When It All Seems to Go Awry: Bible Verses About Life Struggles

None of us is exempt from experiencing life struggles. We can’t insulate ourselves from the loss of loved ones, hard relationships, work issues, and health challenges. To face life’s struggles well requires resilience, wisdom, and support. If you have the right frame of mind about life challenges, that can go a long way to equipping you to face them well.

The Bible contains verses and stories that can help us face life’s struggles well by shaping our mindset and attitude toward them. It also gives us a deeper understanding and reminds us of our resources to press on despite those struggles.

God’s words about life struggles

The Bible is a big book, and it contains many stories that recount different ways life can be hard. It contains stories about childlessness, the death of loved ones, betrayals by close friends, oppression, and so much more.

Scripture recounts the lives of real people in real situations, and that can inspire our courage as we face different life challenges. Some Bible verses below could help you as you face struggles in your own life.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33, NIV

Becoming a disciple of Jesus does not insulate you from experiencing difficulty in life. In some ways, as the next verse will show, becoming Jesus’ disciple puts you in the crosshairs of struggles you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Jesus tells His disciples up front that if they follow after Him, they will have trouble. They won’t avoid struggles simply because they follow Jesus. He tells them this so that they have peace. Knowing that struggles will come will prepare the disciples, and they won’t be surprised when hardship comes.

The other, main source of peace comes from the fact that Jesus Himself has overcome the world. The world threw everything it could at Him, and Jesus died the death of a criminal. But He didn’t stay dead; He overcame death and rose again to new life.

That resurrection power is available to His followers, and it equips them to face life struggles with deep, enduring hope. We need hope to face life’s struggles, and there is no greater hope than the Christian hope of resurrection and all it implies for our daily living.

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. 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

Peter wrote this letter to people who were being persecuted for being Christians. He tells them to not be surprised by it all, urging them that if they are to suffer, let it be because they are following Jesus and not because they’re criminals. They are to rejoice because they are following in Jesus’ footsteps.

The Lord also suffered, but He was raised to new life and received glory. That will be the path of His disciples, and knowing that can empower you to courageously face struggles as a Christian.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4, NIV

We all face trials in life. A difficult boss, complicated relationships, sickness and broken bodies and minds, financial problems, and much else. At first, it’s a little weird that James says to rejoice in facing these trials.

However, you’re not rejoicing because of the trial itself; that wouldn’t be a healthy way to look at things. Rather, you rejoice at the trial because of what the trial is accomplishing for you. The only way to learn and gain resilience is to go through circumstances that test and grow that capacity.

Difficult things will happen in life, there’s no doubt about it. The world is imperfect, and it hurls all manner of challenges at us. The question is not whether trials will come, but when, and how we will face them when they do. Facing them with the expectation that it’ll make you stronger, help you rely more on God, and grow your capacity to love God and others, can make the ordeal more bearable.

Maturing through the turmoil

It’s not always easy to journey through life’s struggles. Sometimes you can have doubts about God’s goodness, you may lack the strength and joy to cope, and it can be hard to go on. You don’t have to face life’s struggles on your own.

The communities that you are part of can offer you support. You can turn to friends, family, and your spiritual community for support in times of need. You can also turn to a professional counselor if you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a trained guide to help you navigate your struggles.

The outside perspective of a counselor can help you better understand the struggles you’re going through, and to realize the resources you have on hand to face them well. Reach out to connect with a counselor in our office to find the help you need to work through your life struggles successfully.