Jesus tells us plainly, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Storms are inevitable for us to face in life. We will be hurt, lose loved ones, face illness, be slandered or betrayed by those we should have been able to trust, and at times struggle to recognise who is safe. These experiences can either harden us or draw us closer to God. Resilient faith allows us to travel through the pain and difficulties of life, knowing that our character is being refined and our trust in God is deepening.
The Bible allows us to know that faithful believers before us also struggled but were sustained during hardships by their faith in God. The following passages and books of the Bible are encouraging as they acknowledge suffering, sadness and lament …
- Psalm 6: A plea for mercy from a psalmist exhausted by grief and enemies.
- Psalm 13: A psalm that repeatedly asks “How long, O Lord?” before concluding with an affirmation of God’s steadfast love.
- Psalm 22: Opens with the anguished cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (quoted by Jesus on the cross) which is then followed by a declaration of praise and deliverance.
- The Book of Job: Which explores why God might allow someone to suffer (as summarised by The Bible Project).
- Ecclesiastes: Explores the ways that we try to find hope in the things of life while acknowledging that we really don’t have control over our lives. It finishes by encouraging us to look towards the day of God’s ultimate judgment, when He will destroy evil and bring justice.
We need to also put on the whole armour of God. This daily devotion written by The Bible Society is encouraging…
We can also find encouragement in the Bible as we read about Jesus’ compassion for those who were grieving and struggling…
- The Bleeding Woman (Mark 5:25-34): A woman suffering from a chronic condition for 12 years, which left her socially and religiously ostracised, touched Jesus’s cloak in faith. Jesus stopped to find her, addressed her tenderly as “daughter,” and restored her to complete wholeness and peace.
- The Crippled Woman (Luke 13:10-17): Seeing a woman who had been bent over and physically crippled for 18 years, Jesus summoned her forward and immediately healed her. He publicly defended her right to be healed, calling her a “daughter of Abraham”
- The Widow at Nain (Luke 7:11-15): Jesus witnessed a grieving widow burying her only son. Moved with deep compassion for her desperate situation, He comforted her, and brought her son back to life.
- The Samaritan Woman (John 4:7-26): Jesus broke social and cultural barriers by engaging in a deep theological conversation with a woman ostracised by her own community. He listened to her struggles and offered her “living water,” validating her worth.
Faithful Christian friends who walk along the road of life with us through hard and challenging times, are deeply valuable. But don’t forget to draw near to the One who loves you so much that He died for you.
Jesus is trustworthy.
Philippa Cleall 