Psalm 84:11 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 

If we are walking uprightly before the Lord, we will be blessed. What we receive from God depends on our following God’s Word. We have free will, but our choices affect our blessings and salvation. The more we incorporate God into our lives and ways, the more we will increase in blessings. 

Acts 14:22

Strengthening and establishing the hearts of the disciples; encouraging them to remain firm in the faith, saying, “It is through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter the kingdom of God.

We are to be encouraged by the Word of God because He knew we would have hardships. God doesn’t expect us to go through these times alone but firmly grasp His promises in the Bible. These promises will keep us steadfast and stable, only believing the truth of the Word and not the world’s lies. 

James 1:3-4

Be assured that the testing of your faith (through experience) produces endurance (leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace). And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed (in your faith), lacking in nothing.

Jesus overcame the world when He died on the cross and transferred the ability of faith to those who believe in Him. That knowledge of the transfer should increase our belief in the Word and our abilities with the Word to overcome the circumstances. Our faith must be practiced for us to succeed, and we must endure to grow and learn how to use the tools Jesus gave us to succeed. 

Romans 5:3-4

And not only this, but (with joy) let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance (of eternal salvation).

Paul endured more than we can imagine for the spreading of the gospel. Paul tells us to keep our attitude joyful and focus on the Word and God building our character. We are to keep our faith, speak faith-filled words, and ask God to help us endure and move us through hardships. To succeed through suffering, we have to increase our faith. 

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience (nor is any temptation unusual or beyond the human resistance) but God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but along with the temptation He will provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it.

We are bombarded with temptations and ways to sin every day. We all have weaknesses that require more prayer to Jesus to help overcome and turn from. We may have to change friends, turn off the computer or television, and open our Bibles to remind ourselves that Jesus is the way out of temptation. Whatever Jesus directs us to do, we must not linger over the temptation but remove ourselves quickly. 

1 Corinthians 10:12

Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm (immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous), take care that he does not fall (into sin and condemnation).

Staying humble in our estimation of ourselves keeps trouble out of our lives. We are not an idol to worship because of our own perceived excellence of achievement in standing against temptation. God is the only deity to be praised and worshipped for the strength to avoid temptation. Any accomplishment we have comes from God and will be directed by Him.  

Romans 12:12

Constantly rejoicing in hope (because of our confidence in Christ), steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer (continually seeking wisdom, guidance and strength).

Life carries stresses we don’t have the answers to, but Jesus does. If we seek answers from Jesus and pray for wisdom and guidance, He will help us find solutions. Or help us walk through the stresses to get to the other side. The answer to what is going on in our lives can have a multitude of solutions. Don’t question the solution. Just follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

Our goal as Christians is to flourish under the tutelage of Jesus and the Word. That may mean we must change our thinking and feelings and how we react to life and people. It may mean we must mature and leave the old self behind who didn’t have the spirit or the Word of God for instruction. We can no longer reason as a child wanting everything our way but espousing the virtues of Jesus and walking in love and faith. 

Colossians 2:6-7

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in (union with) Him (reflecting His character in the things you do and say-living lives that lead others away from sin), having been deeply rooted (in Him) and now being continually built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. 

If we work to get our lives deeply rooted in Jesus and the teaching of God, our faith will accelerate. Our lives will reflect the character of Jesus as we emulate what we learn from the Word. Jesus walked in love and did not fear, and He abounded in wisdom. We, as believers, need all those things, and they are readily available to us when we believe. 

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, (doing this) without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. 

As Christians our goal is to increase our faith and mature. When we build ourselves up, we can be a center of knowledge to help the lost and sick and encourage others who need to learn from our experience. We become a voice for the possibilities of faith when we speak on how God has worked in our lives.