What the Bible Says: Scripture for 25 Life Struggles

Want to know what God says in his Word to help guide your way? We’ve compiled this handy list of Bible verses for twenty-five common life situations. Find encouragement, guidance and connection with God when you need comfort, have disagreements, are tempted to be bitter, struggle with laziness, apathy, jealously, pride – and even when things are going well. God in his Word seeks to connect with you in any situation life throws your way!

Find help when…

1. The Future Seems Hopeless

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
— 1 Peter 5:10–11

Also see Isaiah 54:1–7; Lamentations 3:19–24; 1 Corinthians 15:20–28; 1 Peter 1:1–9; Revelation 11:15–19

2. You Need Comfort

“Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
    proclaim it in distant coastlands:
‘He who scattered Israel will gather them
    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
    they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,
    the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
    and they will sorrow no more.
Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
    I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
— Jeremiah 31:10–13

Also see Isaiah 12; Isaiah 40:1–11; 2 Corinthians 1:3–7; 2 Corinthians 7:6–13

3. You Need Assurance of Salvation

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
— John 11:25–26

Also see Psalm 91:14–16; Micah 7:18–20; John 3:14–21; Acts 16:31–34; 1 John 5:9–13

4. Others Have Sinned Against You

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment
— James 2:12–13

Also see Genesis 33:1–4; Genesis 50:15–20; Matthew 6:14–15; Matthew 18:21–35; Colossians 3:12–14

5. You Are Tempted to Be Bitter

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
— Hebrews 12:14–15

Also see Psalm 4; Psalm 73; Proverbs 16:32; 1 Corinthians 13:5; Ephesians 4:29—5:2;

6. You Are Tempted to Neglect Corporate Worship

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
— Acts 2:42–47

Also see Exodus 20:8–11; Psalm 95:1–7; Hebrews 10:19–25

7. Your Faith Needs Strengthening

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.
    I am your shield,
    your very great reward.

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
— Genesis 15:1–6

Also see Proverbs 3:5–9; Romans 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Hebrews 10:19–25, 35–39; Hebrews 11:1—12:13

8. You Need to Control Your Tongue

I said, “I will watch my ways
    and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
    while in the presence of the wicked.”
— Psalm 39:1

 Also see Proverbs 10:18–20; Matthew 15:1–20; James 3:1–12

9. The World Seems Enticing

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
— 1 John 2:15–17

 Also see Genesis 3:1–7; Ecclesiastes 2:1–11; 2 Corinthians 6:14—7:1; James 1:26–27; James 4:4–10

10. You Are Prone to Judge Others

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
— James 4:11–12

Also see Matthew 7:1–5; 1 Corinthians 4:1–5; James 2:1–13

11. You Have Been Cheated

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
— Matthew 18:15–17

Also see Genesis 33:1–4; 1 Corinthians 6:1–8; James 5:1–8

12. Things Are Going Well

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”
— Hebrews 13:5

Also see Job 31:24–28; Proverbs 15:27; Luke 12:13–21; 1 Timothy 6:3–19; James 2:1–17

13. You Are in a Position of Responsibility

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
— 1 Corinthians 16:13–14

 Also see 1 Kings 11:5–7; Proverbs 3:21–27; Mark 10:35–45; Luke 7:1–10; Galatians 6:9–10

14. You Have Been Quarreling

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
— Ephesians 4:1–6

Also see Genesis 13:5–11; Psalm 133; 1 Corinthians 3; Ephesians 4:15—5:2; 2 Timothy 2:14–26; James 4:1–12

15. You Are Challenged by Dark Forces

Be merciful to me, my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
    all day long they press their attack.
My adversaries pursue me all day long;
    in their pride many are attacking me.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
    In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
— Psalm 56:1–4

Also see Joshua 1:6–9; Romans 8:38–39; 2 Corinthians 4:7–18; Ephesians 6:10–18; 2 Timothy 4:3–7

16. You Are Jealous

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
— Galatians 5:13–15

 Also see Numbers 12:1–15; Numbers 16:1–35; Galatians 5:19–21; James 3:13–18

17. You Struggle With Laziness

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
— Philippians 2:12–13

Also see Proverbs 6:6–11; Proverbs 10:4–5; Ephesians 5:15–16; 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–15

18. You Struggle With Lust

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
— 1 Corinthians 10:13

Also see Deuteronomy 22:22–24; 2 Samuel 11:1—12:14; Matthew 5:27–30; Romans 13:8–14; James 1:13–18

19. You Are Angry

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
— James 1:19–21

Also see Genesis 4:1–12; Psalm 4:4; Matthew 5:21–22; Matthew 18:21–35; Ephesians 4:25—5:2

20. You Desire Revenge

The Lord is a God who avenges.
    O God who avenges, shine forth.
— Psalm 94:1

Also see Deuteronomy 32:34–35; Proverbs 25:21–22; Matthew 5:38–42; Romans 12:17–21; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15; 1 Peter 3:8–14

21. You Are Proud

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
— Romans 12:3

Also see Proverbs 8:12–14; Matthew 25:34–40; Mark 10:35–45; Romans 12:3; Philippians 2:1–11

22. You Struggle With Addiction

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
— Romans 12:1–2

Also see Psalm 18:28–36; Proverbs 23:29–35; Romans 6:1–23; 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; Philippians 3:17—4:1

23. You Are Greedy

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
— 1 John 3:16–18

Also see Psalm 62:1–2, 10; Ecclesiastes 2:1–11; Luke 12:13–21; 2 Corinthians 9:6–15; Ephesians 5:3–7

24. You Desire to Learn How to Pray

Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
— Mark 11:22–25

Also see 2 Chronicles 6:13–42; 2 Chronicles 20:5–12; Matthew 6:5–15; Luke 18:9–14; Philippians 4:4–7

25. You Struggle With Apathy

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
— Luke 12:35–48

Also see Numbers 25:10–13; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Matthew 25:1–13; Luke 12:35–48; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; Revelation 3:1–6, 14–22

We encourage you to also check out the article, “Remembering God’s Promises” for a handy reference of Bible promises when facing feelings of disappointment, fear, doubt, grief and more.

This Bible resource is drawn from the NIV Holy Bible: Hope for Every Day.