Bible verses about challenges in life:
Introduction
The call to salvation is not a call to a perfect life with no challenges – we will only access that once we go to heaven. However, as long as we are still on earth, we can expect to face all manner of challenges.
The Psalmist spoke about this when he said that the righteous will have many afflictions, but he also added that God delivers them from their affiliations. (Psalms 34:19).
The following are seven Bible verses about different challenges that we can expect in life:
#1 Trials and hard times
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
The verse above opens with a rather strange statement – an invitation to “count it all joy” when undergoing trials.
It is not normal to respond to trials and hard times by rejoicing.
By inviting us to rejoice amid trials, James is encouraging us to change our perception of trials and hard times because there is value in adversity.
As James explains, your faith will be tested in adversity.
Trials should, therefore, be seen as an opportunity to strengthen one’s faith.
They can be compared to a crucible in which gold is refined.
The fire in the crucible burns out the impurities, and the result is refined gold that is more valuable. Similarly, trails come to refine us and bring out the intrinsic value.
The scripture continues to show that steadfastness will come as a result of the trials.
Another word for steadfastness is endurance.
This is the ability to remain firm and unwavering in the face of difficulties. And in a way, that is how faith works.
If you check the heroes of faith that are listed in Hebrews 11, you will realize that all of them exhibited endurance.
They were unwavering in their resolve. For the most part, this endurance was built through trials.
Even though steadfastness is a good quality to have, the purpose of the trials does not just stop at building that.
James explains that once endurance has come full circle, the believer will have gone through a transformative process that will make them “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
This finally answers the “how” of Jesus’ command for the church to be just as perfect as the heavenly father is (Mathew 5:48).
#2 Anxiety/worry
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Mathew 6:34
When faced with a seemingly complex problem, it is natural to worry.
Sometimes, the problem is not even too huge, but we are somehow conditioned by society to worry about even the tiniest of things.
We worry about the meal that we are yet to prepare.
We worry about tomorrow’s outfit.
We worry about the weather.
We worry about the politics.
You do not need to look very hard to find something that causes anxiety.
Jesus imparted a timeless piece of wisdom in the scripture above – every day has enough trouble of its own.
This meant that it was counterproductive to worry about things that were out of your control. Instead of being anxious about things that will happen in the future, have a more present-focused life.
Often, we let anxiety rob us of the beauty of the present. We are so busy worrying about tomorrow that we fail to maximize and enjoy the moment.
Jesus used the analogy of birds and lilies to expound on the need to avoid anxiety.
He said that the birds are never anxious about what they will eat and that the lilies of the valley are never anxious about their clothing. However, God always provides for them (Mathew 6:26-29). This reveals how worry destroys faith.
When faced with a situation, you can take one of two approaches – worry about it or walk in faith.
Worry will not solve the problem; but on the contrary, it will amplify it and even cause more problems. However, trusting in God’s providence will unleash his divine power, which will bring the solution you need.
#3 Fear
For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
There are two kinds of fear in the Bible – there is the good fear that the book of Proverbs talks about when it says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
This does not mean to “fear” God in the exact sense of the word.
It means to have a holy reverence for the Lord. However, the second kind of fear is an evil fear that has its source from the devil.
This fear is more than just an emotion – it is the greatest killer of faith.
As a preacher once put it, fear tolerated is faith contaminated.
Faith can’t operate in an environment of fear.
That explains why Jesus often rebuked people for their fear and lack of faith in the same breath.
For instance, when he was going to heal the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue, word came that she had already died, so there was no need to trouble Jesus anymore.
To this, Jesus replied, “Do not be afraid, only believe” (Mathew 5:36).
When the devil wants to do anything in your life, he will first bring fear into your heart.
He knows that if he can cause you to fear, he will easily get you to do his bidding.
This is why he often magnifies the problem than it is – just to make you fear.
He will try to show you how impossible the situation is. And the more you focus on the problem, the less you will think about the solution.
#4 Sickness
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him. Acts 10:38
The healthcare industry is worth at least $12 trillion – and that is just a ballpark figure.
From prescription meds to treatment at the hospital, governments, companies, and individuals are spending a lot of money and time on healthcare.
And even with all the effort, there is the burden of incurable diseases that continue to claim the lives of people every day.
It seems to be a hopeless situation until you consider the miracle healing power of Jesus.
During his public ministry, Jesus demonstrated that no sickness was too complex for his healing power.
He cleansed the lepers, restored sight to the blind, healed the maimed, and even raised the dead.
There are also lots of accounts of him delivering people who were demon-posed.
The scripture above summarises his ministry so well – he went about doing good and healing all who were and the power of the devil.
Just as Jesus promised in Luke 19:10, the son of man came to seek and save the lost. The word saved is derived from the Greek word sozo, which means saving from sickness and sin.
So Jesus did not just come to forgive us of our sins but also to heal us of our sickness.
Isiah made it clear that healing was part of the atonement when he said that we are healed by his stripes (Isaiah 53:5). This gives us the confidence to seek healing – even if we are afflicted by what modern medicine terms incurable.
It may be incurable, but every sickness can be healed by God’s miraculous power.
#5 Lust of the flesh
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:17
The flesh is always contrary to the spirit.
Even Paul admits to having a challenge with the flesh. In the book of Romans, he laments about how he often found himself doing things he didn’t want to do and struggling to do what he knew was right.
The flesh relies on the physical senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing).
For instance, when the devil tempted Eve, he appealed to her physical senses.
He convinced her that the fruit would be delicious, and the Bible says that Eve saw that the fruit was good and pleasing to the eye (Gen. 3:6)
Paul offers a simple solution of assured victory over the flesh – to walk in the spirit.
He reckons that if one walks in the spirit, one will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Walking in the spirit means ignoring the voice of the flesh (the physical senses) and instead following the voice of God. And it all starts by developing a close relationship with God through Bible study and prayer.
This will help you to know God and his voice and to be obedient to his bidding. If you do this, you can be sure to always hear the voice of God telling you, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21)
#6 Sadness/sorrow
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
Just before the scripture above, Nehemiah had assembled God’s people to hear the reading of the law.
This had not happened for a long time since they were in captivity.
The people are cut to their hearts on hearing the law of God because they were clearly in violation of God’s commands.
The solemn mood soon turns somber, and so Nehemiah encourages them not to be downcast but instead to go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks because “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The command to “send some to those who have nothing prepared” adds a layer of generosity to the celebration.
Nehemiah makes it clear that rejoicing should be a communal activity – that the entire nation should celebrate together.
This act of sharing reflects a sense of community and social responsibility. However, the phrase “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” is the gist of this verse.
Nehemiah was reminding the people of God of the importance of always being joyful – even when the mood was somber.
He insinuates that joy is the secret of an inner fortitude that they need to navigate the difficulties of life.
Apostle Paul must have meant the same thing when he said to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4).
See, joy is not just mere happiness – it is a divine ability to have a positive mental attitude in the face of adversity.
#7 Loss
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:54
Losing a loved one is anything but easy. But it is especially hard if you lose your loved one to sickness or accident.
You are not only devasted by the loss, but your heart aches as you miss them for the days to come.
Unfortunately, it is the reality of life because, as Paul observes, it is appointed for man to die once and, after that, face judgment (Hebrews 9:23). This means that as long as the Lord tarries, we will have to cope with death.
How we view death can have a huge impact on how we cope with it.
If we view death as a final destination, we will be extremely sorrowful to lose our loved ones. However, scripture reveals that death is just a passage into eternity.
It is not a period but a comma as we transcend to the next level. In the words of scripture, to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).
So, while it hurts to lose a loved one, we can take comfort in the fact that death is not final.
Jesus took the sting of death by giving us hope behind the grave, and when all is said and done, death will be swallowed up in victory when we reunite with our departed family and friends on the other side of the grave.
To sum it up, you can expect to have many challenges while on Earth.
When Jesus was preparing to leave, he told his disciples to expect to have many tribulations. However, he reminded them to be of good cheer because he had overcome (John 16:33).
To put it plainly, challenges are part and parcel of life, but God has promised us to not only see us through but to be right there by our side.
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