When my accident occurred and I was not allowed to ride for a time. I spent a lot time seeking passages about suffering in the Bible. I have included some passages below that helped me. I have used different translations; I selected the ones I felt were easiest to recall.
HCSB – Holman Christian Standard Bible, NASB – New American Standard Bible, TBL – The Living Bible
“Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:9 (HCSB)
Christ is always with those who believe in Him.
“It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.” – Ecclesiastes 6:9 (TLB)
Christ does have plans to provide what is best for us; even if it may not always feel pleasurable at the moment.
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.” – 2 Corinthians 1:2-7 (NASB)
Relief during trial is possible.
“If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God” – Romans 8:10-19 (NASB)
When you follow Christ, you will never have to be completely alone while suffering and enduring difficult, challenging circumstances.
The passage that qualifies Paul to say this is perfect; something you may be able to relate to or you may know someone who can:
“Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” – 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (NASB)
Relief, redemption and forgiveness are freely available:
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 1:12-14 (NASB)
Please Leave a Reply