DAY 3 DEVOTIONAL | How to Respond Biblically to Challenges

When challenges arise, as they surely will, our first response is often emotional. Fear, frustration, discouragement, and confusion can shape how we react. 

To be honest, some folk have quite the opposite response when challenges come. Because there have been so many that sometimes you just laugh, you’re not surprised anymore, you just throw your hands up, run to God and say this is your battle, Lord.

Scripture teaches us, and through experience we learn, that spiritual strength is revealed not by the absence of challenges, but by how we respond to them.

Romans 8:28 NLT reminds believers that God is at work even when circumstances feel painful or unclear. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

This verse doesn’t dismiss the pain; it reminds us that God is still working through it.

It means facing the challenge honestly and trusting that God’s purpose goes beyond what we see right now.

The Apostle Paul expands this perspective in 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 by reminding believers that outward struggles do not define inward renewal. 

He says; “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

A biblical response shifts focus from immediate pressure to eternal purpose.

We see this response modeled clearly in the life of Joseph.

In Genesis chapters 37–50, Joseph faces betrayal, false accusation, and imprisonment. Yet throughout these challenges, he did not respond with bitterness or despair. He remained faithful, responsible, and he honoured God in each season. 

Years later, Joseph recognises that what others intended for harm, God used for good. His response shows us that trusting God’s sovereignty allows strength to grow even in prolonged hardship.

In contrast, we see a different response in King Hezekiah.

In 2 Kings 20:12–13, after God heals Hezekiah, he responds poorly to pressure and pride by showing the Babylonian messengers all that was in his house, and in verses 16–18, Isaiah addresses the consequences of that decision.

Instead of seeking God’s wisdom, Hezekiah reacts out of self-exaltation. You have heard me speak on this here. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and not on Angela.

Back to Hezekiah. Though overall he was faithful, this moment shows how losing eternal perspective during success or stress can cause us to fall. 

His story reminds us that challenges are not only external, but they also test our discernment and humility. And God says we must be humble, yet I heard someone who was being interviewed on a preacher’s podcast say, whether he was joking or not, there ain’t nothing humble about me!

What I’m trying to get at here is that how we respond to situations is shaped by our perspective. And that’s why we have to stay focused on Christ by communicating with Him through prayer and reading The Word.

Joseph viewed his challenges through God’s promises. On the other hand, Hezekiah, for the moment, saw his situation through human approval. 

One response produced long-term fruit; the other required correction.

For us as believers today, responding biblically means pausing before reacting. It means asking, “How does God’s Word frame this situation?” It is not at all about “How do I feel right now?” That’s our emotions, and generally, we fly off the handle and regret our knee-jerk reactions.

Scripture reminds us that endurance, humility, and trust are formed through trials, not apart from them.

James 1:2–4 (KJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

1 Peter 5:6–7 (KJV) “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

2 Corinthians 4 teaches us that when life feels heavy, we must resist the urge to measure our faith by what we see. 

In verses 16–18 (KJV) we read: “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Family, spiritual strength grows when we anchor our response in eternal truth rather than temporary discomfort. 

As I close, remember this: Challenges, on their own, do not weaken our faith; it is how we respond to them that makes the difference.

When we respond biblically, we allow God to use even heavy seasons to strengthen our spirit and deepen our trust in Him.

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