⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 4 min read
Persevering Through Trials with Faith and Hope
Author: Dave Jenkins
Show: Contending for the Word Q&A
Date: January 12, 2025
Show Summary
Trials are not interruptions to the Christian life they are part of God’s refining work. In this episode, Dave considers how believers persevere faithfully by trusting God’s sovereignty, remembering His promises, praying continually, and fixing their eyes on Christ.
Listen
Watch
Key Scriptures
- James 1:2–4
- Romans 5:3–5
- Romans 8:28–29
- Hebrews 13:5
- Philippians 4:6–7
- Hebrews 12:1–2
Episode Highlights
- Trials are purposeful under God’s providence.
- Endurance grows by resting in God’s promises.
- Prayer brings peace and strengthens faith.
- Jesus is our model and strength for perseverance.
- Suffering produces maturity and hope.
Full Article
Every Christian will face trials in this life. The question is not whether suffering will come, but when it will come, and how we will endure it faithfully. Trials are not interruptions to the Christian life. They are part of it. God uses suffering, hardship, and affliction as tools to refine His people, deepen our dependence on Him, and conform us to the image of Christ.
Scripture never promises believers a life free from suffering. Instead, the Bible teaches that trials produce steadfastness, character, and hope (James 1:2–4; Romans 5:3–5). Perseverance does not come from human willpower or self-discipline alone. It flows from trusting God’s promises, relying on His grace, and fixing our eyes on Christ.
Faithful endurance is not passive resignation. It is active dependence on the God who sustains His people.
Trust God’s Sovereignty and Goodness
First, believers persevere through trials by trusting God’s sovereignty and goodness. Romans 8:28–29 reminds us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him, conforming them into the image of Christ. Trials are not random. They are purposeful under God’s wise, loving, and sovereign hand.
As one of my mentors used to say, God hand-tailors the events of your life under His providence. Confidence in God’s character fuels endurance for His glory.
Remember God’s Promises and Presence
Second, believers persevere by remembering God’s promises and His presence. Hebrews 13:5 assures us that God will never leave us nor forsake us. He does not abandon His people in suffering. He draws near to them.
Endurance grows as we remember who God is and what He has said in His Word.
Pray and Cast Your Burdens on the Lord
Third, faithful perseverance is sustained through prayer. Philippians 4:6–7 teaches that prayer brings peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Endurance grows when we turn our anxieties, fears, and sorrows over to God.
Prayer is not a last resort it is our first response. We take hold of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and pray it back to Him in faith.
Fix Your Eyes on Christ
Fourth, believers persevere by looking to Christ as both the model and the source of endurance. Hebrews 12:1–2 calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him.
Christ knows our suffering. He intercedes for us. He strengthens us to stand. We endure today by keeping our eyes fixed on Him.
Why This Matters
This matters for your life today. Trust God’s character and sovereignty. Hold fast to His promises in the Word of God. Pray in every season and every circumstance. Fix your eyes on Christ and His faithfulness. Lean on the church for encouragement and support.
Dear Christian, trials are not wasted in the hands of a faithful God. Believers persevere through trials by resting in God’s sovereignty, trusting His promises, and fixing their hope on Christ alone. Suffering refines our faith, strengthens our endurance, and draws us closer to the God who sustains us.
With Christ as our anchor, we can endure with hope, joy, and steadfast faith until the end.
Takeaways
- Trust God’s character and sovereignty.
- Hold fast to His Word in every season.
- Pray continually and cast your burdens on Him.
- Fix your eyes on Christ, your anchor.
- Lean on the church for support and encouragement.
Call to Action
If this episode strengthened your heart, please share it with someone walking through a difficult season. For more biblical resources, visit our Contending for the Word Q&A page at Servants of Grace or watch the full playlist on YouTube.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
