18 Strong Bible Verses About Depending on God
What does it take to depend on God? Our world is forever changing and the challenges that come with living for God in a world that opposes Him seem to be increasing. More than ever we are realizing that this world is not as dependable as we thought. However, God is dependable. We can learn more about Him through Bible verses about depending on God.
We’re learning we need to transfer our reliance on the world or security in ourselves to total dependence on God. But what does that actually look like?
- What does it mean to depend on God?
- What does the Bible say about relying on the world?
- Can we really depend on God alone?
If you find yourself asking these questions, this article is for you. It’ll lead you through Bible stories, illustrations, and Bible verses that answer the question, “What does the Bible say about depending on God?”
Let’s find out.
All translations in this post are from the New International Version, unless otherwise noted. Please visit Bible Gateway to find these verses in your preferred translation.
What does it mean to depend on God?
Our allegiance tends to lay in the things that feed our faith. That’s why it’s important to choose here and now where your faith lies: in God or in the ways of the world? Some of us try to operate in both.
Here’s what we fail to consider when we choose “both.” If our security is in anything other than God, we’ll compromise our relationship with God to ensure our security. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24
Depending on God means that we look to Him for the things we need in life and we trust Him to direct us in our lives. It’s another way of declaring that our faith and confidence is in God and not the people, circumstances, or provisions of the world.
Why do we rely on God? Because You can depend on God. As we learn in bible verses about depending on God, He is the one that sustains us both now and forever!
Society teaches that we only live one life and it’s here and now, so our focus should be on the here and now. They say, if we focus on money we’ll never have any worries. If we have all the possessions and material things we’ll be happy. If we find relationships that secure these things, we’ve got the best life can give.
Although those things may make for a great time on earth they overlook one key fact. This life is not the end. The best the world can offer still falls exceedingly short of the best that God offers. And living for this world will only ever leave us ill-prepared (at best) for eternity.
The things of this world will fade away. So we steward them well while we have them, but we remember, our dependence is on God and God alone.
Jesus teaches it like this, So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-33
That is one of my favorite Bible verses about depending on God. It reminds me where my faith and my priorities should be – in God. I can depend on God.
An even more pressing truth: You and I, we can’t afford not to.
What does the Bible say about relying on the world?
What do Bible verses about depending on God say about reliance? The Bible tells us that we can’t rely on the world to lead us in truth or in the way of life.
Paul teaches the Christians in Rome, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
The wisdom of the world teaches us to feed our lusts and put our trust in faulty things. It is self-seeking and vain. Because the ways of the world are polar opposite of God’s ways, we can’t live by the standards of the world and still wholeheartedly live for God. The wisdom of God is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (see James 3:13-18).
Jesus states, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (see John 14:6).
If we don’t depend on God we won’t accept His ways or wisdom.
If we don’t depend on God we won’t accept His truth.
If we don’t depend on God we won’t know eternal life with Him.
It is better for us to depend on God not man.
What are the Benefits of Depending on God?
There are a lot of benefits of depending on God. It’s easier to depend on Him when life is going well. The temptation is to shift our dependence when life gets hard. If we want to honor God with our whole lives we have to learn to depend on God in hard times too. What can you expect when you put your faith and dependence on God instead of the world? Bible verses about depending on God teach that you can expect that:
- God will lead you.
- God will help you.
- God will give you Peace.
- You’ll have Hope.
- Eternal life.
- God will provide.
Let’s take a look at each of these benefits individually.
Depending on God to Lead You
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
This depend on God Bible verse sums up perfectly why depending on God is beneficial for the Christian woman (or Christian in general). He will direct our steps. I hear this verse and I think back to Moses and the Israelites. If anyone knew oppression it was them. If anyone knew bondage, it was them.
Through a string a miraculous event and bold obedience God LEAD the Israelites to freedom. He ordered their steps. Read the full biblical account in the book of Exodus.
The Israelites got to experience “following God’s lead” in an incredibly supernatural way. As they traveled through the desert on the way to the promised land God went before them as a fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (see Exodus 13:21). We may not see the pillar of fire or the cloud by night, but according to these Bible verses, He leads us just the same.
Proverbs 16:9 – In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
John 16:13 – But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Depending On God for Help
When people talk about depending on God in hard times I like to point them to David and the Psalms. David knew hard times. He spent much of his life with a bounty on his head. His own son tried to kill him and steal his kingdom from him. There was a lot more to his life than the highs of wealth and kingship (we don’t talk about them much but the Bible does). Yet David wrote Psalms like these:
Psalm 28:7 – 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 9:10 – Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 37:5 – Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him.
You can depend on God in hard times.
Related: 30 Encouraging Bible Verses for the Elderly
Peace and Contentment from the Lord
Peace is just a portion of what God has for us when we depend on Him. When we feel storm-tossed those who depend on the Lord have the gift of peace. One of the best examples in the Bible of living in this kind of peace is the life of Paul. He faced prison, house-arrest, beatings, stoning, and at one point was even shipwrecked – yet He was at peace.
Why? Because He knew God was trustworthy. Depending on God allowed him to be at peace and content in his circumstances, no matter their weight. Paul has this to say about contentment and peace during hard times:
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13.
Philippians 4:8-9 – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Peace is the product of our dependence on God and commitment to His ways. We have this peace because we know that whatever happens God will make good of it and we can trust Him with the details and moments of our lives.
Depending on God and Receiving Hope
One of the ways Paul describes God in his letters to the churches is with this name, The God of hope.
Paul says this hope is a reason to rejoice. Why? Because it’s anchored in the love of God; a love that does not fail. I can depend on God because His love is forever. His love is the source of my hope.
Lamentations 3:21-23 – Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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.
Hebrews 6:19 – We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, …
1 Timothy 4:10 – That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
One of the greatest benefits of depending on God is our hope.
The Promise of Eternal Life
God can handle the details of our lives. Even greater than that, when we depend on God and make Jesus the Lord of our lives, we learn to then trust Him with our eternity. Here’s our promise.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
One story I absolutely LOVE in the Bible that demonstrates this in full is the story of Rahab. In terms of salvation, it’s probably one of the most overlooked stories in the Bible too. That’s a shame, because there is so much hope and life to gain from looking at Rahab and what God did in her life in full biblical context.
She wasn’t just the prostitute that made a quick deal and saved her and her family. It goes so much deeper than that. Rahab’s story is a foreshadowing of the gift and salvation that was to come through Jesus.
If you’re even the slightest bit curious how her story is a parallel to the gospel, I invite you to study the full picture in A Rahab Bible Study. At the very least you’ll come to understand the gift of dependence on God. I believe you’ll gain much more than that though.
Depending on God to Provide
We covered the importance of depending on God to provide in the beginning of this article, but I think it’s beneficial to emphasize it here too.
Relying on the ways and things of the world is a sure fire way to get stuck serving the world. The Bible describes that type of reliance as bondage. It keeps us tied to things that compromise our commitment to God and righteousness.
Relationships, possessions, money; those things serve this world, but they don’t prepare us for eternity. Depending on God prepares us for the here and now, and also forever. To stand up and say, I depend on God alone, is a bold stance. It’s also the most life-giving choice we can make.
Do Bible verses about depending on God say we can really depend on God alone?
Absolutely! God has been faithful from the beginning of time and He promises to remain that way. It’s the very essence of who He is. We can depend on God because God is faithful.
Are you feeling encouraged?! I hope these Bible verses about depending on God and illustrations have encouraged you toward a more confident trust in the Lord. I promise you, it’s worth it. You can depend on God to carry you through every part of this life and into eternity. The first step is making the choice. Say it out loud, “I depend on God alone.”
The next step: Keep at it.
In every circumstance, the best place for you to be is in the care of God.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Teresa Trumbly Lamsam, Ph.D., is an accomplished Social Scientist and Journalist. Passionate about establishing credibility in the digital realm, she champions transparent and trustworthy online content. She is dedicated to producing content that sparks curiosity and nourishes the heart and mind.
