What Does The Bible Say About Affliction? (35 Bible Verses)

Affliction—pain, suffering, and trials—are inevitable in life, but how should we respond to them according to the Bible? From the Psalms of lament to the stories of perseverance in the New Testament, scripture offers hope and encouragement in the midst of affliction. Join us as we explore the comforting truths and promises that sustain us through life’s toughest trials.

What Does The Bible Say About Affliction

Psalm 34:19 – The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

Psalm 119:67 – Affliction brings spiritual growth

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.”

Psalm 119:71 – Affliction leads to God’s teachings

“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – Affliction is temporary

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

James 1:2-4 – Affliction produces endurance and maturity

“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.”

2 Corinthians 1:4 – God comforts in affliction

“Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Psalm 50:15 – God delivers from affliction

“and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalm 119:153 – God’s word gives hope in affliction

“Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.”

Isaiah 53:4 – Jesus bore our afflictions

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”

Psalm 119:50 – God’s promise gives life in affliction

“This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”

Psalm 25:17 – The Lord sees affliction and distress

“The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.”

1 Peter 4:12-13 – Rejoice in sharing Christ’s sufferings

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

1 Peter 5:10 – God restores after affliction

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Psalm 107:6 – God delivers from distress in times of affliction

“Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”

Psalm 143:11 – God’s righteousness leads to deliverance from affliction

“For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.”

2 Corinthians 7:4 – God comforts us in all our afflictions

“I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.”

Psalm 116:10 – Faith sustains in times of affliction

“I believed, even when I spoke: ‘I am greatly afflicted.’”

Isaiah 41:10 – God strengthens and helps in times of affliction

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 – Affliction refines our faith

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 9:9 – God is a stronghold in times of affliction

“The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

Romans 8:18 – The future glory outweighs present affliction

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Psalm 119:92 – God’s law sustains in affliction

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”

Psalm 94:12 – God’s steadfast love comforts in affliction

“Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,”

Psalm 119:75 – Affliction brings knowledge of God’s ways

“I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.”

2 Timothy 3:12 – Expect affliction for following Christ

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Psalm 144:7 – God delivers from our enemies and afflictions

“Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners.”

Psalm 119:109 – Faith sustains in times of affliction

“I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.”

Lamentations 3:32 – God’s compassion in affliction

“But though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 – God’s grace is sufficient in affliction

“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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Jeremiah 29:11 – God’s plans give hope during affliction

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

2 Corinthians 1:6 – Affliction enables us to comfort others

“If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.”

Psalm 119:107 – God’s word sustains in affliction

“I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!”

Psalm 119:153 – God’s deliverance from affliction

“Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.”

Habakkuk 3:17-18 – Rejoice in God despite afflictions

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Psalm 119:75 – Affliction brings comfort through God’s promises

“I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.”

Hebrews 11:35-38 – The faithful endure great afflictions

“Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

1 Peter 5:9 – Resist affliction with steadfast faith

“Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

Psalm 119:92 – God’s obedience sustains in affliction

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”

2 Timothy 3:12 – Expect affliction for following Christ

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

James 5:10-11 – Examples of endurance through affliction

“As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Psalm 34:17 – The Lord hears the cries of the afflicted

“When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

John 16:33 – Jesus overcame the world’s affliction

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 119:35 – Seek God’s commandments in affliction

“Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.”

Isaiah 43:2 – God protects us in times of affliction

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Psalm 71:20 – God restores honor after affliction

“You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – God comforts us in affliction

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”