October can be a lovely month of traditions, gatherings, and a return to routine. Sometimes, it can hold new challenges that are difficult to manage. Whatever faces us each day, we can look to the Lord in faith for His provision and His strength.
These Bible verses for October, or any other month of the year, are meant to encourage you in your faith in Jesus Christ. Read over these scriptures and pray through what you face today.
Don’t miss the link at the end of this article to download a 31-Day Bible Reading plan for “Stepping Out in Faith”!
Bible Verses about Faith for October
Our faith in God is so important, not only now but for eternity!
Our faith in the Gospel message makes our personal relationship with Jesus Christ possible, trusting in Him for our salvation, our purpose, and our eternal life in Him.
These Bible verses for October from both the Old Testament and the New Testament explore different facets of living a life of faith. Whether you are new in your faith or have walked with God for many years, you can be encouraged in your faith.
Of course, these October Bible verses about faith aren’t just for October – read over them any day of the year!
Many of these scriptures and several more are included in the “Stepping Out in Faith” Bible Reading Plan. Find the download link at the end of this post.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure to learn more.
Understanding Faith: A Foundation in Jesus Christ
To understand faith, we first need to look at what it means. A short definition is “confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept.” God’s Word elaborates on this.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.”
Our hope and belief culminate in our faith in our Christ Jesus. Even though we don’t see Him in the flesh, we can see His hand in our lives, working out His will for His purposes in our lives.
Matthew Henry puts it this way in his commentary on Hebrews 11. “Faith proves to the mind, the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye.”
Our relationship with God requires faith. We won’t understand everything that there is to know about Him in this lifetime. We can and should study the Bible to know what we can about Him and His character.
But between our knowledge of Him and our knowing Him fully, there is a measure of faith required, one that cries out to our Savior, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
We may want to understand everything about God before we put our faith in Him. But we, in our flesh, cannot do this. The Holy Spirit Himself bears witness of God to us.
We accept many things on faith. When we sit in a chair, we don’t carefully examine each joint, nail, or screw before we sit.
When we drive, we put faith in the other people to follow the rules of the road, for traffic signals to work, and for signs to be correct.
It is not only OK, but it is good to want to know more about the nature of God and who He is. It can be helpful to look at apologetic evidence like Josh McDowell or Alisa Childers.
But our faith will always require some trust in God to be who says He is and do what He says He will do.
The Role of Faith During Difficult Times
Hard times, or even the lack of good times or convenient circumstances, can define our relationships with others.
We might find that we were only friends with someone because of a circumstance, like working together or having kids in the same class.
We could face an illness or a trying time, and some people fade away because they don’t know what to say or do.
Or we might be the “go-to” person for help or advice, and find that they aren’t there for us when we are needed.
But it’s not just other people to us; all of us have fallen short in being a good friend to others when the storms of life roll in. We are all capable of being just a “fair-weather friend.”
While we don’t need to be all things to all people, even our friends, we do need to examine if this is the only type of friend that we are to other people in our lives.
We must also examine our relationship with God beyond the good and happy circumstances. He wants a deep and meaningful relationship with us, but this often means that we must go through trials to produce endurance and perseverance.
These trials often show us that God is our stronghold of life in these difficult times. He will strengthen us and see us through these challenges.
Isaiah 40:31 WEBBE “But those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.”
This encouraging verse reminds us that God will give us the strength we need as we put our faith in Him. This might not look exactly as you picture.
We can foolishly expect God to work according to our timetable and our agenda. But God knows what is best for us and will give to us according to His will.
This may mean getting just enough strength for the day, the hour, or the minute we are facing. It might mean tearing down our careful preparations and contingency plans as we face trials we never imagined.
In it all, we can wait on the Lord, and He will give us strength for all that concerns us today.
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23 is a chapter many turn to for comfort through trials. It doesn’t get much more serious that “the valley of the shadow of death.”
These aren’t the fair-weather or prosperity circumstances that some pockets of Christianity will promise you. These are very real trials that people face every day.
In them, God will be with us. We don’t need to fear evil. God shepherds us, even with a firm guidance of His rod and staff, and we are comforted.
Our faith can grow through these difficult times, strengthening us for other challenges in our lives, and helping us to encourage others who encounter similar circumstances.
Let’s continue to look at Bible verses about faith for the month of October (or any other time of the year!)
Please note that most of the scriptures in these articles are from the World English Bible, but you can read in whatever Bible translation you prefer.
Faith in Action: Trusting in the Lord’s Plan
As we grow in our faith, God may give us more opportunities to demonstrate that faith. He wants to grow our trust in Him, turning to Him in faith and in prayer.
Proverbs 3:5-6 WEBBE “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We are often trying to make sense of what is happening to us. While that can be helpful to process our circumstances, our understanding of why something is happening shouldn’t determine whether or not we look to the Lord for guidance.
Despite what the world says, we should not just do what our hearts tell us to do, leaning on our own understanding. Instead, we should seek the Lord through prayer, His Word, and wise Christian counsel. He will make our paths straight as we seek to do His will.
Seeking God through prayer demonstrates faith that we are calling on the name of the Lord to see us through our present circumstances. These Bible verses from the New Testament remind us that we can count on God for answered prayers.
Matthew 21:22 “All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.”
It would be tempting to read these as, “Whatever I want, God will give me!” This is not the heart behind these verses.
Both of these verses presume a faith in God that would want to do His will, and not just amass riches. God isn’t a vending machine, inserting a prayer and getting a new car.
Instead, these scriptures encourage us to pray in faith, knowing that God will answer according to His perfect plan for us and for others.
It can be hard to wait for these answers to prayer. These Old Testament verses encourage us. They were both addressed to the Israelites but can serve as an example as to how God wants us to be strong and fearless in Him.
Joshua 1:9 “Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah 41:10 WEBBE “Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”
As Christians, God is with us wherever we go. All of what is described in these verses is accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are never truly alone.
Faith and Obedience: Walking in the Will of God
The concept of faith is one thing; living it out is another. It’s not just saying, “Well, that’s true.” It’s surrendering to God, not just initially but day after day.
We don’t earn our salvation by our works of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), but we demonstrate our faith by our works.
James 2:26 “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.”
God wants our obedience in faith to His will. This shows our true and sincere belief in Him.
When we step out in faith, we obey God’s will and His commandments even when the world would tell us we’re foolish or old fashioned.
The Power of Faith: Overcoming Challenges
Our faith in God prepares us to face challenges from the hand of the enemy. We don’t face these problems only, but with God’s power, through faith.
Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.”
This verse is from the passage of Ephesians 6 that describes the armor of God. We can wear this protection every day as we face life’s challenges.
Our faith in God helps us to defend ourselves against each attack that Satan might throw our way.
The phrase “fiery darts” can be a helpful metaphor to hold in our minds as we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. Some of these darts can sting and wear us down, while other darts can instantly cause a raging fire.
As we defend ourselves with the shield of faith, we respond with “God is going to take care of this and guide me through this,” instead of responding with fear and defeat.
We see an example in the Bible of someone who believed in God’s promises, even when circumstances looked impossible.
God had promised Abraham that he would be a father to a nation, having many descendants; but at around 100 years, Abraham did not even have one child. He still believed and lived life in his hope of that promise he had received from God.
Romans 4:20-21 “Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.”
Abraham kept believing, even when everyone around him probably told him to give up. He trusted in God’s promise.
We also get the opportunity to strengthen our faith in prayer. When we face problems, we often respond with fear and anxiety. We can trust God with our circumstances, and give Him our worries.
Philippians 4:6-7 “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”
The English Standard Version says “”in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.” Supplication might be an unfamiliar word today but it is an apt word, as it describes when “one party humbly or earnestly asks another party to provide something.”
As we humble ourselves before God in prayer, to ask Him our requests with faith, He will give us His peace. This will help us through the difficult challenges in life.
Faith in the Midst of Doubt
As truth is debated hotly each day, as to whether it is absolute, or whose truth matters more, it can be harder to live a life of faith. Some might tell you, “Well, that God stuff is true for you, but not for me.”
Other people’s agreement with you doesn’t define whether or not something is true, but it can be discouraging.
Other times, you may encounter a difficult time and wonder where God is, especially if it isn’t something you’ve faced before.
We can sometimes act as if we had this agreement with God to what we will and won’t allow in our lives as trials, and react with hurt and doubt when He breaks our imaginary contract.
Let us instead react with faith, even in the midst of our doubts, that God is true and His promises are real. These verses from the New Testament remind us of how we should respond to these times of doubt.
James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.”
Luke 17:6 “The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
We can be honest with God about our doubts – He knows our hearts! But we should also pray with faith, knowing that He can answer our prayers far beyond what we can ever imagine.
Jesus offers us encouragement to believe even when we can’t see, despite our doubts.
John 20:29 “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
We are of a generation who has not seen Christ in the flesh, The Lord calls us blessed for not seeing, but still believing.
Mark 9:23 “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
This might be another scripture people use to support their desire for what they want. But in the context of this Bible verse, Jesus is answering someone who is asking Him to heal his son, “if You [Jesus] can do anything.” (V. 22)
The New American Standard Bible 1995 translation says Jesus answered, “‘If you can?’” Which in today’s punctuation, might look like “‘If you can?!?’”
The Lord wants us to pray in faith, and trust Him for the answer.
Free Printable 31-Day Bible Verses for October Reading Plan
Many of the Bible verses for October listed above are included in this FREE 31-Day Bible Reading Plan for October. We have it in two formats – labeled for October, and labeled with the topic, “Stepping Out in Faith.”
Pick up this free daily Bible Reading Plan about Faith: 31-Day Scripture Reading Plan in our Gumroad Store. It’s useful for daily Bible study, choosing a Bible verse of the day, selecting memory verses, or deepening your understanding of the Bible.
You’ll also find these straightforward Bible study and reflection questions included in the free download. Use them for your own quiet time or for studying with others.
- What does the Bible say faith is? (Hebrews 11:1)
- What are some ways God strengthens our faith?
- How should we respond with faith in difficult circumstances?
- Write out a prayer asking God to strengthen your faith, or list out some prayer requests for your faith that you can pray over later.
Other Bible Reading Plans for October
Looking for something different? Consider these options for your Bible verses for October.
- Kingdom Blogger’s Fear is a Liar reading plan
- Ruffled Mango’s The Lamb of God reading plan
- Raise Your Sword’s Treasures in Christ reading plan
Whether you are looking at these Bible verses about faith during the month of October, or any other time of the year, it is always a great idea to learn more about persevering in your faith in God.
May God bless you as you learn more about Him, and live a life of faith!
Dear God,
Thank You for those who will be reading these Bible verses for October and learning more about You and faith in You.
May their faith be strengthened as they meditate on these scriptures and grown in their understanding of You.
Help them to step out in faith!
In Your Precious Name, Amen.
If you like this, you may also like Prayers for October and Bible Verses for Men.
