Overcoming Life’s Obstacles: Wisdom from 10 Trusted Christian Leaders
Life isn’t always smooth sailing. You can be going along just fine when suddenly—a crisis hits. Maybe it’s your health. Maybe it’s family trouble. Maybe it’s a quiet storm of the soul that leaves you feeling dry and defeated.
The truth is, trouble comes to all of us, even to faithful, church-going Christians. But we’re not left to flounder. God has given us not only His Word, but also wise voices in the faith who’ve weathered their own storms. Below are insights from 10 well-known Christian ministers—men and women who have taught, lived, and preached what it means to overcome obstacles when troubled.
1. Charles Stanley: Obey and Trust the Outcome to God
Dr. Charles Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries and longtime pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta, often said:
“Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”
Stanley’s teaching emphasized that when we’re facing hard times, we don’t need all the answers. What we need is faithful obedience. The key, he said, is trusting in the sovereignty of God—that even when we can’t see the way forward, God is already working behind the scenes.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)
📘 Further Reading: Stanley, How to Handle Adversity (Thomas Nelson, 1989)
2. Rick Warren: God Doesn’t Waste a Hurt
Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life, has preached widely on how God uses pain for His glory and our growth.
“Your greatest ministry will likely come out of your greatest hurt.”
Warren teaches that pain is not pointless. Instead, it is shaped by divine purpose, especially when we use our trials to help others. After the loss of his son Matthew to mental illness, Warren’s message took on new weight: even in our deepest sorrow, God is present and at work.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.” – 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)
📘 Further Reading: Warren, God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions (Zondervan, 2006)
3. Tony Evans: Trials Are Tools, Not Traps
Dr. Tony Evans, founder of The Urban Alternative and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, says God uses trials as tools to develop character.
“God often uses our trials to get us where He wants us to be.”
Rather than seeing obstacles as roadblocks, Evans encourages believers to view them as spiritual equipment rooms, where God trains us, matures us, and prepares us for greater things.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because… you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2–4 (NIV)
📘 Further Reading: Evans, Detours: The Unpredictable Path to Your Destiny (B&H Publishing, 2017)
4. Tim Keller: Suffering Can Strengthen Your Faith
The late Dr. Tim Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York and author of Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering, offered profound insights into hardship.
“Suffering is at the heart of the Christian story.”
Keller taught that Christianity uniquely provides hope in suffering by pointing to the cross—where Jesus entered into human pain. Trials, he argued, purify our faith, teaching us to treasure God above all.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold…” – 1 Peter 1:6–7 (NLT)
📘 Further Reading: Keller, Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering (Penguin, 2013)
5. Joyce Meyer: Change Your Mind to Change Your Life
Joyce Meyer, a popular Bible teacher and author of Battlefield of the Mind, teaches that most battles are won or lost in our thinking.
“You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.”
Her message to troubled hearts is clear: renew your mind daily in the Word. Speak God’s promises aloud. Declare His faithfulness. Don’t let your thoughts run wild—train them to line up with Scripture.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2 (NIV)
📘 Further Reading: Meyer, Battlefield of the Mind (FaithWords, 1995)
6. John Piper: Suffering Shows That Christ Is Enough
John Piper, founder of Desiring God ministries, teaches that our deepest joy can be found in Christ—even in suffering. Piper coined the phrase:
“Don’t waste your suffering.”
For Piper, trials are moments when we demonstrate to the world that Jesus is more valuable than comfort, wealth, or even health. Trouble isn’t just something to endure—it’s something to use for eternal glory.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
📘 Further Reading: Piper, The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God (Crossway, 2002)
7. Billy Graham: The Valley Is Where We Grow
Billy Graham, beloved evangelist, reminded people that God is not only on the mountaintops, but also down in the valleys.
“Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.”
Graham’s message through decades of ministry was this: God never leaves His people in times of trouble. Even if you can’t feel Him, He’s there, guiding, comforting, and carrying you forward.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“Do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you.” – Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
📘 Further Reading: Graham, Hope for the Troubled Heart (Word Publishing, 1991)
8. Christine Caine: You’re Pressed, But Not Crushed
Christine Caine, co-founder of the A21 Campaign and a survivor of both childhood abuse and cancer, encourages believers to know this truth:
“God is in the middle of your mess.”
Caine frequently reminds her listeners that being “pressed” is not the same as being destroyed. You may feel weak, tired, confused—but if you belong to Christ, you are never without hope.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed… struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NIV)
📘 Further Reading: Caine, Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith (Zondervan, 2018)
9. Andy Stanley: Obedience in the Dark Matters
Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Ministries, often speaks to those who feel discouraged by God’s silence.
“God’s silence is not God’s absence.”
Stanley encourages believers to keep doing the next right thing, even when clarity is lacking. God doesn’t always give us the full map, but He does give us a lantern for the next step. Obedience in uncertainty honors God deeply.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
📘 Further Reading: Stanley, How Good Is Good Enough? (Multnomah, 2003)
10. T.D. Jakes: Crushing Is Preparation
Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, encourages believers to look beyond their pain and see what God is producing.
“You have to be crushed to produce oil.”
His book Crushing explains that just like grapes must be pressed to become wine, God uses crushing seasons to bring about anointing, healing, and power. Don’t run from the crushing—run toward the One who brings purpose out of pain.
🔹 Scripture Reference:
“Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” – John 15:2 (NIV)
📘 Further Reading: Jakes, Crushing: God Turns Pressure into Power (FaithWords, 2019)
Final Encouragement: Trouble Doesn’t Win
No matter where you are today—whether you’re staring down a diagnosis, sitting beside a broken relationship, or trying to make sense of a stormy season—God is not done with you.
Every one of these trusted leaders points us back to the same truth:
🛑 Trouble is real.
🛐 But so is God.
✅ And He’s not finished.
The key isn’t to avoid hardship—it’s to meet it with faith, holding fast to the One who holds us fast.
📖 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NIV)
📘 Discussion Questions
- Which of the 10 perspectives spoke most to your heart today?
- What obstacle are you facing right now, and how can God use it for your growth?
- Which Scripture verse can you memorize this week to remind you of God’s presence?
- Who in your life needs encouragement through their trial? Can you share this post with them?
We may be in the mountains—but His grace reaches higher still.
📝 Published by Mountain Veteran Ministries
💬 Leave a comment below or share this blog if it stirred your heart.
📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for more gospel-rooted insights.