Struggling is a common human experience that is addressed throughout the Bible. It encompasses a range of difficulties, including spiritual, emotional, and physical challenges. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on how to navigate struggles, offering both comfort and guidance.

Biblical Examples of Struggling

1. Jacob's Struggle with God: One of the most vivid accounts of struggling in the Bible is Jacob's wrestling with God at Peniel. In Genesis 32:24-28, Jacob wrestles with a man until daybreak, refusing to let go until he receives a blessing. This struggle symbolizes Jacob's perseverance and transformation, as he is renamed Israel, meaning "he struggles with God." This narrative highlights the importance of persistence and faith in the midst of struggle.

2. Job's Suffering: The Book of Job provides a profound exploration of human suffering and struggle. Job, a righteous man, faces immense trials, losing his wealth, health, and family. Despite his friends' misguided counsel and his own questions, Job maintains his faith in God. Job 13:15 states, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him." Job's account illustrates the mystery of suffering and the necessity of trusting God's wisdom and sovereignty.

3. Paul's Thorn in the Flesh: The Apostle Paul speaks of a "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Despite pleading with the Lord to remove it, Paul learns that God's grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in weakness. This passage teaches that struggles can serve a divine purpose, drawing believers closer to God and demonstrating His strength through human weakness.

Teachings on Struggling

1. Perseverance and Character: Romans 5:3-5 emphasizes the value of struggles in developing perseverance, character, and hope. "Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." This passage encourages believers to view struggles as opportunities for spiritual growth and maturity.

2. God's Presence in Struggles: The Bible assures believers of God's presence during times of struggle. Isaiah 41:10 offers comfort: "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." This promise reassures believers that they are not alone in their struggles.

3. Casting Burdens on the Lord: 1 Peter 5:7 instructs believers to "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." This teaching encourages Christians to rely on God's care and provision, trusting Him with their struggles and anxieties.

4. The Example of Christ: Jesus Christ Himself experienced struggle, particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prayed earnestly before His crucifixion. Luke 22:44 describes His anguish: "And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground." Christ's example demonstrates the importance of prayer and submission to God's will in the face of struggle.

Encouragement for Believers

The Bible offers encouragement to those who struggle, reminding them of the hope and strength found in Christ. Philippians 4:13 declares, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." This verse empowers believers to face their struggles with confidence, knowing that they are strengthened by their relationship with Jesus.

In summary, the Bible addresses the reality of struggling with empathy and wisdom, providing believers with examples, teachings, and encouragement to navigate their challenges with faith and perseverance.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Struggle.119. athlesis -- a contest
... contest. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: athlesis Phonetic Spelling:
(ath'-lay-sis) Short Definition: a contest Definition: a struggling (as in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/119.htm - 6k

75. agonizomai -- to contend for a prize, struggle
... Speech: Verb Transliteration: agonizomai Phonetic Spelling: (ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee)
Short Definition: I strive, contend Definition: I am struggling, striving (as ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/75.htm - 7k

5327b. natsah -- to struggle
... root Definition to struggle NASB Word Usage contended (2), fighting (1), struggle
(1), struggled (1), struggled together (1), struggling (1). 5327a, 5327b. ...
/hebrew/5327b.htm - 5k

Struggling and Seeking
... VOLUME I: PSALMS I to XLIX STRUGGLING AND SEEKING. ... with seeking, and then our
struggling will not be violent, nor self-willed, nor will it fail. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/struggling and seeking.htm

The Christian Struggling under Great and Heavy Affliction.
... THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. CHAPTER XXV. THE CHRISTIAN
STRUGGLING UNDER GREAT AND HEAVY AFFLICTION. 1. Here it ...
/.../chapter xxv the christian struggling.htm

CM Wesley. Struggling Upward.
... 523. CM Wesley. Struggling Upward. 1 Father divine, our wants relieve In this our
evil day; To all Thy tempted children give The power to watch and pray. ...
/.../book of hymns for public and private devotion/523 c m wesley struggling.htm

Triumph of Faith.
... then, faith enjoying. Or, still better: faith struggling; faith resting;
faith triumphing. First of all, faith struggling. Here is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the masters indwelling/xi triumph of faith.htm

The Poor Debtor.
... Suppose he owes ten thousand dollars, and, after struggling hard for three or four
years, gets into a position that will enable him to pay off a thousand ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/the poor debtor.htm

Stirring the Eagle's Nest.
... As long as you look upon the struggling eaglets in the air you miss the point. Watch
the eagle. ... Struggling, falling; she is superior; they are falling. ...
/.../food for the lambs or helps for young christians/stirring the eagles nest.htm

To the Rev. J. Jowett
... vessel was stopped, and the man was left a considerable way behind, but I still
kept my eye upon him, and could perceive that he was struggling gallantly with ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev j jowett 17.htm

No Man Hates his Own Flesh, not Even those who Abuse It.
... And until this shall take place, "the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the
spirit against the flesh;" the spirit struggling, not in hatred, but for the ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 24 no man hates his.htm

Those, on the Other Hand, who do this in a Perverse Spirit...
... And until this shall take place, "the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the
spirit against the flesh;" the spirit struggling, not in hatred, but for the ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 25 those on the.htm

April 25. "The Very God of Peace Sanctify You Wholly" (I. Thess. v ...
... A great tidal wave is bearing up the stranded ship, until she floats above the bar
without a straining timber or struggling seaman, instead of the ineffectual ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /april 25 the very god.htm

Struggling (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Struggling (3 Occurrences). Colossians 1:29 for which
also I labour, striving according to his working that is working in me in power. ...
/s/struggling.htm - 7k

Ecclesiastes (1 Occurrence)
... the meaning of the text, whether we translate "vanity and vexation of spirit" or
"vanity and a striving after wind," ("emptiness, and struggling for breath ...
/e/ecclesiastes.htm - 27k

Preacher (27 Occurrences)
... the meaning of the text, whether we translate "vanity and vexation of spirit" or
"vanity and a striving after wind," ("emptiness, and struggling for breath ...
/p/preacher.htm - 48k

Buffet (4 Occurrences)
... 9. (vi) To exercise or play at boxing; to strike; to smite; to strive; to contend.
10. (vi) To make one's way by blows or struggling. Int. ...
/b/buffet.htm - 9k

Amalek (35 Occurrences)
... Their attack upon them when they were just escaped from Egypt and while they were
struggling through the wilderness made a deep impression upon the Israelites ...
/a/amalek.htm - 22k

Agony (20 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Contest; wrestling; severe struggling with pain
and suffering. Anguish is the reflection on evil that ...
/a/agony.htm - 18k

Sedition (8 Occurrences)
... se-dish'-un: The translation in Ezra 4:15, 19 for 'eshtaddur, "struggling," "revolt";
in 2 Esdras 15:16 for inconstabilitio, "instability" with "be seditious ...
/s/sedition.htm - 10k

Strum (1 Occurrence)

/s/strum.htm - 6k

Struggles (1 Occurrence)

/s/struggles.htm - 6k

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)
... Still the same spirit of compassion for the poor and those struggling for a living
asserts itself as in the earlier period, and it goes without saying that the ...
/s/sabbatical.htm - 16k

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