Have you been struggling lately? Has it felt like nothing seems to be going the way you want, and life is just weighing you down? Have you questioned whether God is aware of your situation and hearing your prayers? If so, you’re not alone.
All of us struggle through hardships at one time or another. All of us are faced with adversities that can feel like they’re pushing us to a breaking point. Let’s be honest, life is hard! Sometimes it feels like it takes every ounce of strength just to get through the day, and by the end, we are mentally drained, physically exhausted, and spiritually depleted.
Whether it’s experiencing job loss, battling health issues, chauffeuring kids to a hundred extracurricular activities, navigating relational drama, or simply trying to put food on the table after paying bills that always seem to grow, every one of us endures different trials in one way or another.
Times like these often seem as if we’re swimming upstream, taking one step forward and two steps back, or slowly sinking in quicksand. If this is you right now, please hear these words: don’t give up, don’t lose hope, hold on tight to your confidence in the Lord!
Biblical Examples of Perseverance
Nobody enjoys going through trials in their life. It isn’t fun to struggle with or suffer through periods of immense difficulty, but the reality is that facing adversities is simply part of life due to the fallen world in which we live.
Even among people who appear to be carefree because of achieving some measure of success or affluence according to this world’s standards, more often than not, it has resulted from countless hours of shedding blood, sweat, tears, and overcoming frequent failures that preceded it.
It is very common that even small amounts of success are only found after enduring countless experiences of trials and hardships. Just like a miner seeking to find a vein of gold, it will never be discovered without first digging through layers and layers of solid rock and rugged stone to uncover the reward buried beneath it.
One of the best ways to find encouragement and reassurance that God is not oblivious to the trials in our own lives is to reflect upon and remind ourselves of the many examples of His faithfulness to others seen throughout the Bible who also encountered tremendous periods of adversity.
Joseph is one of the first who comes to mind, who suffered and struggled through hardship for years before reaching a time in his life when his situation improved and he could rest a little easier. It was only after being betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery in a foreign land, thrown in prison, and forgotten about for two years, that circumstances in his life finally turned around and he could breathe a sigh of relief (Ge. 37, 39-41).
Like Joseph, Daniel had a similar story. Captured and carried off into Babylonian captivity as a teenager, Daniel was placed into the care of the chief of the eunuchs in Babylon, most likely forced to be a eunuch himself, and indoctrinated in the language, academics, and culture of his captors (Da. 1:1-21).
Through no fault of his own, he was threatened with execution resulting from King Nebuchadnezzar’s command after his wise men failed to recount and interpret a dream he had. Even in the face of such peril, Daniel trusted God and was delivered from certain death (Da. 2:1-49).
His friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azaraiah, better known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, were no strangers to trials either. Refusing to bow down and worship a towering golden image fashioned for the Babylonian king, these faithful young men trusted in God to the point of actually being cast into a blazing furnace to be burned alive for their disobedience! (Da. 3:1-30)
Even then, from the midst of the fire, God proved His power and ability to care for and rescue those who put their trust in Him.
The Purpose Behind Trials
These are but a few examples from Scripture of individuals who persevered through tremendous times of difficulty, facing trials that seemed almost hopeless! If that weren’t enough, let’s not neglect mentioning others like David who was pursued by King Saul for years before ascending the throne, Jeremiah, who was beaten, thrown into a pit, and carried away captive just for trying to warn his people about coming judgment, and Paul who was flogged, stoned, shipwrecked, robbed, and more while trying to advance the Gospel of Jesus.
Examples like these remind, inspire, encourage, and strengthen our faith in God when dealing with hardships of our own. They reassure us that we aren’t alone in dealing with trials, that God is not ignorant of our situation, and that He is capable and faithful to lead us through life’s crucibles no matter how impossible or insurmountable they may seem.
Growing Through Adversity
What can sometimes be difficult for us as Christians to hear and accept is that the trials, obstacles, and hardships in our lives have a purpose.
God uses times of difficulty to help us grow, stretch our faith, and produce endurance in our walk with Him. In other words, persevering through struggles builds character, helping us to become more like Jesus.
The apostle James challenges believers to actually be joyful when facing hardships, declaring, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Ja. 1:2-3).
Echoing James, the apostle Paul similarly says, “…we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope” (Ro. 5:3-4).
Likewise, Peter affirms that through our faith in Jesus, we have an imperishable reward awaiting us in heaven, and therefore, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pe. 1:6-7).
Finding Strength in Faith
Examining these verses from three different Biblical authors who were themselves no strangers to hardships, we see the consistency in God’s message for followers of Jesus to “consider it all joy,” “exult in,” and “greatly rejoice” when faced with times of distress.
Of course, such responses are counterintuitive to the way one normally reacts to hardship, and that is precisely the point. God uses trials as opportunities for each of us to reorient our thinking about the situation desiring that, despite the pain, we understand He is working to producing spiritual growth and maturity in our faith in Jesus.
Like iron thrust into a refiner’s fire meant to reveal and eliminate impurities, reemerging anew lighter, stronger, and more durable, having been transformed into steel, God uses the troublesome circumstances in our lives to forge strength, purify our character, and increase our capacity to endure the onslaught of tribulations in a world that is hostile to Christ. And that’s the goal, right? As Christians, our desire is to be conformed to the image of Jesus by offering our lives as a sacrifice (Ro. 8:29, 12:1-2).
Just as every bodybuilder knows, developing muscle requires being stretched by encountering and grappling against increasing levels of resistance with regular frequency. The adage, “no pain, no gain,” rings true. Our faith is no different.
Supporting One Another Through Difficult Times
In view of everything above, it should also be acknowledged that enduring hardship is not easy, pain is real, suffering is difficult, and fatigue has a very real effect on our mental, physical, and emotional states. My intention is not to minimize any troublesome circumstances someone may be battling or downplay any suffering anyone may be experiencing, rather, my desire is to encourage and remind you that if you have trusted in Jesus, He holds you in the palm of His hand (Jn. 10:28).
Just like a skillful artisan creating a masterpiece, God continually molds, shapes, and refines us to accomplish the plans He has set before us (Ep. 2:10). So, lean on Him for strength to endure, comfort when afflicted, and guidance in times of uncertainty. As you do, you just may discover that He is transforming you into a man with the grit or a woman with the moxie necessary to accomplish tremendous feats and mighty exploits to advance His kingdom!
Also remember, that as members of the Body of Christ, we don’t have to fight our battles alone. Brothers and sisters in Christ are called to bear one another’s burdens (Ga. 6:2), encourage, and build up one another (1 Th. 5:11). If you are overwhelmed by circumstances that seem beyond your ability to manage, talk to a pastor or reach out to a professional Christian counselor who can come alongside and assist you with navigating your situation.
Receiving help when you are struggling isn’t a sign of weakness or failure, it’s an opportunity for God to work through the hands of fellow believers to continue developing and cultivating your character into the likeness of Christ. Even Jesus received assistance to bear His cross on the way to Calvary (Lk. 23:26).
Responding to Trials with Faith
Being confronted with trials and hardships may be unavoidable, but the way in which we respond is up to us. Instead of giving in to natural tendencies like anxiety, discouragement, or fear, press into God, trust in His ability to deliver you, and take joy in knowing “…that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
In doing so, my prayer is that you will be able to confidently share the same sentiments as the Apostle Paul, knowing that you have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith, looking forward to the heavenly reward that awaits you (2 Ti. 4:7-8).
