A Prayer for Enduring Hardship
By Jack Graham
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
There was a young lady I heard about years ago who had come to the end of herself. She was in a hopeless situation and saw no reason to continue living. The purpose in her life was gone. So she went out onto the edge of a pier, closed her eyes, and leapt out into the cold, dark waters below.
But a young man walking nearby saw what happened. And before he could even think, he jumped off the pier himself into the turbulent frigid waters below. But he had forgotten to consider one thing: he didn’t know how to swim. So as he was struggling to even keep his head above water, that young lady reached over and began to help him.
They both made it out alive. And as a result, the woman realized she did have a purpose: to love others and to serve Jesus Christ. It wasn’t the fact that the man saved her life through a great act of heroism that did it. It was that someone saw her pain and cared enough to step down and go through it with her.
When it comes to loving others, that’s the call on our lives. Not to always have all the answers and be able to fix every problem, but to step into others’ lives, bear their burdens, and walk through their pain with them. That’s what it really means to help others endure life’s hardships!
Dear Lord, when the troubles of life begin to mount and we can see no way out, help us to trust in you and sing your praises all the more. There are days when we struggle to make sense of the world, Help us to remember that no matter what may come, you are always with us. Amen.
*Editor’s Note: The following is an abridged version of How You Can Help Others Endure Hardships by Pastor Jack Graham. To read the full devotional, follow this link.
Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026
This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.
Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Sunday, 03 May 2020.
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