Suffering

Suffering is addressed throughout Scripture, from Job to the letters of Peter. This page lists verses on trials, God's presence in affliction, the sufferings of Christ, Job's suffering, and future glory.

Trials and testing

• James 1:2-4
  ²My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; ³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
  Show context · Read James 1 →
• 1 Peter 4:12-13
  ¹²Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 4 →
• 1 Peter 1:6-7
  ⁶Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: ⁷That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 1 →
• Romans 5:3-5
  ³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
  Show context · Read Romans 5 →

God in affliction

• Psalm 34:19
  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
  Show context · Read Psalm 34 →
• Isaiah 43:2
  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 43 →
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
  ⁹And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 12 →
• Psalm 46:1
  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
  Show context · Read Psalm 46 →

Pressed but not crushed

• 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
  ⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 4 →
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
  ¹⁶For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 4 →

The sufferings of Christ

• Isaiah 53:3-5
  ³He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 53 →
• Hebrews 2:18
  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 2 →
• 1 Peter 2:21
  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 2 →
• Philippians 3:10
  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
  Show context · Read Philippians 3 →

Job's suffering

• Job 1:21
  And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
  Show context · Read Job 1 →
• Job 2:10
  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
  Show context · Read Job 2 →
• Job 42:10
  And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
  Show context · Read Job 42 →

Future glory

• Romans 8:18
  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
  Show context · Read Romans 8 →
• Revelation 21:4
  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
  Show context · Read Revelation 21 →
• 1 Peter 5:10
  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 5 →
• Romans 8:28
  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
  Show context · Read Romans 8 →

See also

• Persecution
• Grief
• Hope
• Healing

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.