways to reflect on a verse
- Note who is speaking and what situation they face.
- Ask what trusting God would look like in that situation.
- Think of one small step of trust you could take this week.
- Bring any doubts honestly into prayer, as the psalmists did.
Faith also grows through hard seasons. James speaks of trials as testing trust and building endurance, and Peter compares tested faith to gold refined by fire, while Habakkuk and Job show that honest questions can sit alongside trust. Notice also that faith in the Bible is often shared. Ruth follows Naomi, friends carry a paralyzed man, and Hebrews gathers a whole crowd of witnesses. Trust is rarely meant to be a solitary effort.
You can also try the Bible verse randomizer, a random encouraging Bible verse, or the Bible verse of the day.
Verses in This Collection
- Genesis 12:1-4 – Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Abram is called to leave his homeland for an unnamed land, and he goes as God told him. - Genesis 15:6 – And he believed in the LORD ; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Abram believes God's promise of descendants, and God counts that trust as righteousness. - Genesis 22:8 – And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Walking with Isaac to Moriah, Abraham says God will provide the lamb, trusting without knowing how. - Exodus 14:13-14 – And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD , which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Moses tells terrified Israelites at the sea to stand firm and watch God fight for them. - Numbers 13:30 – And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
Caleb urges Israel to take the land despite the scouts' fearful reports. - Joshua 1:9 – Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
God commands Joshua to be strong and unafraid because the Lord goes with him. - Joshua 6:20 – So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Jericho's walls fall after Israel's seven-day march, a story of obedience before any visible result. - Judges 7:7 – And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
God reduces Gideon's army to three hundred so that the victory will clearly be his. - Ruth 1:16 – And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Ruth commits to Naomi and to Naomi's God, leaving her own homeland behind. - 1 Samuel 17:45 – Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
David faces Goliath, naming the Lord as his confidence instead of armor and weapons. - 1 Kings 18:36-38 – And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD , hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Elijah prays a short prayer at Carmel and fire falls on the altar. - 2 Kings 6:16-17 – And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD , I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Elisha prays that his frightened servant's eyes be opened to see God's armies surrounding them. - 2 Chronicles 20:12 – O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
King Jehoshaphat admits he has no power against the invading army and says his eyes are on God. - Job 13:15 – Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Job says that even if God slays him he will still hope in him. - Job 19:25 – For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
In the midst of loss, Job declares that his redeemer lives. - Psalm 20:7 – Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Some trust chariots and horses, the psalmist says, but we trust the name of the Lord. - Psalm 27:13-14 – I had fainted , unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD : be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD .
David is sure he will see the Lord's goodness, and urges waiting with courage. - Psalm 28:7 – The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
The psalmist calls the Lord his strength and shield, and his heart trusts and rejoices. - Psalm 37:5 – Commit thy way unto the LORD ; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
A call to commit your way to the Lord and trust him, since he will act. - Psalm 46:1-2 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
God is called a refuge and ever-present help, so even shaking mountains need not bring terror. - Psalm 56:3-4 – What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
The writer admits to fear, but in the same breath says he will put his trust in God. - Psalm 62:8 – Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
The poet urges people to trust God at all times and pour out their hearts to him. - Psalm 112:7 – He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD .
The righteous person has no fear of bad news, since his heart is steady, trusting in the Lord. - Psalm 118:8 – It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Taking refuge in the Lord is said to be better than trusting in people. - Psalm 121:1-2 – I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD , which made heaven and earth.
Looking at the hills on a pilgrimage, the traveler says his help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. - Psalm 125:1 – They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
Those who trust the Lord are likened to Mount Zion, which cannot be moved. - Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Trust the Lord with all your heart, the proverb says, and do not lean on your own understanding. - Proverbs 16:3 – Commit thy works unto the LORD , and thy thoughts shall be established.
Committing your work to the Lord is said to establish your plans. - Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Fear of people is described as a snare, while trusting the Lord brings safety. - Isaiah 12:2 – Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isaiah's song says God is salvation, so the singer will trust and not be afraid. - Isaiah 26:3-4 – Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
God keeps in perfect peace the person whose mind rests on him, and the Lord is called everlasting strength. - Isaiah 43:2 – When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
God promises to be with his people through water and fire, a picture of presence in trouble. - Isaiah 50:10 – Who is among you that feareth the LORD , that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD , and stay upon his God.
Even someone walking in darkness is invited to trust in the name of the Lord. - Jeremiah 17:7-8 – Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD , and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
A person who trusts God is compared to a tree by water that keeps bearing fruit in drought. - Jeremiah 29:11-13 – 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. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me , when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
In a letter to exiles, God speaks of plans for their welfare and promises to be found when they seek him. - Lamentations 3:22-24 – It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Amid ruin, the writer remembers that God's mercies are new each morning and chooses hope. - Daniel 3:17-18 – If it be so , our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Three young men tell the king God can rescue them, but even if not, they will not bow. - Habakkuk 2:4 – Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
The righteous will live by faith, a line the New Testament later quotes more than once. - Habakkuk 3:17-18 – Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD , I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Though crops and herds fail, the prophet says he will still rejoice in the Lord. - Nahum 1:7 – The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
God is called good and a stronghold in trouble, who knows those who take refuge in him. - Matthew 6:30 – Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Jesus points to wildflowers to show that God cares for his followers, then calls them people of little faith. - Matthew 8:8-10 – The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man , Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it . When Jesus heard it , he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
A centurion says Jesus need only say the word, and Jesus is amazed at such faith. - Matthew 9:29 – Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Jesus touches two blind men's eyes and says it will be done according to their faith. - Matthew 14:29-31 – And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Peter steps out on the water, sinks when he looks at the wind, and Jesus catches him. - Matthew 17:20 – And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Jesus says that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, stressing smallness over size. - Matthew 21:21-22 – Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Jesus tells the disciples that believing prayer can accomplish great things, after the fig tree withers. - Matthew 28:20 – Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus ends the gospel by promising to be with his followers always, to the end of the age. - Mark 4:39-40 – And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Jesus calms the storm and then asks his frightened disciples why they have no faith. - Mark 9:23-24 – Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
A father says he believes and asks Jesus to help his unbelief, an honest and short prayer. - Mark 11:22-24 – And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them , and ye shall have them .
Jesus calls the disciples to have faith in God, and ties it to prayer and forgiveness. - Luke 1:45 – And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Elizabeth says Mary is blessed for believing that what the Lord told her would be fulfilled. - Luke 17:5-6 – And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith, and he answers with the mustard seed image. - Luke 18:8 – I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Jesus asks whether he will find faith on earth when he returns, ending a parable about persistent prayer. - John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A widely known verse about God's love, and eternal life for those who believe in his Son. - John 11:25-26 – Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Jesus tells Martha he is the resurrection and the life, and asks if she believes it. - John 14:1 – Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Jesus tells troubled disciples not to be anxious and to believe in God and in him. - John 20:27-29 – Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Jesus invites doubting Thomas to touch his wounds and calls blessed those who believe without seeing. - Acts 16:31 – And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Paul and Silas tell a jailer who asks how to be saved to believe in the Lord Jesus. - Romans 1:17 – For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Paul says the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, quoting Habakkuk. - Romans 4:20-21 – He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Abraham did not waver in unbelief about the promise but grew strong in faith, fully convinced. - Romans 5:1 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Paul says that being counted righteous by faith brings peace with God through Jesus. - Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith is said to come from hearing, and hearing from the message about Christ. - Romans 15:13 – 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.
Paul prays that the God of hope will fill believers with joy and peace as they trust him. - 1 Corinthians 2:5 – That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Paul wants his hearers' faith to rest on God's power instead of on human wisdom. - 1 Corinthians 16:13 – Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
A short charge to stay alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, and be strong. - 2 Corinthians 5:7 – (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Paul says we walk by faith and not by sight, reflecting life before seeing Christ. - Galatians 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul says he has been crucified with Christ and now lives by faith in the Son of God. - Galatians 3:26 – For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul tells the Galatians that through faith in Christ Jesus they are all children of God. - Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Salvation is described as a gift received by grace through faith, not by works. - Ephesians 6:16 – Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
The shield of faith is pictured as quenching the flaming arrows of the evil one. - Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Paul is confident that God will complete the good work he began in his readers. - Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Paul, writing from prison, says he can face any circumstance through Christ who gives him strength. - Colossians 2:6-7 – As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Believers are urged to continue to live in Christ, rooted, built up, and overflowing with thanksgiving. - 1 Thessalonians 5:8 – But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Paul says believers should wear faith and love as a breastplate and hope as a helmet. - 2 Timothy 1:5 – When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Paul remembers Timothy's sincere faith, which first lived in his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. - 2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Near the end of his life Paul says he has fought the good fight and kept the faith. - Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The writer defines faith as assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things unseen. - Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Without faith it is impossible to please God, who rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Abraham obeyed when called to go to a place he did not know. - Hebrews 11:29-30 – By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land : which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Israel's crossing of the sea and the fall of Jericho are listed among acts of faith. - Hebrews 12:1-2 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us , and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, believers are to run with endurance, looking to Jesus. - James 1:3-4 – Knowing this , that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James says that trials test faith and produce endurance, which should finish its work. - James 2:17 – Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Faith without accompanying works is called dead, showing that trust shapes action. - James 2:22-23 – Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Abraham's faith worked with his actions, and his belief was counted to him as righteousness. - 1 Peter 1:6-7 – Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Peter says trials prove the genuineness of faith, which is worth more than gold. - 1 John 5:4 – For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
John says that everyone born of God overcomes the world through faith. - Jude 1:20-21 – But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude calls believers to build themselves up in their most holy faith and pray in the Spirit. - Revelation 2:10 – Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
To the church at Smyrna facing suffering, Jesus says to be faithful even to death.
More Random Verse Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do these verses come from?
Every verse on this page comes from a hand-picked list of 88 Bible verses on this theme. Each one was checked against the KJV text and comes with a short note on its context.
Can I get a completely random verse instead?
Yes. The main Bible verse randomizer chooses from all 31,102 verses.