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138 Bible verses about joy in adversity
Consider it [an occasion for] much joy, my brothers, when you experience various trials,because you [should] know that when your faith is tested, it produces perseverance.
and endurance [produces God’s] approval; and [His] approval [produces] hope.And [having such] hope keeps us from being disappointed, because God’s love [for us] has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us [by God].For while we were still helpless, at [just] the proper time, Christ died for ungodly people.
Because of this you can be very joyous, even though it is necessary for you to have suffered many trials for a little while.But these will only test your faith, which is more valuable than gold which, though refined by fire, eventually perishes. Your faith, [however], will [endure and eventually] prove to be praiseworthy and honorable when Jesus returns.
But God said to me, “My unearned favor is enough for you, for my power is made complete in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast, so that the power of Christ can rest on me.So, I am pleased to [endure] weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties, [all] for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak [physically], then I am strong [spiritually].
And we know that God works out everything for the good of those who love Him and are called [to serve Him] in harmony with His purpose [for them].
You should be joyful at all times.Never stop praying.Thank [God] for everything, for this is what God wants for you in [the fellowship of] Christ Jesus.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large crowd of spectators [Note: Christians are pictured here as being in a crowded arena, performing in the games], we should lay aside every [excessive] weight and sin that so easily entangles us, and with perseverance, we should run the race [of life] that lies before us.We should fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and completer of the [or, “our”] faith. [Note: Jesus is here pictured as the one who completely fulfills the life of faith, or who provides us with the ability to live such a life]. [And] because He could look forward to joy, He endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right side of God’s throne.
“Those persons who have suffered for trying to do what is right are blessed because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.You will be blessed when people speak against you and harm you and say bad things about you that are untrue, because of [your devotion to] me.Be happy and very glad, for your reward in heaven will be great. For they persecuted the prophets [who lived] before you in the same way.
[We also pray that you will be] strengthened with great power, according to God’s glorious might, so that you will have great endurance and patience [coupled] with joy.
So, [whatever happens], live your daily lives in such a way as to be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or remain absent from you, I will hear about you, that you are standing firm in one spirit [i.e., united in purpose, and] contending with one mind for the faith of the Gospel [i.e., for the body of Christian teaching].[I also want to hear] that you are not being frightened by those who oppose you, which [courage in the face of opposition] is proof [to them, or you] that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved, and this will [all] be done by God.
Therefore, we do not get discouraged, for though our physical body is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed daily.For our insignificant troubles [here on earth], which last only a short time, are producing for us an immeasurable, never ending [counter-] weight of splendor [i.e., in heaven. See Rom. 8:18]So, we do not look at the things which can be seen, but at what cannot be seen, for the things which can be seen are [only] temporary, but the things which cannot be seen are never ending.
Come to me, all of you who are overworked and overburdened and I will give you rest [i.e., spiritual refreshment].Accept my reins [on your life], and learn about me, because I am gentle and humble, and [in my service] you will experience rest in your spirits.For my reins [on your life] are easy [to respond to] and the burden I place [on you] is light.”
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against [practicing] these things.
Be joyful as you hope [i.e., for future blessings]. Persevere in spite of the troubles you experience. Continue steadfastly in prayer.
Loved ones, do not be surprised that you people are undergoing extremely difficult trials, as though something strange were happening to you, for it is [only] a test [of your faith].You should rejoice that you are sharing some of what Christ has suffered, so that you will get to rejoice all the more when He returns in His splendor.
Is there anyone among you who is suffering? [If so], he should pray. Is anyone happy? [Then] he should sing a psalm.
Keep your lives free from the love of money [and be] content with what you have, because God [Himself] has said [Deut. 31:6], “By no means will I [ever] desert you or give up on you.”So, we can say with confidence [Psa. 118:6], “[Since] the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid [of] what people might do to me.” [or, “what (harm) can people do to me?”]
But I thank God for giving us victory [i.e., over sin and death] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May God, [the source] of hope, fill you with complete joy and peace as you believe [in Christ], so that you may have an abundance of hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have enough to be worried about in itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
No, [suffering any one of these things is not proof that Christ does not love us], for in spite of all these things we have a decisive victory [over life’s difficulties] through [the care shown us by] Christ who loved us.
And we should not become tired of doing good things, for eventually we will receive [never ending life] if we do not give up.
I am not saying this because of being in need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.I know how to get along in humble circumstances and how to live in prosperity. In every situation and in all circumstances, I have learned the secret both to be full and to be hungry, both to have plenty and to be in need.
But remember the earlier days when, after you were enlightened [to the truth], you endured a difficult struggle by having to suffer [much].Sometimes you were subjected to public ridicule and abuse, and at other times you shared [vicariously] with those people who were treated that way.For you showed sympathy for those who were in prison and accepted it joyfully when your [own] possessions were taken away, [because] you knew that you yourselves had a better and more permanent possession [in heaven].
sad and yet always joyous; poor and yet making many people [spiritually] rich; destitute and yet possessing everything.
I want to know Christ [as Savior] and to experience the power [produced] by His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings and become like Him in His death,
So, since we are made right with God by [our] faith, we have peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:2 Through Jesus we have also gained access by [our] faith to this unearned favor [of God]. We stand firm in it, and are glad that we have the hope of being honored by God.And not only this, but we also rejoice in our troubles, knowing that [experiencing] troubles produces endurance;
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Father of compassionate feelings and the God of all comfort, be praised.He comforts us [Note: Most commentators view the editorial “us,” “we,” and “our” in this passage as a reference to a tragic personal experience of Paul. See verses 8-11] in all our troubles so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any [kind of] trouble, through the comfort we ourselves have received from Him.
“Those persons who feel grief [over their sins] are blessed because they will receive comfort [from God when they repent].
And the God who bestows every unearned favor [upon His people], who invited you to partake of His eternal splendor through Christ Jesus, will restore, confirm, strengthen and stabilize you people [in the faith], after you have gone through a brief time of suffering.
Christ bought us back from the curse [caused by our not obeying all the requirements] of the Law of Moses; He became a curse for us [by dying on the cross], for it is written [Deut. 21:23], “Every one who hangs on a tree [i.e., a cross] is cursed [i.e., cut off from God].”[This happened] so that the blessing [promised] to Abraham might be received by the Gentiles through [the person and work of] Christ, so that we might receive the promised [gift of the] Holy Spirit through [our] faith [in Jesus].
For I consider that our present sufferings do not deserve to be compared with the glory that will be revealed to us [i.e., in the future life].
But we have this treasure [i.e., the Gospel message] in clay pots [i.e., the mortal bodies of the apostles] to show that the [i.e., its] extraordinary power comes from God and not from us.We are afflicted in every way, but are not crushed; [we are] perplexed, but not to the point of despair;[we are] persecuted, but are not deserted [by God]; [we are] struck down, but are not destroyed.
So, with confidence we should approach God’s throne of unearned favor, so we can receive mercy and obtain that favor to help us when we need it.
I am confident of this very thing, that God, who began something good among you, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ’s [return].
For God’s kingdom is not a matter of what people eat or drink, but [instead, it is a matter] of doing what is right, having peace [of heart] and having [inner] joy, which come from the Holy Spirit.
For whoever [Note: The Greek says “whatever”] is [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God will overcome [the evil influence of] the world. And this is [how] that victory can be gained over the world: [It is through] our faith [in God].
Although you have not seen Jesus, you [still] love Him and believe in Him, and this causes you to have an indescribable, glorious joy.
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
[So], through Jesus then, we should continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the expression of our lips as we confess His name [to be our Lord].
What then should we conclude from this? [Just this]: If God is on our side, who can [successfully] oppose us?God did not withhold His own Son [from dying], but offered Him up for all of us. [Since He did that], will He not, along with Jesus, freely give us everything [else] also?
nor [things] above, nor [things] below, nor any [other] created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love [for us], revealed through Christ Jesus our Lord [Note: The idea of this passage is “Regardless of what happens to us, God still loves us”].
God is faithful [i.e., He will continue working among you] and it is through Him that you were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
For God did not give us a spirit [i.e., a disposition] that makes us cowards but one that gives us power and love and self-control.
But [Prov. 25:21-25 says], “Feed your enemy if he is hungry; give him something to drink if he is thirsty. For when you do this, it will be [like] heaping burning coals on his head.” [i.e., it can cause him burning shame that can lead to his repentance and ultimate forgiveness].
For you brothers were called [by God] to enjoy your freedom; but do not use this freedom as an excuse for living a sinful life; instead, use it to render loving service to each other.
Come to me, all of you who are overworked and overburdened and I will give you rest [i.e., spiritual refreshment].
Every temptation that you have experienced is one that commonly happens to people. But God is dependable and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability [to cope with it]; [instead] He will provide, along with the temptation, also a way of escaping [it], so you people will be able to endure it.
We should fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and completer of the [or, “our”] faith. [Note: Jesus is here pictured as the one who completely fulfills the life of faith, or who provides us with the ability to live such a life]. [And] because He could look forward to joy, He endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right side of God’s throne.
For sin must not be your master [i.e., it must not have power over you], for you are not governed by law, but by God’s unearned favor.
And my God will supply all your needs [also], according to His glorious wealth [enjoyed by fellowship] in Christ Jesus.
[But], you people are [followers] of God, little children [i.e., dear ones], and you have overcome them [i.e., these false teachers] because He who is in your lives [i.e., the Holy Spirit, See 3:24] is greater [i.e., more powerful] than he who is in [i.e., dominates] the world [i.e., Satan. See II Cor. 4:4].
For [no matter] how many promises God has made, in Christ [the answer] is “yes” [i.e., Christ has fulfilled all of God’s promises to mankind] Also, through Christ, the “amen” [Note: This word is always translated elsewhere as “May it be so”] can be said by us in order to honor God.
Thank [God] for everything, for this is what God wants for you in [the fellowship of] Christ Jesus.
But we are not like those people who turn back and are destroyed, but like those who have faith [in God] and obtain the salvation of their souls.
And those persons who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified [i.e., put out of their lives, Col. 3:4ff] the sinful cravings of the body, along with their passionate desires.
So, [whatever happens], live your daily lives in such a way as to be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or remain absent from you, I will hear about you, that you are standing firm in one spirit [i.e., united in purpose, and] contending with one mind for the faith of the Gospel [i.e., for the body of Christian teaching].
Therefore, if any person is in [fellowship with] Christ, he is a new person. His old ways have passed away; now his ways have become new.
Brothers, I consider that I, myself, have not yet taken hold [of Christ’s ultimate purpose for me]. But there is one thing that I am doing; I am forgetting about my past [See verses 5-7], and reaching forward to what lies ahead.I am pushing onward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call [i.e., to heaven] from God in [fellowship with] Christ.