Encouraging Obedience to God's Call in Difficult Circumstances

Obedience to God's call, even in difficult circumstances, is a recurring theme in Christian teaching, often linked with prayer and perseverance. The Bible frequently exhorts believers to "walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory" ^[5]. This call is not always easy to follow, especially when facing hardship.

The concept of "calling" in scripture refers to God designating individuals for a special office or inviting them to accept His grace ^[4]. This divine call is extended to all people through the gospel message ^{[4, 7]}. However, the Bible also acknowledges that many reject this call ^[7]. For those who accept, the call is described as being "of grace," "high," "holy," and "heavenly," leading to fellowship with Christ and holiness ^[7].

Difficult circumstances, often termed "affliction" in biblical texts, are not presented as reasons to abandon this call, but rather as contexts in which faith and obedience are tested and strengthened ^[9]. The apostle Paul, writing from prison, urged believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received" ^[8]. He also requested prayers for an "open door for the preaching of the word," even while he was "in chains" for the "secret of Christ" ^[1]. This demonstrates a commitment to God's call despite personal suffering.

Prayer is consistently presented as a vital component for maintaining obedience during affliction ^[2]. Believers are commanded to pray ^[2], and specifically to pray under affliction ^[3]. Such prayers include asking God to consider one's trouble, for His presence and support, for divine comfort, for mitigation of troubles, and for deliverance ^[3]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, emphasizes that God is to be invoked in every time of trouble, and He promises an answer ^[10]. He further notes that prayer is a spiritual sacrifice, particularly important in times of affliction ^[11].

The expectation of trouble is not absent from the Christian life; rather, disciples are exhorted to "continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God" ^[9]. This perspective suggests that difficulties are part of the journey, not an indication of being outside God's will. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, notes that God's people in captivity, who reconciled themselves to God's will, were assured they would not wait in vain for deliverance ^[15]. He also states that God, who established His church, will ensure its care even when it "walk[s] in darkness and have no light" ^[14].

Obedience to God is commanded ^[6]. It includes obeying His voice, His law, Christ, and the gospel, as well as keeping His commandments ^[6]. This obedience is impossible without faith ^[6]. Christ himself serves as an example of obedience, even to suffering ^[6]. The presence of God is considered the greatest blessing for those who are obedient ^[13]. The book of Revelation indicates that God's people are "summoned to endure and remain faithful while experiencing temporary persecution" ^[12]. This highlights that perseverance in obedience during difficult times is a hallmark of faith.

Sources

Colossians “Colossians 4:3 (BBE) — And making prayer for us, that God may give us an open door for the preaching of the word, the secret of Christ, for which I am now in chains;”
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”
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”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Call — (1.) To cry for help, hence to pray (Gen. 4:26). Thus men are said to "call upon the name of the Lord" (Acts 2:21; 7:59; 9:14; Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 1:2). (2.) God calls with respect to men when he designates them to some special office (Ex. 31:2; Isa. 22:20; Acts 13:2), and when he invites them to accept his offered grace (Matt. 9:13; 11:28; 22:4). In the message of the gospel his call is addressed to all men, to Jews and Gentiles alike (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Rom. 9:24, 25). But this universal call is not inseparably connected with salvation, although it leav”
I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 2:12 (BSB) — encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”
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 ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Call of God, The — By Christ -- Isa 55:5; Ro 1:6. By his Spirit -- Re 22:17. By his works -- Ps 19:2,3; Ro 1:20. By his ministers -- Jer 35:15; 2Co 5:20. By his gospel -- 2Th 2:14. Is from darkness -- 1Pe 2:9. Addressed to all -- Isa 45:22; Mt 20:16. Most reject -- Pr 1:24; Mt 20:16. Effectual to saints -- Ps 110:3; Ac 2:47; 13:48; 1Co 1:24. To man is Of grace. -- Ga 1:15; 2Ti 1:9. According to the purpose of God. -- Ro 8:28; 9:11,23,24. High. -- Php 3:14. Holy. -- 1Ti 1:9. Heavenly. -- Heb 3:1. To fellowship with Christ. -- 1Co 1:9. To holiness. -- 1Th 4:7. To liber”
Ephesians “Ephesians 4:1 (BSB) — As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:”
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”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 91:15: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him,.... God is to be invoked by prayer, and to be called upon in every time of trouble, in faith and with fervency, in truth and uprightness, and sincerity of soul; and he himself directs and encourages to it, and promises an answer, which he always sooner or later gives; for he is a God hearing and answering prayer; see Psa 50:15. I will be with him in trouble; the Lord knows his people in adversity; he visits them in their affliction, grants his gracious presence with them, supports them under it, that they are not overwh”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 50:14: And call upon me in the day of trouble,.... This is another part of spiritual sacrifice or worship, which is much more acceptable to God than legal sacrifices. Invocation of God includes all parts of religious worship, and particularly designs prayer, as it does here, of which God, and he only, is the object; and which should be performed in faith, in sincerity, and with fervency; and though it should be made at all times, in private and in public, yet more especially should be attended to in a time of affliction, whether of soul or body, whether of a personal, famil”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 13:10: 13:10 God’s holy people are summoned to endure and remain faithful while experiencing temporary persecution.”
Haggai (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Haggai 1:13: the Lord's messenger--so the priests (Mal 2:7) are called (compare Gal 4:14; Pe2 1:21). in the Lord's message--by the Lord's authority and commission: on the Lord's embassage. I am with you-- (Mat 28:20). On the people showing the mere disposition to obey, even before they actually set to work, God passes at once from the reproving tone to that of tenderness. He hastens as it were to forget their former unfaithfulness, and to assure them, when obedient, that He both is and will be with them: Hebrew, "I with you!" God's presence is the best of bless”
Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 51 (introduction): This chapter is designed for the comfort and encouragement of those that fear God and keep his commandments, even when they walk in darkness and have no light. Whether it was intended primarily for the support of the captives in Babylon is not certain, probably it was; but comforts thus generally expressed ought not to be so confined. Whenever the church of God is in distress her friends and well-wishers may comfort themselves and one another with these words, I. That God, who raised his church at first out of nothing, will take care that it shall not”
Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 45:11: The people of God in captivity, who reconciled themselves to the will of God in their affliction and were content to wait his time for their deliverance, are here assured that they should not wait in vain. I. They are invited to enquire concerning the issue of their troubles, Isa 45:11. The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, though he does not allow them to strive with him, yet encourages them, 1. To consult his word: "Ask of me things to come; have recourse to the prophets and their prophecies, and see what they say concerning these things. Ask the watchmen, Wha”

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