How to find joy in life during difficult times

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However painful they are, setbacks, failures, and tragedies are a part of life. Life has a way of kicking us when we’re down, but reading uplifting quotes will help you pick yourself up agin.

Whether we manage to find joy in the daily struggle of life and achieve success is largely dependent on our ability to persevere through even the toughest adversity without giving up.

If you’re going through a rough time, finding something to give you a little lift can help you remember that life isn’t always bad. These seemingly endless stretches of fear, disappointment, pain, and heartache are just brief moments of time that will soon pass.

We’ve put together a list of the very best uplifting quotes for difficult times. Whatever you’re facing, we’re here to inspire you.

Uplifting Quotes

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.

Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.

Leroy Satchel Paige

It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.

Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.

Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.

Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.

Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them.

Norman Vincent Peale

We should always pray for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impression to proceed in ways different from those we may have thought of.

Quotes to Overcome Adversity

The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.

He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity.

William Samuel Johnson

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.

Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit.

The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.

Tough times never last, but tough people do.

In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.

Never give in. Never, never, never.

Prosperity is not without many fears and disasters; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.

We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Quotes about Pushing Through

Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Use what you’ve been through as fuel, believe in yourself and be unstoppable!

The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.

The best way to get rid of the pain is to feel the pain. And when you feel the pain and go beyond it, you’ll see there’s a very intense love that is wanting to awaken itself.

It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop.

If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.

To succeed, you have to do something and be very bad at it for a while. You have to look bad before you can look really good.

Quotes about Learning from Difficult Times

Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.

It’s not exactly like you thought it would be, you think it’s a failure. What about the spectrum of colors in between.

I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me.

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, “I will try again tomorrow.

Mary Anne Radmacher

To have darkness behind me, in front of me a bright sky, flickering lights on the water and to feel it on the stony face of the southern sun.

Man is fond of counting his troubles but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up, as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.

When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.

“When the going gets tough – the tough get going!

“The oak sleeps in the acorn. The bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of reality.

We hope you enjoyed these uplifting quotes! Did we miss anything? Share your favorite uplifting quote with us in the comments!

At the beginning of the new year, I find myself wondering, What will this new year bring? Terrorists in Paris recently killed twelve journalists and grieved a watching world; North Korea may soon have a long range nuclear warhead that can reach the United States. Can we find joy despite the nightly dose of bad tidings from the news commentators and despite anything negative that might be happening in our lives? My friend, Julia, has lived with a burden for years and has learned how to be joyful regardless of circumstances. Whenever I need to replace any gloom that creeps its way into my mind, I think of her.

Julia lives in constant pain. She suffers from a degenerative back disease, and though she has had several surgeries and takes medications daily, she is never pain free. Despite the crippling effect of the pain, she radiates joy.

“So, Julia,” I asked her, “How do you stay joyful in spite of your pain?”

She rattles off rules that she lives by: “Don’t pretend you have it all together; turn every day over to God; keep priorities in order.”

As she continues, I’m amazed at the wisdom and grace God has given this dear friend. Here are three principles Julia shared:

1. Joy is a choice

”Choose joy,” Julia says. “Happiness is based on our circumstances; joy is a choice we make regardless of our circumstances. The word happiness comes from the same root as the word ‘happening,’ meaning happiness is based on something happening to us. Happiness is circumstantial. Joy, on the other hand is something which defies circumstances and occurs in spite of difficult situations. Whereas happiness is a feeling, joy is an attitude – a posture. A position. A place.”

Julia goes on to note that pain is inevitable but misery is optional. “God will let you be as miserable as you want to be for as long as you want to be.” She has a hard and fast rule that all pity parties are limited to forty five minutes. Then, it’s so much for misery and back to joy.

2. Find peace inside of the pain through gratitude

“I have prayed for healing more times than I can count,” says Julia. “God finally healed me of the need to be healed.”

Julia found an acceptance of her situation that allows her to be at peace with herself and with God. “I often thank God for what I don’t have,” she says. “I don’t have cancer, or heart disease, or ALS. One of my friends suffers as I do, and she reminds me, ‘We’re not going to die; it’s just a mechanical problem.’”

In a survey of over 5,000 people taken by Michael Zigarelli, the dean of the business school at Regent University, comparing Christians who are consistently joyful with those who have less joy, he found that gratitude spawns joy. Grateful people are incessantly focused on what they have, not what they don’t have. By not focusing on what’s missing, they find joy in the blessings they are constantly counting.

3. Focus on being, not doing

Julia shares how she volunteered in a prison ministry and in children’s puppet ministries as a young mother. Her vivacious, fun-loving personality enabled her to reach otherwise unreachable people. “I thought when Spencer (her husband) retired I’d have more time to get out and do volunteer work, but now I’m housebound, confined to the bed most days. I’ve had to learn to focus more on being than doing because I can’t do anymore.”

We’re all pretty well versed in doing, aren’t we? Being is something we don’t do too well unless we have no choice. I remember a story I heard about an elderly gentleman whose son came over once a week to help him. The son mowed his grass, trimmed his shrubs, did his grocery shopping, and cleaned his house. One day when the son had finished all the chores, he asked his dad, “Dad, what else can I do for you?”

The dad, with tears in his eyes, said, “Son, all I want you to do is just sit down and be with me.”

I can imagine God, pained by our service keeping us too busy to just sit down and be with him. For Julia, most of the “busyness” has been eliminated just because of her physical condition. She realizes her life is less cluttered with more room to be with God – she can be rather than do, and being with God brings her joy.

One pastor, Dan Grubbs, expressed it well, “Many people say that humans need diversions to live a healthy, balanced life. I think we’ve deluded ourselves into believing this because we haven’t fully experienced the true joy of a close walk with God. We are created to worship God and enjoy ourselves in that relationship. This relationship is what fulfills us. This relationship is what brings us joy. There’s nothing like experiencing the joy from replacing secular activities with spiritual ones.”

Julia has learned that joy is independent of our circumstances, and we can choose it regardless of what we are experiencing. Another great Christian, the Apostle Paul, echoes this truth. Writing to the Church at Philippi from his prison cell as he awaited trial in Rome, not knowing whether he would be condemned to death or set free, he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always – I will say it again: rejoice! I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13).

Zoe Hicks is an author, motivational speaker, and attorney. She serves on several non-profit boards and is a volunteer for Street Grace, a faith-based ministry whose mission is to prevent and eliminate domestic minor sex trafficking. Zoe’s latest book is entitled Dancing in the Rain: True Stories of Finding Strength to Survive and Grace to Thrive in the Storms of Life. Zoe makes her home in Atlanta, Georgia with husband, Charles. Visit for more information.

Publication date: January 29, 2015

Historical Insight: How did Paul end up in chains in a Roman prison? While he was visiting Jerusalem, some Jews had him arrested for preaching the Good News, but he appealed to Caesar to hear his case (Acts 21:15-25:12). He was then escorted by soldiers to Rome, where he was placed under house arrest while awaiting trial- not a trial for breaking civil law, but for proclaiming the Good News of Christ. At that time, the Roman authorities did not consider this to be a serious charge. A few years later, however, Rome would take a different view of Christianity and make every effort to stamp it out of existence. (Life Application Bible Studies, Philippians and Colossians, p. 5)

Day One Study

1. Read Philippians 1:12-18. As in most letters, Paul tells what is going on in his life. What did Paul say were his “circumstances”?

2. What are at least three results of Paul’s circumstances?

Think About It: Paul enjoyed a powerful personal witness to the elite Roman guard (verse 13). He was always chained to a member of the Praetorian Guard, the Imperial Guard of Rome. Every six [or perhaps four] hours his guard changed. That’s 365 days a year, for two years. At [at least] four guards a day, Paul had 2,920 opportunities to share one-on-one about Jesus! Perhaps some of these soldiers who were sent throughout the Roman Empire spread the message of Jesus Christ they had heard from the lips of the prisoner Paul. What a ministry!—one Paul would not have had were he not under their guard. (Elizabeth George, Experiencing God’s Peace, p. 36)

3. In verse 12, Paul uses a term for the advance of the gospel, “ probope, ” which depicts a group of woodcutters clearing the way through an impenetrable forest for an advancing army. Why do you think this might be a good description of what is going on in this passage?

Scriptural Insight: In contrast to the situation in Philippians 1:15-17, Paul describes preachers in Galatians 1:6-9 who are preaching a different gospel than the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s response to this situation is that he hopes that the preacher who distorts God’s truth is “accursed” or that his message be destroyed. See also 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 and 1 John 5:10-12 for the essential elements of the true gospel.

4. In Philippians 1:14 Paul states that his imprisonment made many of the other believers in the church in Rome bold in proclaiming the gospel. Why do you think this happened?

5. Your Joy Journey: Share an experience when the courage or circumstances of another person inspired you to do something you had desired to do previously, but had lacked the courage or willingness to do.

6. As Paul continues to describe his circumstances in this letter, he tells of two groups of teachers who are preaching the gospel of Christ in his (Paul’s) absence due to imprisonment. Read Philippians 1:15-17 again. In the space below, describe each group and their differing motives in sharing the gospel.

7. Even though these two groups had very different motives in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, what was most important to Paul?

8. Your Joy Journey: What lessons can you learn from Paul in this situation?

Day Two Study

9. Read Philippians 1:12-18 once more. As you read through this passage, note the many ways Paul “bloomed where he was planted”—even when he was “planted” in prison!

10. List as many of the different possible ways you can think of in which a person could respond to unfair circumstances (i.e.: anger, self-pity). Then think about why Paul chose to rejoice, to “bloom” where he was planted. Write down your thoughts.

Think About It: Have you ever stopped to consider how few of the circumstances of life are really under our control? We have no control over the weather or over the traffic on the expressway or over the things other people say and do. The person whose happiness depends on ideal circumstances is going to be miserable much of the time! And yet here is the Apostle Paul in the worst of circumstances, writing a letter saturated with joy! His circumstances cannot rob him [Paul] of his joy because he is not living to enjoy circumstances; he is living to serve Jesus. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Joyful, pp. 15,16, and 18)

11. Your Joy Journey: Are there circumstances in your life today that are difficult for you, to which you seem “chained,” or perhaps even seem to “imprison” you? Or, has there been a time in your life when you would have said this was the way things seemed to be? Describe or draw how you felt in the space below.

11. Especially in light of your answer to the previous question, read Romans 8:28 and answer the following multiple-choice questions according to what this verse promises. Discuss your answers with your group.

· To whom is this verse addressed?

a. Every person who is alive and breathing

b. Only people whose lives are successful and full of good things

c. People who love god and are called according to his purpose

d. Only the people to whom this letter of Romans was addressed originally

· Do you personally qualify for this promise? (That is, do you love God and are thus called to His purpose?)

· What is God’s involvement in your life?

a. God leaves me alone and doesn’t know what is going on in my life

b. God knows what’s going on in my life but He doesn’t care

c. God knows but isn’t powerful enough to do anything about it

d. God cares, God knows, God is powerful, and God is actively involved in my life

· How many things (or circumstances, people, etc) in our lives are included in God’s purpose?

b. Only the obviously good things

· What are these “things,” or specific circumstances, doing in our lives? (Circle as many as apply.)

a. Working together for good

b. Becoming part of the “big picture” of the fullness of the life God has given me

c. Helping me better anticipate my future in heaven

12. Your Joy Journey: Looking back over this lesson from Philippians 1:12-18, how can the truths from God’s Word help you to transform your perspective and lead you to greater trust in Jesus Christ and help you choose to “bloom” where our all-wise God plants you? (The byproduct of this transformation will be greater joy in your life.)