Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – Here are 10 great Bible verses for friends who are going through a hard time.
When we are struggling, it is easy to think God has forgotten us. These Bible verses for hard times show the opposite: the One who began a good work in us will not leave it unfinished. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
10 Bible Verses for Hard Times
1. Philippians 1:6
“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 1:6 (BSB)
When Paul says he is confident of something, we want to know about it. Here Paul is sure that God, who “began a good work” in the Philippian believers, will “carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” What God promises, He finishes. It is like God confirming that He holds our hand (John 6:37–39) until we reach safety. What God starts, He completes. Share this verse with your friends.
2. 1 Corinthians 1:7–8
“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 1:7–8 (BSB)
Paul was very grateful that the Corinthian church did not lack spiritual gifts, but his main concern was to give them assurance about the day of the Lord. Some carried needless guilt and feared they would not be ready on that day, so Paul pointed them to God’s promise that He “will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3. 2 Corinthians 1:21–22
“Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.”
– 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (BSB)
If we had established ourselves with God, none of us could be sure of anything. But since God establishes us firmly in Christ, He has also placed His seal on us, the Holy Spirit, who is with us until the day of the Lord. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8:16). Isn’t that encouraging?
4. Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
– Isaiah 43:2 (BSB)
What is Isaiah 43 telling us here, and isn’t it true for those who believe in Jesus? God said to them (and us), “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!” (Isaiah 43:1). Even if your friend doesn’t feel it, send them the verse, “You are precious and honored in My sight” (Isaiah 43:4). That is what friends do.
5. Romans 8:18
“I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.”
– Romans 8:18 (BSB)
“Consider” here is more of an accounting term than a reflection. Paul puts everything in the present, the suffering of a sinful world including our own suffering, on the debit side, and the future glory to be revealed in us on the credit side. His conclusion, and ours, is beyond dispute: eternal joy and seeing God’s glory far outweigh our brief, trivial troubles. That is why Paul is sure that whatever happens in this life, God works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We have God’s Word, and that is enough, isn’t it?
6. Romans 5:3–5
“Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”
– Romans 5:3–5 (BSB)
It is easy to rejoice in good times, but hard when you are suffering. Think of it this way: suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance produces character. Tested character produces hope. And that hope, in the end, never puts us to shame. Do you see the close connection here?
7. Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
– Philippians 4:13 (BSB)
Jesus told His disciples long ago that apart from Him they could do nothing (John 15:5). Not just “a few things.” Only through Christ can we do all things, “through Christ who gives me strength.” It is not self-help, but God’s help. Through Jesus, everything within His will becomes possible, but apart from Him we have no strength to do anything.
8. Ephesians 2:12–13
“remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
– Ephesians 2:12–13 (BSB)
Ancient Israel were strangers in Egypt, and only when God brought them into the wilderness did they finally come to know Him. That is because God called His people out of Egypt, just as He calls us out of our sin. We were once alienated from God and His natural enemies (Romans 5:6–10). At that time, remember, we had “no hope and no God.” I remember how painful that was. Thank God we have been brought near to Him by the blood of Christ Jesus.
9. Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
– Revelation 21:4 (BSB)
Is your friend having a terrible day? What should you say? Why not text them this verse? It can help them face today by looking ahead to tomorrow… knowing that one day this will all be in the past. Part of the reason there will be no more mourning is that death will be over! No more pain or crying from the penalty of sin. All of that will have “passed away.” Praise God. That is our future.
10. 2 Timothy 1:12
“For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.”
– 2 Timothy 1:12 (BSB)
This is Paul’s last letter, written shortly before he was beheaded (2 Timothy 4). By the time Timothy received it, Paul may already have been martyred, which makes its final words especially precious, like “last words.” I believe Paul was trying to reassure Timothy, who was shaken by his mentor’s coming death. Paul wrote that he knew the God he had believed and experienced. He had served Him, suffered for Him, testified about Him, and been beaten, cursed and stoned for His name, and he trusted that God was sovereign over all of it. That is why he was convinced God could guard his soul until the day of Christ’s return. He wanted Timothy to know the same. It is not only for Paul or Timothy, but for everyone who trusts in Christ: He will keep them safe and secure until Christ returns or until we die, whichever comes first.
Conclusion
Do you have a friend who encourages you? Even if their encouragement has faded over time, remember your role as a friend: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). That would be a great message to send to a friend who is struggling. Are you that kind of friend to someone close to you? Scripture tells us, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Is that you?
Walking Through Hard Times With God
Hardship is not a sign that God has abandoned us. Many times in Scripture, it is in hardship that God’s people experienced His faithfulness most clearly. Choose one verse from this list as your own prayer this week, and share it with a friend who is struggling.
You may also like: 3 Truths to Remember in the Storms of Life and 6 Steps Out of Disappointment.
Prayer
Lord, You know the hardships we face. Keep us steadfast in Christ and complete the good work You have begun in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Thoa Trần
Adapted from: WhatChristiansWantToKnow.com
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