Struggling Christian Bible Passages

One of the foundational principles of the Struggling Christian class and even more so every Christian's life, whether in a struggling, coming out of a struggle, or helping someone through struggles, is to look to Scripture to know God better and trust Him more.  

Throughout September, we have looked at several different verses and passages.

The class theme verse is John 16:33 (NASB)

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

James 1:1-18 is about trials, testing, endurance, wisdom, and perseverance. 

² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

⁹ But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; ¹⁰ and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like ^[i]flowering grass he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

¹² Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. ¹⁵ Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. ¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷ Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ¹⁸ In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

We also looked at some Lament Psalms.  In Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, Mark Vroegop describes lament in four parts:  Turn to God, Bring Your Complaint, Ask Boldly.  Choose to Trust.  Here are the specific lament Psalms we look at 3, 13, 22, and 42.  Take some time and read through each of these.

And today (October 4), we looked at three different passages.

Job 38 - 41.  This passage is God's answer to Job's suffering.  It is a barrage of questions like, "Where is the way to the dwelling of light?" and "Do you have an arm like the Lord?"  The bottom line is that we cannot fully understand God and his plans.

Psalm 10.  Check back on Monday for more about this Psalm

Romans 11:33 - 36 talks about the inscrutability of God.  More later.

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord,

    or who has been his counselor?”

³⁵ “Or who has given a gift to him

    that he might be repaid?”

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.