9 Uplifting Verses for When You Are Suffering

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2).

The interesting thing about this verse from the prophet Isaiah is that God uses the word “when,” not “if,” to describe the difficulties ahead.

Sometimes when we go through suffering, we wonder why this is happening — did we do something to deserve this? Is God punishing me? Why me?

But when we realize that suffering is inevitable, a switch can flip. Our perspective changes, and instead of feeling victimized and alone, we understand that what we are going through is a natural and normal part of life. More importantly, we also understand that we are never walking alone through these trials. God is with us — in the waters, in the river, in the fire. We’re not alone.

2. Christ Gives Strength

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

The apostle Paul wrote this to the church in Philippi during his time in prison, which brings an especially heartening and comforting perspective to his words. These aren’t mere platitudes written by someone offering empty but hopeful advice but rather real in-the-moment reflections from someone who’d experienced difficulty. Indeed, Paul was still actively experiencing such difficulty, and offered helpful truth to fellow believers.

As Paul notes just before this, he’s learned to be content in all things, both good and bad. He knows what it’s like to be hungry, in want, in need. And he’s learned from lived experienced that Jesus Christ gives him the strength to endure and even to find joy.

Those words of wisdom are something we, too, can take to heart when we are walking through challenges of our own.

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“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

I’ve heard this verse at funerals several times, and for good reason. It can be a great comfort for those grieving and suffering, to know that one day we who follow Christ will experience an end to the pain. In heaven, we’ll experience a “new Jerusalem” (v. 2), and God himself will dwell with us (v. 3). There will be no death, no tears, no suffering for us then. 

Even though right now we are sick with sorrow, and perhaps our knees buckle with the weight of anguish, our suffering will eventually pass. It’s a promise we can trust.

4. There Is Glory to Come

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

No, it’s not our imagination, Paul is saying here. Suffering is real, and it’s hard, and it hurts so badly sometimes. But like Jesus said, take heart and have hope. No matter how hard it is, our suffering is temporary when put in eternal perspective and not nearly as important as the glory that will come. 

Indeed, suffering is part of God’s divine plan, and it will lead to a magnificent outcome.

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“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).

This verse, penned by the apostle Peter, is also a great comfort during times of suffering. Peter — who himself experienced loss, persecution, imprisonment, and eventually martyrdom for his faith — was no stranger to suffering. Here, he too reminds us that what we go through is only temporary. After a time, just “a little while” when stacked against the full scope of eternity, God Almighty himself will come to restore and strengthen us. The devil will tempt and try to harm us, but God will put us back together again, and all will be well and right and good.

6. Draw Near to God

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

This verse is also penned by someone who deeply experienced suffering: David, who spent many years hunted down by King Saul, who sought to kill him. While later, David became Israel’s greatest king, at this point in his life, things were decidedly not good. The psalm tells us David had fled from the Philistines and pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who then drove him away. David clearly struggled with his place in life, yet he chose to retain hope in the Lord, whom he trusted would save and restore him. 

We, too, can do the same. When we are brokenhearted, we can trust God will save and restore us, whether in this life or the next.

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“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

On the surface, this verse echoes what is expressed in Romans 8:18, the idea that our temporary affliction pales in comparison to the greater glory that awaits us. But this verse offers a step more — the notion that if we but fix our eyes on “what is unseen,” the eternal, we will be strengthened. 

Sometimes in life, we falter when we believe our pain will never end. As with a race that seems to go on forever, when we can’t anticipate the finish line, we might stagger and drop. 

Here, Paul urges us to anticipate what awaits us — the finish line, the eternal kingdom of God, the unseen — and know that our suffering is not in vain. It will end, and glory awaits.

8. There Is a Purpose to Our Pain

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

Sometimes, it helps to know that what we go through isn’t pointless. Here, James reminds us that the trials and suffering we experience can also be good for us, for they test our faith and teach us how to develop perseverance and ultimate spiritual maturity. 

Even though we are in pain, there is a comfort we can take from knowing there’s a purpose to that pain, a greater good to come.

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“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

This verse always brings me great comfort. No matter what, God is with me. He walks with me. He shepherds and leads me. Even if I can’t see him, I can trust that he is there, and no matter what happens to me on this earth, eventually I’ll find my eternal home in heaven, where, as the psalm continues, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v. 6). 

It doesn’t matter how dark that valley is, or what evil befalls me. God is with me.

The Bible is filled with many more verses of great comfort, and these are just nine of them. If you are in a time of suffering, meditate on these words and remember: You are not alone. Suffering is short, and glory lies ahead for those who belong to the Lord.

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