Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, "difficulty" often refers to the challenges, trials, and tribulations that individuals face in their spiritual and earthly lives. The Bible addresses the concept of difficulty in various ways, offering guidance, encouragement, and examples of how to endure and overcome hardships through faith and reliance on God.
Old TestamentThe Old Testament frequently depicts difficulty as a test of faith and character. The account of Job is a quintessential example, where Job faces immense suffering and loss. Despite his trials, Job remains steadfast in his faith, ultimately declaring, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (
Job 13:15). This narrative illustrates the belief that enduring difficulty can lead to spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty.
The Israelites' journey through the wilderness also exemplifies the theme of difficulty. Their 40-year sojourn was marked by numerous challenges, including scarcity of food and water, which tested their faith and obedience to God. In
Deuteronomy 8:2, Moses reminds them, "Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments" .
New TestamentIn the New Testament, Jesus Christ addresses the inevitability of difficulty in the lives of His followers. In
John 16:33, He assures His disciples, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world" . This statement highlights the promise of peace and victory through Christ, even amidst worldly troubles.
The Apostle Paul frequently writes about the role of difficulty in the Christian life. In
Romans 5:3-4, he states, "Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" . Paul emphasizes that difficulties are not without purpose; they are instrumental in developing virtues that strengthen one's faith and hope in God.
Practical GuidanceThe Bible offers practical guidance for dealing with difficulty.
James 1:2-4 encourages believers to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" . This passage suggests that a positive attitude towards trials can lead to spiritual maturity.
Prayer is also a vital tool in navigating difficulties.
Philippians 4:6-7 advises, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" . Through prayer, believers can find peace and strength to endure hardships.
Examples of Overcoming DifficultyThe Bible is replete with examples of individuals who overcame difficulty through faith. Daniel, when faced with the threat of the lion's den, remained faithful to God and was delivered unharmed (Daniel 6). Similarly, the Apostle Peter, after denying Christ, was restored and became a foundational leader in the early Church (
John 21:15-19).
These examples serve as reminders that while difficulty is an inevitable part of life, reliance on God and adherence to His teachings can lead to triumph over adversity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; -- opposed to easiness or facility; as, the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty.
2. (n.) Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill and perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology.
3. (n.) A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil.
4. (n.) Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; -- usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties.
Greek
3433. molis -- with difficulty ... with
difficulty. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: molis Phonetic Spelling:
(mol'-is) Short Definition: with
difficulty, hardly Definition: with
difficulty ... 3424. mogilalos -- speaking with difficulty
... speaking with difficulty. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: mogilalos Phonetic
Spelling: (mog-il-al'-os) Short Definition: one speaking with difficulty ...
1423. duskolos -- with difficulty
... with difficulty. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: duskolos Phonetic Spelling:
(doos-kol'-oce) Short Definition: with difficulty, hardly Definition: with ...
4730. stenochoria -- narrowness of space, fig. difficulty
... difficulty. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: stenochoria Phonetic
Spelling: (sten-okh-o-ree'-ah) Short Definition: a narrow space, great distress ...
3425. mogis -- hardly.
... Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: mogis Phonetic Spelling: (mog'-is) Short
Definition: with difficulty, scarcely, hardly Definition: with difficulty ...
1280. diaporeo -- to be greatly perplexed or at a loss
... a loss. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diaporeo Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ap-or-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am in trouble, doubt, difficulty Definition: ...
917. bareos -- heavily
... heavily. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: bareos Phonetic Spelling:
(bar-eh'-oce) Short Definition: heavily, with difficulty Definition: heavily, with ...
4342. proskartereo -- to attend constantly
... [4342 means "to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible
implication of despite difficulty -- 'to devote oneself to, to keep on, to ...
3628. oiktirmos -- compassion, pity
... grace, mercy. 3628 -- properly, compassion (pity), ie deep feeling about
someone's difficulty or misfortune (, 1:159). 3628 ("visceral ...
327. anazeteo -- to seek carefully
... anazeteo Phonetic Spelling: (an-ad-zay-teh'-o) Short Definition: I seek out, search
for Definition: I seek out, search for (implying the difficulty of the task ...
Strong's Hebrew
3517. kebeduth -- heaviness... heaviness. Transliteration: kebeduth Phonetic Spelling: (keb-ay-dooth') Short
Definition:
difficulty.
... heavily. Feminine of kabed;
difficulty -- X heavily.
... 3811. laah -- to be weary or impatient
... root Definition to be weary or impatient NASB Word Usage become impatient (1),
exhausted (1), find difficulty (1), impatient (1), parched (1), tired (2), try ...
7180. qishshuah -- a cucumber
... cucumber. From an unused root (meaning to be hard); a cucumber (from the difficulty
of digestion) -- cucumber. 7179, 7180. qishshuah. 7181 . Strong's Numbers
Library
A Difficulty.
... Book X. Chapter II."A Difficulty. To this Niceta answered: "My lord Peter,
I say nothing against your right and good counsels; but ...
And Thus Your Difficulty is Removed: Attraction or Drawing is ...
... [Way-3-20] And thus your difficulty is removed: attraction or drawing is
rightly ascribed to the desire? And thus your difficulty ...
The Difficulty and Excellence of virginity; the Study Of
... Discourse I."Marcella. Chapter I."The Difficulty and Excellence of Virginity;
The Study of. Doctrine Necessary for Virgins. Virginity ...
A Difficulty Removed, which Lies in the Way of what Has Just Been ...
... Book XIV. Chapter 3."A Difficulty Removed, Which Lies in the Way of What
Has Just Been Said. But far be it from us to think, that ...
The Resolution of the Difficulty Set Forth for Consideration is ...
... Book II. Chapter VII. The resolution of the difficulty set forth for
consideration is again taken in hand.? The resolution of ...
Christian virtues; Or, the Difficulty of Conversion.
... first and third lines of the stanza. Hymn 2:161. Christian virtues; or,
The difficulty of conversion. 1 Strait is the way, the door ...
Man's Difficulty Concerning Prayer.
... MAN'S DIFFICULTY CONCERNING PRAYER. '"and not to faint.'"Luke 18:1. 'How
should any design of the All-wise be altered in response ...
Of the Difficulty of Uniformity in Eating; and of the Gluttony of ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XXIV. Of the difficulty of
uniformity in eating; and of the gluttony of brother Benjamin. ...
Faustus Recurs to the Genealogical Difficulty and Insists that ...
... Book XXIII. Faustus recurs to the genealogical difficulty and insists that even
according to Matthew Jesus was not Son of God until His baptism. ...
Difficulty of Judging.
... Homily XII. Chapter XXVIII."Difficulty of Judging. Then said Peter, "These
things are ordinary: now hear what is greater. There ...
Thesaurus
Difficulty (12 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; -- opposed
to easiness or facility; as, the
difficulty of a task or enterprise; a
...Brethren (528 Occurrences)
... Even though each particular, taken separately, might, with some difficulty, be
explained otherwise, the force of the argument is cumulative. ...
Nations (683 Occurrences)
... Then there is the difficulty of associating the physical phenomena with
any shaking of the nations occurring atthe first advent. ...
Jehoahaz (22 Occurrences)
... 1. Chronology of Reign: Josephus was already aware (Ant., IX, viii, 5) of the
chronological difficulty involved in the cross-references in 2 Kings 13:1 and 10 ...
All (60349 Occurrences)
... Then there is the difficulty of associating the physical phenomena with
any shaking of the nations occurring atthe first advent. ...
Desire (565 Occurrences)
... Then there is the difficulty of associating the physical phenomena with
any shaking of the nations occurring atthe first advent. ...
Wanderings (7 Occurrences)
... Description of the Arabah 5. Physical Condition of the Wilderness 6. Difficulties
Regarding the Numbers of Israel and Account of Tabernacle 7. Difficulty as to ...
Anthropomorphism
... Twofold Nature of the Anthropomorphic Difficulty 13. ... 12. Twofold Nature of the
Anthropomorphic Difficulty: The anthropomorphic difficulty is a twofold one. ...
Kenosis
... time of the Parousia. (2) An older exegesis felt only the last of these
passages as a real difficulty. A distinction constructed ...
Crete (7 Occurrences)
... the imperial transport service. Leaving Myra they came opposite Cnidus
with difficulty, against a head-wind. The ordinary course ...
Resources
How should a Christian view ADD and ADHD? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is loving others often so difficult? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is apocalyptic literature so strange? | GotQuestions.orgDifficulty: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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