Setbacks are like stumbling blocks on our road to success, they drag us back or keep us stagnant at a place. These temporary difficulties triggers our emotions and faith. Anyone who has ever embarked on a journey to success, then faces one or more difficulties on the way can relate can understand exactly how these setbacks affects us. In times of setbacks, many people tend to loose their faith in God, grumbling and murmuring sets in and they begin to count on all their losses, while it may be a natural feeling feeling for human, but as Christians our approach during this time should be different. In the midst of challenges, it is best we hold unto God stronger, run to him for strength, reassurance and solace. This is one of the numerous benefits we get for being his children. He’s our ever present help, even when it seems like we are drowning.
The setbacks that we encounter on our journey to progress, can also serve as opportunities for for self growth. And this is because our lives as Christians is a series of experiences, and each experience whether good or bad aims at making us stronger in God. Using Job as an example; Job faced series of terrible setbacks, from loosing his children, to his livestock, properties, wife, friends and acquaintances. Yet these terrible setbacks and obstacles made him even stronger. He never cursed God during those hard days, he still held unto God and had deep faith in him.
As Christians, we have been admonished to always keep our hope and faith alive, even when we are faced with challenges that may seem insurmountable. One of the ways to cling to God even tighter during the hard days is by; asking for his help and strength, and this can be done through fellowship with him. Join us in this article as we explore some powerful Bible verses that will encourage and boost our faith when we encounter setbacks in our life journey.
SEE ALSO: 40 Important Bible Verses About Waves And Faith
What Does The Bible Say About Setbacks?
The Bible recognizes setbacks as part of our human encounters, but he also uses these obstacles to strengthen us and build our faith in him. Setbacks are realities that everyone must face in life, that is why the Apostles of old, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They wrote scriptures acknowledging the suffering of this world and how to overcome it. Ultimately, the only way we can overcome the troubles of this world is by trusting God and walking side by side with him.
James 1:2-3 “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”. Apostle James encourages us in this verse to consider trails and setbacks as events that tests our faith, in order to make us stronger.
Psalm 34:19 “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all”. This scriptures recognizes the saving power of God. Despite the magnitude of the setbacks that comes our way as believers, God has the capacity to deliver from it all. This is to bring to our understanding that God is aware of the challenges we face in life.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”. This scriptures encourages us not to faint on the days that we are faced with trouble. Instead let us renew our faith day by day, for the momentary troubles that we face are only preparing us for eternal glory that will cover all the sufferings. I want you to understand that being a Christian does not keep setbacks away from, setbacks will come, but definitely you will scale through unharmed and come out refreshed and renewed. Below are more scriptures that will build our faith;
Bible Verses About Setbacks
- Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. – Romans 5:3-4
- 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. – James 1:2-3
- Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
- I can do all this through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13
- But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31
- The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. – Psalms 34:19
- For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. – Proverbs 24:16
- 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. – 1 Peter 5:10
- Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. – Psalms 42:11
- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
- Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28
- 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. – Hebrews 12:1
- I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33
- For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline. – 2 Timothy 1:7
- So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
- My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – Psalms 73:26
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6
- 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
- For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. – Psalms 30:5
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4
- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
- In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. – Proverbs 16:9
- The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. – Exodus 14:14
- Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. – Psalms 37:24
- Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23
- You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. – Hebrews 10:36
- But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. – Isaiah 43:1-2
- Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. – Mark 10:27
- You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. – Genesis 50:20
- Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Bible Verses For Overcoming Setbacks
- Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. – Ephesians 6:13
- For by You I can run upon a troop; And by my God I can leap over a wall. – Psalm 18:29
Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. – Acts 14:22 - For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. – 1 John 5:4
- For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. – 2 Corinthians 10:4
- God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it – 1 Corinthians 10:13
- We triumph even in our troubles, knowing that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope—a hope which never disappoints us, since God’s love floods our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. – Romans 5:3-5
- 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. – James 1:2-4
- For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. – Romans 8:18
- Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7
- Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4
