How to See God’s Love in Challenging Bible Verses
Do you have a list of challenging Bible verses you wish had not been included?
Today’s verses fall into that category for me. I remember hearing them many years ago and thinking I don’t know how this can be true. I don’t even want to think about it.
What are they?
They begin with these words from Paul…
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
Romans 5:3–4
As soon as I read the words rejoice in the same sentence as problems and trials, I want to check out. Truthfully, they seem like the perfect example word contradiction!
The rest … it’s hard to get to endurance and strength of character when it feels impossible to push past “problems and trials.”
Yes, I found these verses challenging, but for the first recipients of Paul’s letter, they were words of encouragement. Persecution and suffering were daily occurrences for them.
Now, after a few more decades of personal experience and just looking around, I’ve learned that problems and trials are more common than anyone wants to admit. Given enough time, we all experience them.
And that’s why we need Paul’s challenging words AND the ones that followed…
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.
Romans 5:5
The point is not in the challenging verses but in the helpful truth that we aren’t alone. God loves us and has given His Spirit to be with and within us. We don’t have to worry about getting stuck in the muck. God is with us through every circumstance, promising to give us what we need to endure, grow, and live with hope.
Although the following promise was written to Israel, we can trust it applies to all of God’s children…
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
Isaiah 43:1b–2
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
And the next promise became my life verse after the Lord helped me endure through painful problems and trials…
Whom have I in heaven but you?
Psalm 73:26
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.
When I first learned of Paul’s counsel about problems, endurance, strength of character, and hope, I thought it would be up to me. Yes, I was young and foolish.
But I’ve learned many times over … God keeps His promises. He has never abandoned me. I’ve never had to face my problems alone.
And I believe with all my heart that by God’s grace, mercy, and love … you won’t either.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Understand that
Challenging Bible Verses
Express God’s Love
Father, I don’t like to think about problems and trials. I know I don’t want to experience them. I could never understand how it would be possible for me to rejoice in them. Words like these from Paul have often made me want to pretend I’m an ostrich and stick my head in the sand.
But by Your grace and the power of Your Spirit, I have learned the lesson is not about rejoicing in but rejoicing through. As I’ve traveled through “impossible” circumstances, You have never left me. When the storms have raged around me, You have held me close, giving me unimaginable peace and strength.
When the storms have passed, I can look back knowing that You were the One who helped me endure. And every time, You have made me stronger for the future because I have the confidence that my hope is in You alone.
You have made it possible for me to know that my mental, emotional, or physical health (heart and flesh) may fail, but You will never leave me. You lovingly give me the strength I need to endure with hope.
By Your grace, I can do all things, even live through problems and trials, through Christ who gives me strength. I thank and praise You today, tomorrow, and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf wrote…
“Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely. … He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.”
Our loving Heavenly Father loves us too much to leave us alone through our problems and trials. He is the perfect parent who lovingly holds us and guides us through them. And when we reach our eternal home, we will understand that He is the One who has given us what we need to endure, strengthening our character to trust Him with living hope for whatever lies ahead.
May we praise Him today and every day for the blessing of His love and for His Spirit, who helps us understand the truth about challenging Bible verses.
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I so needed this today, thank you! I’m having eye issues and struggling with the strength to endure what may be ahead. The outcome is in God’s control. I’ve had past eye surgery and He carried me through it then and will do so if necessary in the future. 🙏🏻❤️
Hi, Lynne. I’m sorry you’re going through this struggle. I’m praying for you and asking the Lord to fill you with His peace, to guide your doctors, and to safe carry you through as needed. God bless you!
I appreciate your words. Right now I’m in a bad season of faith. Though Jesus never wavered from me, I only wish that I could say the same. Two years ago, I allowed life to creep into and overcrowd my time that gradually pushed God off from being a priority. While I continued to listen to sermons and pray, reading the Word took a heavy backseat. Gradually I reached a point that my heart feels cold, despondent, feel that my prayers are pointless after all how can God hears me when I wondered so far from Him. I’m lost, and while in my mind I know the way, can’t find it in my heart. There are countless occasions that I can look back how the Lord guided my life, helped me through difficulties and how beneficial they were – though usually I only realized it retrospectively…… I struggle with Trust. Want to believe yet struggle with it. Both in Scripture as in the sermons, I read that Faith is a gift of God – then why don’t I have it, even when I pray for it? But then comes what James said – that people of wavering faith don’t expect to be heard by God – so I’m in a catch 22. Jesus said that He gives the Holy Spirit to everyone who asks – I did, yet even if my life depends on it, couldn’t say if the Holy Spirit lives in me or not.
But despite all my battles, struggles, and uncertainties, one thing I know – the truths of what you wrote. In the past years, I faced life altering difficulties and the Lord guided me through each and everyone for a far better outcome that I could dream of. Of course, I blew each faith trial, as always started off panicking until eventually settled in with God and allowed Him to take control. Could have been so much more blessing if I could just Trust in Him from the beginning….
My childhood pastor would say that because you are struggling with this and wanting to SEEK the Lord, shows that you do have faith. I wonder if the enemy is using doubt and guilt to keep you from getting into the Word and holding on to God’s promises. I just participated in a Grief Share group to help me as I continue to learn how to live with without Rev by my side. One of the things they suggested was to write some of our favorite promises from God on post-it notes and stick them around the house and in the car.
I don’t think we have to read the Bible for hours every day, just keep the door open for the Holy Spirit to speak truth into our hearts. I believe God is with you through this. He will guide you and give you strength as you need. I praying for you, dear Gaby. God be with you and bless you!
My heart and prayers are with you Deb as I can’t even imagine what does it mean to part from your soul mate. And while we have the promise to meet again, their physical absence still leaves a void.
I’m grateful for your encouragement and guidance my dear friend and will put it to a good use. I even started – very slowly – to memorize shorter passages that speak to my heart. It almost feels like their is a wall between the Bible and me. There was a time when i had insatiable hunger for the Word and that was also the time when I felt God’s presence in a tangible way in my life. But I wondered away from Him….and now I’m lost…
Thank you, Gaby! I appreciate your kind words. It sounds like you’re hurting but still SEEKing. I believe the Lord is with you and He will bless every step you take. He will encourage you and give you hope. And know that we are here on the journey with you, praying for you faithfully. God bless you!
Those can be difficult verses to encounter when reading the Bible, but as I’ve gotten older and realize the many trials and heartaches I’ve been through, I know that God was always by my side. I don’t know how people survive who don’t believe in the loving, faithful Father. Blessings, Deb!
I would say the same, Martha! He has sustained me through every trial and therefore has strengthened my faith to trust Him with my future. Oh, how I need the Lord every moment of every day. Blessings and HUGS!
You know, Deb, I can understand what you are saying about rejoicing in the midst of trials. It is hard to rejoice when things are so topsy turvy! I guess for me, when I read Romans 5:3-4, it gives me much to consider. I believe I was and continue to be able to build that strength of character. I must be a REAL CHARACTER by now but have yet to have the strength I need. I will say that these trials have strengthened my faith and trust. I can look over everything I have gone through and am going through and KNOW without a doubt that the Lord has been with me and is with me all the way. At times, I know I don’t feel HIS presence like I should, but I realize that I let other things get in the way. Not taking quiet time with HIM and just being quiet in my thoughts. I keep a busy mind!!
I was reading what Gaby wrote, and I do understand what she meant about the verse in James. I love that chapter of the Bible, but James is very rigid in what he says and can seem harsh. Going through a lot, I have learned to try to find verses that are uplifting and reassuring. I can’t take “harsh” at those times. Anyway, I love the post today. It gave much for me to ponder.
I hope that you have a great day and always stay safe. What a blessing your friendship is to me.
Hugs!
Thanks again, Sue! Your REAL CHARACTER comment made me smile. I can relate and I think my grandson would say that I’m a REAL CHARACTER, too. I’m definitely not a fan of the trials that that are intended to help me grow in faith and dependence on the Lord. But by His grace, they do accomplish their purpose. I am much more confident in the Lord than I was years ago.
Yes, James was part of my reading this morning. He approaches obedience more legalistically but I believe in his heart, he just wanted us to show our love for our Savior by doing His will. We are so blessed to have all the promises about God’s amazing grace, mercy, and love, those are the ones I hold close through life’s challenges. Blessings and HUGS!