Scripture provides examples of types of hardship which people may expect to encounter.
Different kinds of hardship
Poverty
Proverbs 10:15 See also Deuteronomy 15:11; Job 24:5–11; Matthew 26:11 parallel Mark 14:7; John 12:8
The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
Hunger and thirst
Psalm 107:4–5 See also Genesis 41:53–57; Exodus 15:22–24, Exodus 16:2–3, Exodus 17:1–3; Numbers 11:4–6; 1 Kings 17:7–12; Nehemiah 5:1–5; Matthew 4:2 parallel Luke 4:2
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell. They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them.
Hard labour
Genesis 3:17–19 See also Genesis 31:38–42; 2 Chronicles 10:3–4; Ecclesiastes 2:21–22; 1 Thessalonians 2:9
And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground — because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Oppression
Job 35:9 See also Exodus 1:11, Exodus 2:23, Exodus 5:8–9; 2 Kings 4:1; Psalm 12:5, Psalm 31:9–13; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Jeremiah 6:6; Amos 3:9; James 5:4
Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.
Danger
Nehemiah 4:21–23 See also Exodus 18:8; 1 Kings 2:26; 1 Chronicles 11:15–19; Acts 27:27–44
So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.
Examples of those who suffered hardship
Israel
Deuteronomy 28:47–48 God's people suffered under his chastisement. See also Deuteronomy 8:15 their suffering in the wilderness; Deuteronomy 26:6–7 their suffering in Egypt
Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance, you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.
David was oppressed by his enemies
A song of ascents. O LORD, remember on behalf of David all the hardships he endured,
Paul suffered in serving the Lord
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;
God's people must endure hardship
The example of Jesus Christ
See also 2 Corinthians 8:9
The suffering of believers
Acts 14:21–22 See also 1 Corinthians 4:11–13; 2 Corinthians 1:8–9, 2 Corinthians 11:23–29; Philippians 4:11–14; 2 Timothy 2:3; Hebrews 10:34, Hebrews 11:37–38, Hebrews 12:7; Revelation 2:3
They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
The need for faith, courage and endurance
2 Corinthians 1:9; Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 10:36; James 1:12; Revelation 1:9, Revelation 14:12
God helps his people through hardship
He provides for them
Deuteronomy 8:16; 1 Kings 17:2–9; 2 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 1:19, Philippians 4:19
He comforts them with his love
Romans 8:35–39; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; Hebrews 13:5
He sets heaven before them
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.