bible verses about resilience (for when your faith needs a boost)

Need some encouragement and Bible verses about resilience for when times are challenging? Read on! (And get your free eBook Bible study, Resilient.)

It’s 2020.

I keep wanting to come up with more of an introduction to this post, but this is really all I got, people.

You don’t need to be told that it’s hard, or why. It’s 2020. Everyone is going through something right now.

While there are always ways to find joy in any circumstance, we also can’t (and aren’t meant to) deny our realities or how we feel. Real, lasting joy doesn’t mean setting aside the truth.

Here’s something good that is coming out of this time:

God is teaching us resilience.

The definition of resilience is “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties,” according to the Oxford Dictionary. I also like the physical definition of resilience from Merriam-Webster: “the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress.” (How relatable is that?)

Synonyms for resilience include:

Tenacity.

Fortitude.

Endurance.

Grit.

Pluck

Perseverance.

Resilience shows physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual strength. It’s something we admire and look up to in others. And it’s a righteous characteristic that God wants to cultivate in us.

Consider all those people that God called and strengthened through time, experience, and faith, no matter how they protested initially. (Basically everyone in Hebrews 11.)

He doesn’t often let us take the easy way out. The hard way is usually the holy one.

Out of love and patience, God wants us to grow in our characters and strength. He holds us in high regard, has great purpose for us, and wants to see us live up to our potential in him.

Also, speaking of joy – the Bible encourages us to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials, because it develops our perseverance (James 1:2-3). Joy and challenge, hand in hand? Not what you’d expect.

Bible Verses About Resilience

If you’re ready to answer God’s call for resilience in your life, here are some scriptures to help you grow in this area.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. – Romans 5:1-4

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:5-8

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:1-3

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? …No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:7, 11

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joybecause of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,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 1:4-6

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 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. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 5:8-11

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. – Ephesians 6:10-11

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

Let’s summarize the Bible verses about resilience:

Suffering is growing our perseverance, which is growing good things in us.
Jesus sets an example of perseverance to us in the cross.
Hardship means discipline from God, but it brings great rewards.
Satan is trying to engage us in battle, but God equips us.
Perseverance is one of the qualities that keep us productive and purposeful in Christ.
God will complete his work in us.
Don’t give up! God is always with you.

How about you? What scriptures do you rely on to grow in your strength and faith? What are your favorite Bible verses about resilience?

ALSO – Make sure you get your free eBook Bible Study, Resilient!

Photo Credit:

1 – Fionn Claydon on Unsplash

2 – x ) on Unsplash

3 – Thom Frijns on Unsplash

bible verses about resilience (for when your faith needs a boost)