Examples of Believers Who Faced Struggles in Scripture

The biblical narrative frequently portrays believers enduring significant struggles, demonstrating that faith does not exempt individuals from hardship but often equips them to persevere through it. These struggles manifest in various forms, from physical affliction and persecution to emotional distress and spiritual temptation.

One prominent example is the suffering of Christ himself, which was predicted in the Old Testament (Psalm 22:6-8; Isaiah 53:3) and endured during his earthly ministry, including scorn and mocking (Matthew 9:24; 27:29; Luke 18:32) ^[1]. This sets a precedent for his followers, as suffering for faith is often an expected part of the Christian life (1 Thessalonians 1:6; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 1:6, 2:21) ^[4].

Old Testament figures also faced considerable adversity. Saints endured scorn and mocking because they were children of God, as seen with Isaac (Genesis 21:9; Galatians 4:29), and for their uprightness, as in the case of Job (Job 12:4) ^[1]. The Psalms speak of individuals being "made low, and crushed by trouble and sorrow" (Psalm 107:39 BBE) ^[2]. Even after experiencing God's deliverance, the Israelites "tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies" (Psalm 78:56) ^[3], indicating a struggle with faithfulness despite divine intervention. The book of Hebrews highlights numerous Old Testament figures who, through faith, "suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment" (Hebrews 11:36) ^[1]. Matthew Henry notes that the eleventh chapter of Hebrews provides "illustrious examples" of faith in the Old Testament, detailing the specific exercises of their faith ^[7].

In the New Testament, the apostles frequently encountered tribulation. Paul, for instance, experienced "trouble on every side, afflicted many ways" (2 Corinthians 4:8) ^[11]. He acknowledged that his sufferings were for the "encouragement and edification of the Corinthians," hoping their faith would not be weakened but their consolations increased (2 Corinthians 1:7) ^[5]. Paul also sought to prevent believers from being "offended at his sufferings" while imprisoned in Rome, understanding that such trials could be a "stumbling-block" to those new to the faith (Philippians 1:12) ^[6]. He taught that believers are "destined for such troubles" (1 Thessalonians 3:3) ^[4].

The New Testament also addresses the struggles of believers more broadly. Christians were often imprisoned for their faith, and other believers were exhorted to "remember those in prison," providing comfort, food, prayer, and other necessities (Hebrews 13:3) ^[9]. The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 illustrates that believers can face trials and persevere through "persistent prayer" ^[10]. The Apostle Peter frequently offered counsel and comfort to Christians who were suffering, recognizing that persecution was a significant danger for new converts. He emphasized that good behavior under suffering is crucial for "the honour of Christ and their own comfort" (1 Peter 4:12) ^[8].

The struggles faced by believers in scripture underscore a consistent theme: faith is often tested through adversity. These accounts serve not only as historical records but also as examples for subsequent generations of believers facing their own trials.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scorning and Mocking — The sufferings of Christ by, predicted -- Ps 22:6-8; Isa 53:3; Lu 18:32. Christ endured -- Mt 9:24; 27:29. Saints endure, on account of Being children of God. -- Ge 21:9; Ga 4:29. Their uprightness. -- Job 12:4. Their faith. -- Heb 11:36. Their faithfulness in declaring the word of God. -- Jer 20:7,8. Their zeal for God's house. -- Ne 2:19. The wicked indulge in, against The second coming of Christ. -- 2Pe 3:3,4. The gifts of the Spirit. -- Ac 2:13. God's threatening. -- Isa 5:19; Jer 17:15. God's ministers. -- 2Ch 36:16. God's ordinances. -- L”
Psalms “Psalms 107:39 (BBE) — And when they are made low, and crushed by trouble and sorrow,”
Psalms “Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies; -- Psalms 78:56”
1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 3:3: 3:3 we are destined for such troubles: Suffering for the faith is often part of a Christian’s life (1:6; 2:14; Phil 1:29; 1 Pet 1:6; 2:21; 3:17; 4:19).”
2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 1:7: In these verses the apostle speaks for the encouragement and edification of the Corinthians; and tells them (Co2 1:7) of his persuasion or stedfast hope that they should receive benefit by the troubles he and his companions in labour and travel had met with, that their faith should not be weakened, but their consolations increased. In order to this he tells them, 1. What their sufferings had been (Co2 1:8): We would not have you ignorant of our trouble. It was convenient for the churches to know what were the sufferings of their ministers. It is not certain ”
Philippians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Philippians 1:12: We see here the care the apostle takes to prevent their being offended at his sufferings. He was now a prisoner at Rome; this might be a stumbling-block to those who had received the gospel by his ministry. They might be tempted to think, If this doctrine were indeed of God, God would not suffer one who was so active and instrumental in preaching and propagating it to be thrown by as a despised broken vessel. They might be shy of owning this doctrine, lest they should be involved in the same trouble themselves. Now to take off the offence of the cross, he exp”
Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 11:4: The apostle, having given us a more general account of the grace of faith, now proceeds to set before us some illustrious examples of it in the Old Testament times, and these may be divided into two classes: - 1. Those whose names are mentioned, and the particular exercise and actings of whose faith are specified. 2. Those whose names are barely mentioned, and an account given in general of the exploits of their faith, which it is left to the reader to accommodate, and apply to the particular persons from what he gathers up in the sacred story. We have here those”
1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 4:12: The frequent repetition of counsel and comfort to Christians, considered as sufferers, in every chapter of this epistle, shows that the greatest danger these new converts were in arose from the persecutions to which their embracing Christianity exposed them. The good behaviour of Christians under sufferings is the most difficult part of their duty, but yet necessary both for the honour of Christ and their own comfort; and therefore the apostle, having extorted them in the former part of this chapter to the great duty of mortification, comes here to direct them in”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 13:3: 13:3 Remember those in prison: Prisoners often depended on family members and friends for their most basic needs. Christians were challenged to provide comfort, food, prayer, and other necessities for those imprisoned because of their faith (13:18-19; Matt 25:36; Col 4:18; 2 Tim 1:16).”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 18:1: 18:1-8 The parable of the persistent widow follows naturally from Jesus’ teaching about coming troubles (17:20-37). Believers can face trials and persevere through persistent prayer.”
2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 4:8: In these verses the apostle gives an account of their courage and patience under all their sufferings, where observe, I. How their sufferings, and patience under them, are declared, Co2 4:8-12. The apostles were great sufferers; therein they followed their Master: Christ had told them that in the world they should have tribulation, and so they had; yet they met with wonderful support, great relief, and many allays of their sorrows. "We are," says the apostle, "troubled on every side, afflicted many ways, and we meet with almost all sorts of troubles; yet not”

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