Trusting God When Life Is Tough:12 Scriptures on Overcoming Obstacles
“I’m not sure how much more of this I can endure,” I admitted a friend. I was dealing with a debilitating medical issue that was impacting every realm of my life. My friend encouraged me and also challenged me to search my Bible and meditate on Scriptures on overcoming obstacles.
Most of us tend to focus on whatever our greatest problem is at any given moment.
This is how we are wired as humans.
Sadly, when troubles consume our minds, our gaze shifts away from God’s goodness and provision. By filling our minds with God’s Word, we remain anchored as we overcome obstacles with his help.
Today, we’ll look at 12 Scriptures on overcoming obstacles as we turn to God for help.
I’ll also share some practical insights for overcoming challenges with God’s help.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you rise above challenges by turning to God.
12 Scriptures on Overcoming Obstacles
God is with us and wants to help us through the challenges of life. When difficult times arise, we can stand on these truths about overcoming challenges with God’s help.
Scriptures on Overcoming Obstacles
1. Isaiah 59:1, ESV
Behold, the Lord‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear . . .
No matter what you’re facing today, God is still in control.
He hasn’t stepped down from his throne. He’s not surprised by what is happening.
Furthermore, his arm is not too short to reach in and stop this crisis at any given moment.
Our inability to make sense of what is happening does not indicate God’s absence or indifference.
God cares.
He is calling each of us to draw close to him and rest in him when troubles come. Will you take just a moment to pause and look to him? He is with you, and he wants to give you peace in this troubled situation.
2. Hebrews 6:19
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain . . .
Have you put your hope in the day when your crisis passes?
I’m quick to try and fix what feels broken in my life. I feel like I have a sense of control over my world when I put broken pieces together again.
Sadly, I often put my hope in my ability to fix my circumstances instead of putting my hope in the fact that Jesus is with me in the middle of my broken moments.
Hebrews 6:19 reminds us that our hope is not in our circumstances. Our hope is in Christ with us in the middle of our troubled times. This hope is an anchor.
As an anchor is outside the ship, our hope steadies us from a secure place outside our understanding.
Think of the role of an anchor for a ship: The anchor pulls the vessel to itself.
Christ is our anchor. As we cling to him, he will pull us close.
Our hope is found not in getting through this crisis; our hope is found in drawing near to the anchor of Christ in the middle of the storm.
3. Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When life is difficult, do you ever wonder if God still loves you? When you begin to doubt God’s love for you, stand on the promise from Romans 8:38-39.
Nothing can ever take God’s love away from you.
Furthermore, when we study Scripture, we often see that trouble is a sign of God’s presence, not his absence.
4. Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
You might not feel like God is close when you are hurting, but this doesn’t change the promise that he is close to the brokenhearted.
Are you feeling crushed or brokenhearted? God is near.
He loves you deeply and wants to comfort you with his love.
5. John 16:33
In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Jesus directly told us that life would be hard at times.
Because Jesus said it, we can expect it.
Yet we don’t have to live in fear during difficult times. Jesus promises peace. There will be tribulation, but let’s not lose heart because Jesus has overcome the world.
Jesus already won the war. One day, Jesus will return and make all things new.
Until then, we can cling to the hope we find in him because he promises never to leave us.
6. Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
No matter how difficult your situation becomes, remind yourself that God is with you.
He is defending you and strengthening you. He will not abandon you, and he will use this difficult time to shape you into the image of Christ.
7. Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God is able to work all things for good in our lives. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can trust that he can turn it around and use it for good.
He will use adversity to help you grow in compassion and empathy, looking more like Jesus.
He wants to help you become more mature and complete as you walk through difficult times (James 1:2-4). Meanwhile, he will strengthen you and carry you.
More Scriptures on Overcoming Obstacles
8. 1 John 5:4
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
The world is the ungodly system surrounding us, and the world always tempts us to gratify the desires of the flesh.
The world leads us to sin and destruction.
Meanwhile, God gives us victory over the world through Christ. If you have received Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life, you can overcome any challenge through him.
9. Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
At times, we are hindered by burdens of this life as we aim to follow God and run the race of life.
We can overcome challenges by asking God to search our hearts and reveal the sins and burdens that weigh us down. We then cast off these sins by repenting, turning away from sin and turning toward God. In doing so, God helps us run the race victoriously.
10. Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
We can endure even the most difficult situations because Jesus is with us, and he gives us strength.
11. Isaiah 41:13
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
God is with you. Ask him to help you, and he will respond to this prayer. He wants to reveal his strength in your weakness.
12. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
As you turn to God in trust, not relying on your human understanding, he will guide you. Lean into this promise and cling to it. He can help you overcome any obstacle.
Let’s now apply these Scriptures on overcoming challenges to our lives. I invite you to join me as I scaled the summit of a mountain in Wyoming’s Wind River Ranger, and we’ll talk about overcoming obstacles with God’s help.
Applications of These Scriptures on Overcoming Challenges
The cold mountain wind rips at me while the sun scorches my chapped hands with desert-like heat. I spit out the gritty sand and continue my ascent. I don’t realize it just yet, but this ascent is teaching me about overcoming obstacles with God, a lesson I’ll need when different obstacles arise on different kinds of mountain climbs.
Overcoming Obstacles With God
Glancing upward, I’m only 60 yards from the summit. Sixty grueling yards of rough rock outcroppings and sheer drop-offs of over 1,000 feet stand before me. It seems there are cliffs on both sides of this journey.
I’ve barely begun the decade of my twenties, and I’m certain I’m invincible. I’m sure I’ve figured out most of what I’ll need to know for life. I have no idea.
After clambering to the summit of the 12,000-foot mountain and lying flat in the flogging wind, I stare at MacLeod Lake, over a thousand feet below, and I plan my descent. There’s no easy way down. There’s only a narrow ridge with sheer drop-offs on each side. I’ll have to risk it.
When the Path Is Narrow
As I reflect on my summer in Wyoming’s wilderness, I recognize that I took too many risks. I also thank God that I’m not the person I was. This all came to mind this morning as I opened my Bible to my daily reading plan.
Chapter 14 of 1 Samuel finds King Saul’s son, Jonathan, preparing to advance on the Philistines. Verse 4 reads: “Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.”
Jonathan needed to make forward progress to achieve his goal, but he found himself in a precarious situation. He needed to cross a mountain pass with a sharp crag on each side of the pass. (To read my post about 5 unexpected things God does while we suffer, join me by clicking here.)
Pressing Forward
The Hebrew word “Bozez” refers to something that is gleaming or slippery. The word “Seneh” means thorny. On one side he faced a steep slope of thorns. On the other, a dangerously slippery descent.
Despite the risks, Jonathan pressed forward, advanced against the Philistines, and overtook them.
He braved the thorns and the drop-off, and he pressed forward toward his goal.
Because I’ve climbed many mountains, the analogy powerfully strikes me: When the journey grows perilous (and obstacles arise), keep your eyes on the goal and keep walking.
When the journey grows perilous, keep your eyes on the goal and keep walking. #encounteringGodintheordinary #overcomingobstacles Share on XOvercoming Obstacles With God: 4 Ways
As we aim to overcome obstacles with God’s help, let’s break this down. What might it look like to keep our eyes on the goal?
1. We focus on where we want to go.
Whether I’m aiming to start a business, hoping to overcome the pain of past heartbreak, or seeking healing in a difficult matter, I can overcome when I keep my eyes on the goal and keep walking.
Where do you want to go today, friend?
What would it look like to reach your goal?
Keep your gaze fixed on this goal as you press forward.
2. We keep in mind our ultimate goal.
The slippery slope of fear will threaten to take you down. The thorny path of painful self-sacrifice, slow progress, and failure will threaten to stop your progress.
When this happens, remember your ultimate goal. Your ultimate goal is Christ: to know him more deeply through this trial and to share his love with others in the process.
I’m thankful for the author of Hebrews, who reminds us of exactly where to fix our eyes when things get tough: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).
3. We remain resilient.
Most journeys include at least a few setbacks. You can learn how to overcome obstacles with God by getting up after you fall.
God is using these obstacles to help you grow and become more mature. When you fall on the way to your goal, don’t give up. Get up and keep going.
4. We keep asking God for strength.
Lastly, we can learn how to overcome obstacles with God’s help by continuing to ask him for strength.
Keep talking to him as you press forward toward your goal. He wants to make his power perfectly known in your weakest moments. He wants to give you strength.
Keep talking to him as you press forward toward your goal. He wants to make his power perfectly known in your weakest moments. He wants to give you strength. #goals #resilience Share on XIf these Scriptures on overcoming obstacles with God blessed you, I invite you to explore our library of family devotional books and free devotional eBooks below. God wants to give you strength.
Calling All Parents (and Grandparents)!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Calling All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Be Still and Trust: Download Your Free eBook Here
Do you long to find space to draw near to God while struggling to make this practice a regular part of your life? The secret is establishing a daily rhythm that makes this time habitual, a routine that becomes as natural as eating, drinking, and sleeping. Be Still and Trust offers daily devotions for those who long for rest and renewal—devotions for peace in our hurried and stress-filled lives.
These short devotions are invitations into God’s rest when facing the daily battles that tend to steal our peace. Download it for free right here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
