“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it 1abundantly.”
(John 10:10 NASB)
Jesus promised us abundant life—but He never promised a struggle-free life. Abundance is not the absence of hardship; it’s the presence of God in the hardship. The Bible is honest. Jesus Himself in John 16:33 (NASB), said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Struggles don’t mean God has stepped away. Often, they are the very place where He draws closest. Corrie ten Boom once said, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” When we walk through difficulty, God is not testing our endurance—He’s forming our trust.
We’re reminded in Romans 8:28 (NASB), “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” Notice it doesn’t say all things are good—but God is always working in them. Another promise anchors us in Isaiah 43:2 (NASB) which says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched.” You may be in the fire—but you are never alone in it.
And finally, A.W. Tozer said, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” So today, if you’re facing a struggle, don’t interpret it as God’s absence. See it as an invitation—to lean in, to trust deeper, and to discover that abundant life is not found in ease, but in intimacy with a faithful God who never lets go.