We all know that life is sometimes loaded with hardships. You know, those times where things get so challenging that you begin to wonder whether God is with you anymore.

It is written in Psalm 34:19, “ Many are the afflictions of the righteous…”

Hard times come with stress and discouragement, which can easily lead to hopelessness. In such a time, the enemy can easily take advantage and create negative thoughts and a downward spiral into depressive emotions.

We Should Watch out for Discouragement

It’s important to watch out for discouragement. Being discouraged can easily lead to sin, and ultimately losing faith in God if we’re not careful. Anytime discouragement knocks, the safe thing is to run to God, since He is always there to help us through situations, good or bad.

Whether the circumstance we are facing is big or small, God is bigger than anything we could face, and He has promised to deliver, comfort, and help guide us through any challenge.

Speaking of afflictions, the second part of the Psalm 34: 19 says that the Lord delivers us out of them all.

Hard Times Prepare Us

God will sometimes allow hard times to test, purify, and grow our faith. Yes, sometimes hard times come because God needs to prepare us for the next step. He does it to work in us, change us, and prepare us before we embark on the next step in our faith walk.  

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed – 1 Peter 1:7

While it is true that hard times are never easy, we know that we will be ill-equipped if we don’t go through the testing of our faith. It’s easy to falter, abandon God, become prideful, or lack trust without such trials and challenges in our faith walk.

Remember, even gold goes through fire.

Uplifting Bible Verses When You're Going through Hard Times

God has given us His Word, which has many encouraging Bible verses for helping us through our hard times. Here are some scriptures that you can read and meditate on to lift your spirit and find hope when going through tough times:

• Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand – Isaiah 41:10
• What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31
• For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us – Romans 8:18
• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus – Philippians 4:6-8
• If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him – James 1:5
• When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you – Isaiah 43: 2
• And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope –  Romans 5:3- 4
• And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away – Revelation 21:4

We encourage you to continue a Bible Study on more uplifting verses when going through trials and hard times.

Contact us today at Westside Bible Chapel through our website contact form or send us a message on our Facebook page if you would like to know God or walk with someone during a difficult time. 

When life seems to fall apart or plans get frustrated, it’s easy to think that God has deserted us, or isn’t hearing our prayers. But the Bible continuously encourages us with the assurance that God is faithful even from a generation to another.

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. (Psalms 119:90)

More Scriptures Showing God’s Faithfulness

Faithfulness, as a character of God, is seen from the beginning parts of the Bible to the last pages.

• Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. (Psalms 36:5)
• Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed; Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
• God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
• But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. ( 2 Thessalonians 3:3)
• Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

While life can be hard, unstable, challenging, and seemingly unfair, it’s also clear that the faithfulness of God remains steadfast and consistent. With so many unstable life seasons here and there, reading Scriptures displaying the faithfulness of God is very comforting.

We can be strong and confident in God our Father because He remains faithful and will never fail to keep His promises.

The Core of God’s Faithfulness

God’s faithfulness is reliable both in words and actions. While man may fail and disappoint us  - proving that mankind is unreliable - God is and will always be faithful. This means that God’s faithfulness is loyal, trustworthy, and steadfast.

The Marks of God’s Faithfulness

What does God’s faithfulness do? What does it look like in action? You will note the following marks in the faithfulness of God.

• It follows through
• It comes through
• It shows up
• It is not fickle

We Can Trust and Rest in the Faithfulness of God

We can conclude that faithfulness is one of God’s unchangeable attributes, according to Scripture.

If we are faithless; He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)

We can trust God to always do exactly as He has said He will do. Faithfulness is part of His nature. Our hope is founded in His unchanging nature. Because He remains faithful and won’t change His mind about our salvation, we can have the assurance of our faith and life.

For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. (Psalms 33:4)

As a result, we can have peace of mind in whatever circumstance of life — even with changing seasons and time - knowing that God will never forget or abandon us. In His faithfulness, His promise is to preserve us. (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

If you want to understand the faithfulness of God, contact us today at Westside Bible Chapel through our website contact form or send us a message on our Facebook page.

It’s very easy to demonstrate patience when everything is going our way. But the true test of patience comes when you are insulted, treated unfairly, when injustice is done to you, and the list goes on…

Daily life is loaded with situations to test our patience. Is it no wonder that patience is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). As children of God, we are called to be patient.

Our Call to Patience

In his Word, God instructs us to “…clothe ourselves with patience. ”

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12)

Additionally, according to Ephesians 4:1-2, we are to walk in patience and be patient with one another.

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

We enhance our relationships with each other and promote unity when we are patient with one another. No wonder God calls us to be patient.

The Meaning of Patience

You probably think that patience means the ability to wait for a long time. But there’s more to this fruit of the Spirit. Here are some factors that help define patience.

1. Endurance  

Endurance is the ability to withstand hardships and adversity or the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity. That means putting up with people and things and forbearing wrong treatment even when you feel you can no longer do it. Patient endurance is tolerant behaviour and slowness to wrath.

2. Mercy

Patience is always connected with God’s mercy. Mercy wishes others well and is willing to endure - hoping for their good.

Have you ever imagined how it would be if God was not patient with us? His forbearance walks with us as we go in a cycle of disobedience and repentance, and he doesn’t cast us off, because He is a merciful God.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

This verse is a good example of God’s patience. When we are patient with people, we are acting like God.

3. Contains no Vengeance or Anger

We utilize the grace of God and display patience when we could exact vengeance on someone that has hurt us, but we choose not to do so. As believers, we need not revenge because God says not to take our own revenge.

When we endure a wrong for Christ sakes, he is the one who does the revenging as written in Romans 12:19.

Examples about Patience

As mentioned above, the Word of God is full of instructions and examples regarding patience.

1. God is Patient

In the days on Noah, God waited for people desiring that they may be saved. The example certainly makes you want to be more patient with people or hard situations.

… to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water (1 Peter 3:20)

2. Jesus is Patient

What is your natural tendency when people insult you? Both the life and the words of Jesus show just how much He choose patience. In the gospels, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

At the cross, he prayed for the very people who nailed Him – Father forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)

3. Paul was Patient

Apostle Paul is yet another example in the Bible of people who showed and taught about choosing patience. In 2 Timothy 2:24 writes that we should, “… we should be kind to all, able to teach and patient when we are wronged.”

Learning to Walk in Patience

God Word’s is faithful. Here are some suggestions to help us walk in patience from the Bible

• Train yourself in long-suffering (patience) Proverbs 19:11
• Pray that God gives you patience ( 1 Peter 2:23)
• Do away with any opportunity to sin (Roman 13:14)
• Follow the example of Jesus ( 1 Peter 2:22-23)
• Cultivate patience as a Fruit of the Spirit ( Galatians 5:22)

Want to learn how to be patient? Contact us today at Westside Bible Chapel through our website contact form or send us a message on our Facebook page.