Bible Verses About Suffering: 14

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

— Romans 8:18 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about suffering want Scripture for pain that has a Christian shape — sharing Christ's sufferings, purpose in hardship, and hope that is not a greeting-card dodge. This page is a numbered list of fourteen passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related pages: Love and suffering, Bible verses for hard times, Bible verses about grief, Bible verses about comfort, Bible verses about anxiety, Bible verses about hope, and Bible verses about strength. Here the focus is suffering with and for Christ — distinct from grief-card lists on Bible verses about grief, comfort wording on Bible verses about comfort, and the love-through-trials essay on Love and suffering.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "suffering / affliction" is often πάθημα pathēma (Strong's G3804; Bible Hub G3804) — that which is suffered, an affliction, or a passion endured. In Hebrew, עֳנִי oni (Strong's H6040; Bible Hub H6040) names affliction or misery — the lived weight of being brought low, not a theory about pain.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 8 presses that present sufferings are real, yet not worth comparing with the glory ahead for those who are in Christ (Bible Hub commentaries on Romans 8:17; Bible Hub MHC Romans 8). On Romans 5 he notes that tribulation works patience, and experience hope, when God's love is poured out — suffering is not wasted in that chain (Bible Hub commentaries on Romans 5:3; Bible Hub MHC Romans 5). On 1 Peter 4 he urges believers not to think fiery trials strange, but to rejoice as partakers of Christ's sufferings (Bible Hub commentaries on 1 Peter 4:12; Bible Hub MHC 1 Peter 4).

14 Bible verses about suffering

1 Peter 4:12-13. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." Fiery trials are not a glitch in the Christian life — participation in Christ's sufferings has a glory horizon. See Bible verses about persecution.
Romans 8:17. "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Heirship includes shared sufferings on the way to shared glory. See Bible verses about hope.
Romans 8:18. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Present pain is weighed honestly — and still loses the comparison. See Love and suffering.
2 Corinthians 1:5. "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." Abundant suffering is matched by abundant comfort — both through Christ. See Bible verses about comfort.
Philippians 3:10. "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." Knowing Christ includes fellowship in his sufferings, not only his power. See Bible verses about the cross.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9. "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." Pressure is real; abandonment is denied. See Bible verses for hard times.
1 Peter 2:21. "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." Suffering for doing good has a footprint — Christ's. See Bible verses about discipleship.
Colossians 1:24. "Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church." Apostolic suffering serves the body — not self-drama. See Bible verses about the church.
1 Peter 5:10. "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." "A little while" is timed by God who restores. See Bible verses about strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." Weakness becomes the place power rests — when grace is enough. See Bible verses about strength.
Psalm 34:19. "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." Many troubles are admitted; deliverance is promised. See Bible verses for hard times.
Hebrews 2:10. "In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered." The pioneer path to glory runs through suffering. See Bible verses about salvation.
Romans 5:3-4. "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Suffering is not wasted when it produces that chain. See Bible verses about hope.
2 Timothy 2:3. "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." Suffering can be a shared enlistment, not a private shame. See Bible verses about perseverance.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a hard diagnosis, a long disappointment, or a night you cannot sleep — not fourteen. If you need glory held against present pain, start with Romans 8:18. If you need participation in Christ's sufferings named, start with 1 Peter 4:12-13 or Philippians 3:10. If you need the chain from suffering to hope, start with Romans 5:3-4. For grief and sympathy wording, see Bible verses about grief. For the love-through-trials essay, see Love and suffering. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about suffering?

Romans 8:18 (present sufferings not worth comparing with glory), 1 Peter 4:12-13 (participate in the sufferings of Christ), and Romans 5:3-4 (suffering produces perseverance… hope) are clear starting places.

What does the Bible say about Christian suffering?

Scripture treats suffering as expected for those in Christ (1 Peter 4:12-13; Romans 8:17), purposeful in forming perseverance and hope (Romans 5:3-4), and temporary under the God who restores (1 Peter 5:10).

How is this page different from Bible verses for hard times or grief?

Hard-times and grief pages stress comfort in affliction and mourning. This page stays with sharing Christ's sufferings and purpose in pain — then cross-links Bible verses for hard times, Bible verses about grief, and Love and suffering.

Does suffering mean God has abandoned me?

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says persecuted but not abandoned; 2 Corinthians 1:5 says comfort abounds through Christ as sufferings are shared. Pain is real; abandonment is not the Christian last word. See Bible verses about comfort.

How can I use Bible verses about suffering in prayer?

Read Romans 8:18 and name the glory you cannot yet see. Use Philippians 3:10 to ask to know Christ in power and in suffering. Use 1 Peter 5:10 to ask for restore, strong, firm, and steadfast after "a little while."

Sources

NIV text quoted above.
Blue Letter Bible / Bible Hub Strong's entries for pathēma (G3804) and oni (H6040).
Matthew Henry Concise via Bible Hub on Romans 8:17, Romans 5:3, and 1 Peter 4:12.