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Cultivating Obedience to God's Will in Areas of Struggle

Cultivating obedience to God's will, particularly in areas of struggle, involves a process of spiritual growth and reliance on divine strength. The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of obedience, commanding it as a fundamental aspect of faith [9]. This obedience is not possible without faith [9], and it encompasses heeding God's voice, obeying His law, following Christ, and keeping His commandments [9].

A significant aspect of cultivating obedience in difficult circumstances is the development of patience and endurance. The Apostle Paul, for instance, spoke of commending himself as a servant of God through "great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses" [2]. Similarly, he noted that believers "toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure" [3]. The book of Acts also highlights that "through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God" [1]. These passages suggest that struggle is not an anomaly but often a pathway to spiritual maturity and entrance into God's kingdom [1].

Patience is presented as a virtue that should have its "perfect work" [4]. Trials are understood to lead to patience [4], and this patience, in turn, produces experience [12]. John Gill, commenting on Romans 5:4, explains that "patience being exercised and increased, enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience; of the love and grace of God communicated to them at such seasons; of his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises; of his power in supporting them; and of their own frailty and weakness; and so are taught humility, thankfulness, and resignation to the will of God" [12]. This experience then fosters hope [12].

Prayer is a crucial tool for cultivating obedience during struggles. Believers are exhorted to pray when afflicted [5], asking God to consider their troubles, for His presence and support, for divine comfort, and for deliverance [5]. Prayer is also a means to seek pardon and deliverance from sin, to be turned back to God, and to receive divine teaching and direction [5]. The Bible commands prayer, instructing believers to offer it to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and assures that God hears and answers these prayers [11].

Resignation to God's will is another key element. Christ Himself set an example of resignation, as seen in His prayers in Gethsemane and His acceptance of His cup [10]. Believers are commanded to exhibit resignation through submission to God's will and sovereignty, even in the face of death, loss, chastisements, and bodily suffering [10]. This submission is motivated by God's greatness and love [10].

The concept of "growing in grace" is also relevant, implying a continuous process of spiritual development [13]. John Gill notes that "the work of grace is gradual; it is like a grain of mustard seed, or like seed cast into the ground" [13]. This growth involves using and improving spiritual gifts, and seeking an increase in internal grace [13].

Obedience is not merely passive endurance but also active engagement in doing good. Isaiah calls for learning to "do well," seeking justice, relieving the oppressed, and pleading for the vulnerable [6]. Proverbs encourages receiving instruction in "wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity" [7]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, emphasizes that Christ's "meat is to do the will of him that sent me" [14], urging ministers and all believers to prioritize the salvation of souls and the accomplishment of God's work [14]. This active obedience is a form of serving God acceptably, "with reverence and awe" [8].

Sources

  1. Acts “confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God. -- Acts 14:22”
  2. 2 Corinthians “but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, -- 2 Corinthians 6:4”
  3. 1 Corinthians “We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. -- 1 Corinthians 4:12”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Patience — God, is the God of -- Ro 15:5. Christ, an example of -- Isa 53:7; Ac 8:32; Mt 27:14. Enjoined -- Tit 2:2; 2Pe 1:6. Should have its perfect work -- Jas 1:4. Trials of saints lead to -- Ro 5:3; Jas 1:3. Produces Experience. -- Ro 5:4. Hope. -- Ro 15:4. Suffering with, for well-doing, is acceptable with God -- 1Pe 2:20. To be exercised Running the race set before us. -- Heb 12:1. Bringing forth fruits. -- Lu 8:15. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; Ga 6:9. Waiting for God. -- Ps 37:7; 40:1. Waiting for Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 2Th 3:5. Waiting for the hope of the gospel. -- R”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
  6. Isaiah “Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.” -- Isaiah 1:17”
  7. Proverbs “to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; -- Proverbs 1:3”
  8. Hebrews “Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, -- Hebrews 12:28”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
  11. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
  12. Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 5:4: And patience experience,.... As tribulations tend to exercise and increase patience, so patience being exercised and increased, enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience; of the love and grace of God communicated to them at such seasons; of his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises; of his power in supporting them; and of their own frailty and weakness; and so are taught humility, thankfulness, and resignation to the will of God: and experience, hope; hope is a gift of God's grace, and is implanted in regeneration, but abounds, increases, and becomes more s”
  13. 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 3:18: But grow in grace,.... In the gifts of grace, which, under a divine blessing, may be increased by using them: gifts neglected decrease, but stirred up and used, are improved and increase. And though men are to be thankful for their gifts, and be contented with them, yet they may lawfully desire more, and in the use of means seek an increase of them, which may be a means of preserving themselves, and others, from the error of the wicked. Moreover, by "grace" may be meant internal grace. The work of grace is gradual; it is like a grain of mustard seed, or like seed cas”
  14. John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 4:34: My meat is to do the will of him that sent me - In these words, our blessed Lord teaches a lesson of zeal and earnestness to his apostles, and to all their successors in the Christian ministry. Let the salvation of souls lie nearer your heart than life itself. Let eating and drinking, labor and rest, reading, thinking, study, prayer, and all things, be directed to the accomplishment of this great work. Ministers of Jesus! imitate your Lord! Souls are perishing for lack of knowledge - God has given you the key of the kingdom, the knowledge of his word - O open unto the”
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