Scripture Library · Suffering and perseverance · KJV

Bible Verses About Suffering and Perseverance (KJV) + A Prayer for Strength

Why is this happening, and how do I keep going? These 14 passages from the King James Bible do not offer easy answers, but they offer real ones: tribulation worketh patience, God’s grace is sufficient, and “they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.”

14 Bible verses about suffering and perseverance

Why is this happening, and how do I keep going?

Romans 5:3-5KJV

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.

Suffering produces endurance, character and a hope that does not disappoint.Read in context →

James 1:2-4, 12KJV

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. … 12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Count trials as joy; testing produces steadfastness, and the one who endures is blessed.Read in context →

2 Corinthians 4:7-18KJV

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 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. 11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 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; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Afflicted but not crushed; momentary trouble is preparing eternal glory.Read in context →

2 Corinthians 12:7-10KJV

7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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.

Paul's thorn remains, and God's grace is sufficient in weakness.Read in context →

1 Peter 1:6-9KJV

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: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Trials test the genuineness of faith, which is more precious than gold.Read in context →

1 Peter 4:12-19KJV

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. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Do not be surprised by fiery trials; entrust yourself to a faithful Creator.Read in context →

Romans 8:28KJV

28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God works all things together for good for those who love Him.Read in context →

Hebrews 12:1-11KJV

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Run with endurance, looking to Jesus; the Father disciplines those He loves.Read in context →

Isaiah 43:1-3KJV

1But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2When 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. 3For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

When you pass through waters and fire, God is with you.Read in context →

Psalm 119:67-71KJV

67Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 71It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn Your statutes.Read in context →

John 16:33KJV

33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

In the world you will have trouble; take heart, Jesus has overcome the world.Read in context →

Galatians 6:9KJV

9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Do not grow weary in doing good; in due season you will reap.Read in context →

Job 19:23-27KJV

23Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

From the ash heap Job declares: I know that my Redeemer lives.Read in context →

Isaiah 40:28-31KJV

28Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.Read in context →

A prayer for strength in suffering

Pray it slowly, in your own words if you like.

Lord, this is hard, and I am tired. I do not understand everything You are allowing, but I know You are good and You have not left me.

Your grace is sufficient for me, and Your strength is made perfect in weakness. Renew my strength as I wait on You. Help me run and not be weary, walk and not faint.

Use this trial to produce patience, character and hope in me. Keep my eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Help me not grow weary in doing good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What the Bible says about suffering

Why does God allow suffering?

Scripture does not explain every instance of suffering, but it tells us God is at work in it. Romans 8:28 says “all things work together for good to them that love God,” and Romans 5:3-5 says tribulation produces patience, experience and hope. Jesus also said plainly, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

What does the Bible say about perseverance?

Hebrews 12:1 calls us to “run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.” James 1:12 promises a crown of life to the one who endures. Galatians 6:9 adds, “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

What does “my grace is sufficient for thee” mean?

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul asked God three times to remove a painful “thorn in the flesh.” God did not take it away but answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” God sometimes gives strength through a trial rather than escape from it.

How do I keep going when I want to give up?

Wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:28-31), remember that present troubles are temporary compared to eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-18), and let others help carry the load. If you are overwhelmed, please reach out to a pastor, a trusted friend, or a counselor.

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Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain).