Bible Verses About Suffering

Suffering is never the last word in Scripture. These verses about suffering hold pain honestly while pointing to the God who suffers with us and brings hope through every trial.

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” — Romans 5:3-5 (KJV)

Paul builds a chain from tribulation through patience and experience to hope, writing to Christians facing real hostility. The sequence takes time, which is why it is described as a process rather than a mood.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But 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.” — 1 Peter 4:12-13 (KJV)

Written to scattered believers under persecution, telling them not to find the fiery trial strange. Removing surprise is offered as its own kind of help.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” — James 1:2-4 (KJV)

Counting trials as joy is qualified immediately by what they produce — patience, then completeness. The instruction is about accounting, not about feeling cheerful.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” — 2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV)

Paul calls his afflictions light and momentary after listing beatings, shipwreck and imprisonment. The comparison is deliberately extreme because the other side of the scale is.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28 (KJV)

The promise is that things work together for good, not that each thing is good. It is often quoted too early to someone still in the middle of the working.

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” — 1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)

After ye have suffered a while — the timeline is stated plainly rather than avoided. What follows is four verbs of restoration, all of them God's action.

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” — Job 23:10 (KJV)

Job says this while convinced God is avoiding him and refusing to answer. Coming forth as gold is hoped for, not observed.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” — Psalm 34:19 (KJV)

Many are the afflictions of the righteous — the verse concedes the count before promising deliverance. It rules out the idea that faithfulness reduces the number.

“Now 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.” — Hebrews 12:11 (KJV)

No chastening seems joyous for the present, which is an unusually honest admission mid-argument. The fruit is described as afterward, and the word is doing work.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” — 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV)

Written by a man awaiting execution to a young minister, stating persecution as the norm rather than the exception. It removes the suspicion that suffering means something went wrong.

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV)

Paul lists the fellowship of Christ's sufferings alongside the power of his resurrection, as one thing he wants to know. The pairing is the point.

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” — 1 Peter 2:21 (KJV)

Christ's suffering is called an example, addressed first to household servants treated unjustly. The audience makes the verse concrete rather than abstract.

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” — Psalm 119:71 (KJV)

It is good for me that I have been afflicted — a conclusion reached in retrospect by someone who learned something. It is a testimony, and works badly as advice to someone still suffering.

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” — Romans 8:17 (KJV)

Being heirs is tied to suffering with him, which is not the sequence anyone would design. Paul places it inside a passage about adoption, so the family framing carries it.

“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 1:5 (KJV)

As sufferings abound, consolation abounds also — the two are described as scaling together. It answers the fear that comfort runs out before trouble does.

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” — Acts 14:22 (KJV)

Paul returned to cities where he had been stoned to tell disciples they must enter the kingdom through much tribulation. Coming from him, it was not theory.

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” — Hebrews 2:18 (KJV)

Because he himself suffered being tempted, he is able to help those tempted. The qualification offered is experience rather than power.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about suffering?

The 17 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on suffering: Romans 5:3-5, 1 Peter 4:12-13, James 1:2-4, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 5:10, Job 23:10, Psalm 34:19, Hebrews 12:11, 2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 2:21, Psalm 119:71, Romans…

What is a good Bible verse about suffering?

Romans 5:3-5 is the passage most often quoted on suffering, with 1 Peter 4:12-13 and James 1:2-4 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these suffering verses?

You can read all of these verses about suffering — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.