42 {Faith Encouraging} Bible Verses About Resilience
In this article we will be covering all things related to reslience in the life of a Christian with Bible verses about resilience to guide us and define it thoroughly. Also, a couple of examples of resilience in the Bible and how to boost resilience to help you feel inspired, encouraged and strengthened to walk through hardship in God’s presence and expecting good things and growth. Let’s go!
What is resilience in the Bible?
Hands down- these Bible verses about resilience are the best in my opinion!
Romans 5:3-4 – “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
James 1:2-4 (NIV) – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Resilience is the quality of being able to adapt to stressful life changes and “bouncing back” from hardship. Resilience is a response to tragedy, crisis, or other life-altering changes that allows us to move on despite the loss. Showing resilience does not mean that a person is unaffected or uncaring about the life change. Resilience is the human heart’s ability to suffer greatly and grow from it. –GotQuestions.com
Resilience – The capacity of a person to maintain their core purpose and integrity in the face of dramatically changed circumstances. The ability to not only overcome setbacks, but to also move forward. -Dictionary
Additionally, resilience means adapting well in the face of trials and tribulations. As a Christian, we know that facing hard times and difficult situations (trauma, significant stress, adversity, loss) are inevitable. Sometimes those tough times completely redirect our future, such as relationship or family problems, health issues or financial hardship. There is no end to the difficulties we face in a sin torn world. This will not always be our reality, however this side of heaven requires great resilience.
The promises of God assure us that He is using all things for our good- ALL things means hardship, suffering and sorrow to strengthen and grow us in grace. We can rest in the assurance that He is going to enable us to not only overcome adversity, but thrive as a result. His Holy Spirit is working out something amazing in our lives! Below, we will check out Bible verses about resilience, but first I want to share a picture of resilience.
An Picture of Spiritual Resilience
This year California is expecting a superbloom. As I was looking up the “superbloom”, I learned that it is a phenomenon in the desert or wilderness, where following a long dreary and wet season, flowers bloom like crazy. And get this- I accidentally stumbled upon the urban dictionary definition of a superbloom- “When you succeed in spite of hardships or suffering”. In other words, when you are walking through the wilderness- God is preparing you for your own personal superbloom. He intends to grow and mature you- grow your faith, your character, your hope ultimately making you more complete in Christ. What gifts has suffering yielded in your life when you look back and remember difficulties you faced? How has God blessed you with a superbloom following periods of pain? This is spiritual resilience- and we get to work alongside God – sanctification.
When I look back over the course of my life, I can see how God strengthened my faith and knowledge of the Word of God. Additionally, each circumstance prepared me for what lay ahead– things I had no idea were coming, but God’s plan included making me more and more resilient. Not to mention how He has used those hardships to bless others- I’m so thankful for what I’ve endured, because our powerful God has truly turned ashed into beauty in each trial.
Bible Verses About Resilience
There are many words associated with resilience in the Bible: strength, perseverence, endurance, hope, faith. As we navigate Bible verses about resilience, ask God to show you how He is moving in you and through you in the storms of life you are facing. Additionally, I encourage you to look back over your life and remember the mighty works of God in your life and how brought about beauty from ashes.
Bible Verses About Resilience and Strength & Endurance
Notice in the following Scriptures, God’s strength is what enables us to walk through trials and tribulations. We are unable to do this well in our own strength- God strengthens us to endure so that we can overcome and have victory. These verses remind us that God provides the strength and endurance we need to face trials, run the race of faith, and remain steadfast in difficult circumstances.
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Psalm 18:32
“the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Psalm 27:1
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 55:22
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah 40:31
“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Psalm 18:39
“For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
1 Corinthians 16:13
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Hebrews 10:36
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
Colossians 1:11
“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”
Luke 21:19
“By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
Bible Verses About Resilience and Perseverance
Another word for perseverance is “grit”– Perseverance means being persistent despite the trials and tribulations we face. God’s Word teaches us to persevere in faith, trusting God’s promises will be fulfilled.
2 Timothy 4:7
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
James 1:12
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
Galatians 6:9
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
2 Thessalonians 3:13
“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”
Romans 12:12
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Bible Verses About Resilience and Hope
Hope is the assurance of things not yet seen or fulfilled. Wow! Hope is so vital to being resilient because it enables us to endure, persevere and ultimately have faith in the God’s promise to work out everything for good.
James 1:12
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Psalm 42:11
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Hebrews 10:23
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Psalm 31:24
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!”
Romans 8:18
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Read more about “Hope in Hard Times”
Bible Verses About Resilience and Spiritual Growth
God’s promise to work out all things for our good (Romans 8:28) means that He will use the difficulties we face for our good and His glory. Our good includes spiritual growth and maturity- every good gift (including hardship) comes from our Heavenly Father.
1 Peter 5:10
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
James 1:2-4
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Romans 5:3-5
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Romans 8:37-39
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Peter 4:12-13
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
2 Examples of Resilience in the Bible
One of my favorite examples of resilience in the Bible is the story of Job (Job). This man lost everything in a single moment- his children, his possessions and his health. But God was faithful. The story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) in which his own brothers sold him into slavery. He lost his home, his family and his freedom. But God was faithful. Both of these men had a long season of trial, adversity, trauma and unspeakable loss. However, God faithfully worked in and through them in the face of adversity. These are incredible stories of God’s faithfulness and human resilience.
How to be resilient as a Christian?
Since we have established that resilience includes growth through adversity…this is apart of sanctification, which is the part of our lives between justification and glorification…the messy middle. It is in the messy middle that we are invited to work along side the Master of the Universe and cooperate with His work in the midst of trials.
So, how can we boost resilience in our trauma, tragedies and losses? I want to share some of the things that have helped me be more resilient that I have learned from Bible verses about resilience and I would love to hear more ideas in the comments below!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Pray, Rejoice, Give Thanks
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Winston Churchill coined the famous phrase, “Keep calm and carry on”, during World War 2. This prase encompasses being in constant prayer (dependence on God)and finding the good in each day through the practice of gratitude and praise. These things literally carry me through painful seasons when God is doing something and I just can’t see it yet.
1.Romans 12:2 – Renew Your Mind
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Trials and tribulations send me running to the Word of God- His Word has sustaining power for transformation. Be mindful to engage in the renewing of your mind.
2. Ephesians 6:10-20 – Armor of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
There is a spiritual battle going on behind the scenes. God is working for your good and the enemy is working for your destruction. Put on the armor of God always and especially when going through trials and tribulations.
3. Hebrews 10:25 – Support
“not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Grasp onto the support that a community of believers provides. This is how we grow- through the encouragement, strengthening, truth telling and prayer of other believers.
4. Romans 4:20-21 – Hope in God’s Promises
“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”
God keeps all His promises- remember that hope is the assurance of things promised. Review God’s promises to encourage you and give you hope. Sometimes, I have to review these promises throughout the day to remind myself of God’s faithfulness.
5. Romans 12:12 – Be Patient
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
This is my weakness- patience. I struggle with God’s timeline because I want immediate results. Patience is something that I have to ask God to enable in me when He is working out resilience in me.
Closing Thoughts
Resilience is a part of God’s good plan for our lives as He allows tragedy, trauma and change to redirect our life, our maturity and our path. You. Are. Resilient! These Bible verses about resilience show us that. I would love to hear your thoughts or personal stories of resilience in the comments.