God's Words of Life on Problems

Editor’s Note: Problems. Troubles. Difficulties. We’re either right smack in the middle of a crisis, or just coming out of a difficult time… or headed into it and we don’t know it yet. For the Christian, though, we can be rooted in the Word of God and know that although He may not rescue us our of harm’s way, He will not only be with us throughout, but that in all things Jesus will work good out of bad.

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Bible verses and devotion to help us deal with problems…

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. — John 16:33

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. — 2 Timothy 2:3

It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him. — Philippians 1:29

[The Messiah] was despised and rejected by mankind, a Man of suffering, and familiar with pain. — Isaiah 53:3

Just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. — 2 Corinthians 1:5

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. — Romans 8:18

He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. — Job 23:10

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. — 1 Peter 4:14

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. — Romans 5:3-4

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. — James 1:2-3

[God] has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help. — Psalm 22:24

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. — Psalm 34:19

For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. — 2 Corinthians 12:10

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. — James 1:12

Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. — Hebrews 2:18

When I called, You answered me; You greatly emboldened me. — Psalm 138:3

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. — Romans 8:26

The Lord disciplines those He loves. — Proverbs 3:12

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. — Ephesians 6:12

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. — 1 Timothy 6:12

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders. — Deuteronomy 33:12

In the day of trouble
He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. — Psalm 27:5

You have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in Your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. — Psalm 61:3-4

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. — Psalm 91:1

You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat. — Isaiah 25:4

We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. — Psalm 33:20

Devotional Thought on Problems

There comes a time when God deliberately tests our faith, not so we will be overcome, but so we might grasp the validity of our faith and know it to be real. From God’s hand comes the cumulative exam designed to reinforce our learning about Him and His work in our lives: Unemployment. Divorce. Infertility. The death of a parent. The illness of a child. The cruelty of an acquaintance.

Someone likened this process to the kite-flyer who takes the string of a kite and runs until the kite ascends into the sky. The kite will not rise without the wind. Wind is necessary to fly a kite, and kites rise not with the wind but against it. So it is with us. We will not rise to patience and maturity unless we ascend against trials.

We must meet our test not with the bleary eyes of a worried novice, but with the confidence of a student who is well acquainted with the words of the professor. God is educating us, day by day, about how He has worked in our lives and in the lives of those we love.

When God tests our faith, He also strengthens us so our kite will fly in any weather.

Excerpted with permission from God’s Words of Life for Mothers, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

If the Lord hasn’t tested you yet… buckle up. It’s not something believers can avoid. God will bring testing into our lives in the form of suffering, difficulty, loss, infertility, bereavement, marital strain, teenagers going off the rails, financial crisis, etc. He allows it for our good. He ordains if for our strengthening. Do you want to fly? Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you about persevering in faith through the problems of life. ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full