Living a holy life will keep us from ____ and ____ .

• A. stumbling; backsliding
• B. prosperity; health
• C. doubt; fear
• D. pride; anger

Answer: (A)

Living a holy life acts as a safeguard against faltering in faith and turning away from God. When we pursue holiness—obeying God’s Word, walking by the Spirit, and practicing prayer and righteous living—we build resilience against temptation and the tendency to drift. Stumbling means slipping morally or spiritually in the moment of temptation, while backsliding means a longer drift away from the Lord. A holy lifestyle strengthens resolve and keeps our hearts aligned with God, reducing both kinds of spiritual faltering.

Other options miss the mark because holiness doesn’t guarantee external blessings like prosperity or health, which can come or go regardless of conduct. Doubt and fear can accompany even faithful people, and while holiness helps us trust more deeply, it doesn’t erase every question. Pride and anger can still appear in imperfect humanity, though pursuing holiness aims to humble and restrain them.