Do you know what the Bible says about difficult times? We need to understand why we go through difficult times and that difficult times are part of life.
We can try to avoid them, but the truth is we cannot stop such times from coming into our lives.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10(NIV)
The Bible says we shall go through trials. But Jesus has already overcome the world. So we should be of good cheer.
Difficult times bring the best or worst in us. We need to be very careful about the way we handle things when facing challenges. Read on to know what the Bible says about difficult times.
12 Thing the Bible Says about Difficult Times.
1. Don’t be anxious about anything.
It is easy for us to become anxious when we are going through hard times. We may find ourselves spending sleepless nights wondering where God is. And why he is not answering our prayers.
But the word of God tells us not to be anxious about anything. When you worry about what is happening in your life, you end up walking in unbelief. And this will hinder you from seeing the manifestation of God’s promises in your life.
Being anxious also means that you are not trusting God with your problem. You will have every reason to be worried. But stand firm in faith and believe that God will show up at the right time. Anxiety will not make the problem go away. It will only cause it to become bigger.
2. Prayer
Do you know what is better than worrying? Prayer.
Our problems become bigger when we spend time worrying about them. But when we spend time in prayer, we start to see how big God is, and our problems begin to diminish in our sight.
The Bible encourages us to pray about everything and make our requests known to God. Yes, God knows your problems. He knows that you’re going through a challenging time right now. But he still wants you to tell him about it.
When we take everything to God in prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, the peace of God guards our hearts (Philippians 4:6-7).
This is important because it enables us not to fall for the lies of the enemy. And to continue walking in faith until we see the manifestation of the promise in our lives.
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3. Do not fear.
Difficult times tend to make us believe that we are alone and no one cares about us. Many people are going to abandon you in your difficult time. It can get lonely. And when you start feeling that way, it becomes easy for the devil to feed you with lies.
The enemy uses fear as a weapon against us. He knows that when we are fearful, we become vulnerable, and it is easy for him to control us.
God reminds us in his word that we should not fear because he is with us. No matter how complex your situation is or how lonely you feel, God is with you Isaiah 41:10.
4. God Cares for You.
As humans, we find it difficult to understand why a loving God will allow us to go through so much. It is hard for us to know why he cannot change our situation immediately. Yet, he’s a mighty God that can do anything.
But when we allow such thoughts to cloud our minds, we end up thinking that God does not care about us. We start to feel abandoned by him, and when we start feeling that way, we end up looking for help elsewhere.
God cares for you. It may not seem or feel like it, but he does. Other people may have abandoned you but not God.
He knows what you’re going through. And has already set up ways for you to win the battle. You only need to continue walking in him and trusting the process that he’s taking you through.
Also Related: 13 Prayers For Strength And Courage In Difficult Times.
5. Current Sufferings are not Worthy to Compare with what Awaits Us.
We are here, but for a season, and our lives on earth are preparation for eternal life.
How we live right now will determine where we spend eternity and how we will be rewarded come judgment day. Difficult times are not there to destroy us but to strengthen us as children of God.
We should not allow such times to affect us like those who do not know God. Instead, we should stand firm in faith and keep fighting until we see victory in our lives.
And even if we don’t see victory right now, we shall in the end when we go to be with God. After the ascension of Jesus Christ, the first church faced a lot of opposition.
They were persecuted and killed for spreading the gospel. But they did not stop doing that. They knew that the sufferings they were going through were nothing compared to what was waiting for them.
We need to have the same attitude even as we face different challenges in this life. God does not promise that it will be easy. But he promises that we shall be victorious in the end if we endure.
6. Praise God in Difficult Times.
To be completely honest, being productive when times are difficult is very challenging. Sitting there and complaining about all that is happening in our lives always feels right in such times.
Yes, we may complain at times, but we cannot keep on doing that day in day out. We cannot keep on blaming others for causing us to be where we are right now.
Complaining blocks God from doing great exploits in our lives. It will cause you to deal with the same problem year in year out.
We need to keep moving forward because each day comes with its own set of plans from God.
If you’re going through difficult times right now, remember that Jesus is there with you. Stop complaining and start praising God through it all.
Praise will move the hand of God, and he will cause you to win against the devil and his demons.
7. Difficult times have a purpose.
God may not put problems or difficult times in our lives. But he allows them to bring out the best in us. And for his own glory. We are told in James 1:2-4 to consider it pure joy when we face trials of any kind.
Difficult times help us to:
- Learn endurance.
- Know God’s character
- To become perfect and complete needing nothing but God.
See, in our difficult times, we learn that we cannot, but our heavenly father can. God will use the difficulty the devil placed in your life to deal with your heart. Why? So that you can mature in Christ and become like him.
When we are going through a difficult time, let’s make it a habit to find out what God wants us to learn. It will not be easy. But when we allow God to work in our hearts, we end up becoming better people.
8. Trust God.
Trusting God in our difficult times is not exactly easy. But it is important to trust him.
Don’t pretend that you are okay with what is happening, yet you are angry and disappointed. Trust God with your fears, doubts, and decision-making process in your difficult time.
Believe that you will win the battle because Jesus already won at the cross. Do not fret and start looking around for solutions when God has told you to wait.
If he has told you to do something that doesn’t make sense to you, trust him and just do it. It is obedience that you will be able to overcome difficult times.
Also Related: 34 Powerful Prayers for Strength During Difficult Times.
9. You will receive the Crown of Life.
A time is coming when all of us will account for all that we did in this world. We need to walk in ways that are pleasing to God, even in difficult times.
God has promised to give us the crown of life at the end of time). But that will only happen if we trust him in everything and all the time.
Do not think that all this suffering is for nothing. There is a crown attached to it (James 1:12).
Whether it’s a sickness, financial or family issues, whatever you’re facing, know that God will reward you for trusting him.
Keep holding onto your faith, and do not turn to the left or the right. Believe what God says about you. And trust the process he is taking you through.
10. God will restore and strengthen you.
The devil may be fighting you right now from every side. It could be that he is attacking your health, finances, your mind, or family at the same time.
It may seem like you’re losing right now, but the truth is the battle has already been won. And you only need to keep walking in victory no matter what your face.
Your heavenly father will not only strengthen you, but he’s going to restore you in ways you can never imagine. If the enemy is attacking your health, then God is going to give you sevenfold health.
If you’ve been struggling financially, know that God is going to restore your finances. You’re going to have all that you need and plenty left over to help others.
11. God will Establish you.
God does not just restore and strengthen. He also establishes his children in the same area where the devil attacks them.
If the enemy is attacking you in your finances, he knows that you are blessed in that area. And you’re also going to be a great blessing to people who need financial help.
He is attacking you so that he can steal that blessing from you. And block you from helping others. Don’t get caught up in his schemes and lies.
No matter what you go through, know that God will establish you when the time is right. It seemed like Joseph and Daniel had lost it all. But after going through many challenges, God established them.
12. Be Strong and Courageous when Going through Difficult Times.
The Bible doesn’t encourage us to run away from difficulty. Instead, it tells us to be strong and courageous.
Joshua was about to take on a challenging role. Moses had died, and God passed the mantle of leading the children of Israel into the promised land to Joshua.
Not only was Joshua going to deal with stubborn people. He also had to deal with Israel’s enemies. There are times when we find ourselves in similar situations.
We face various kinds of trials at the same time. It is easy to throw in the towel in such times. But that is not what God wants us to do. He encourages us to be strong and courageous.
We should not fear the enemy just because he seems more powerful than us. We need to be courageous because Jesus has already won the battle at the cross.
The Bible says the righteous are as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1). We need to face difficulties with courage and boldness because we are overcomers through Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Whether you come from a wealthy background or are poor, you will face difficult times in this life.
We go through different kinds of challenges. But all types of difficulty, small or big, are meant to draw us near to God.
God does not promise that it will be easy. But he has promised that he’ll be there for us. He has also promised that we shall not suffer beyond what we can handle.
If you’re going through a difficult time right now, know that you are not alone. God is with you every step of the way.
Trust the process and remember that you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you. Pray and do not allow doubt to cloud your mind and heart.
Remember, God will restore, strengthen and establish you. You only need to be obedient and patient.
