Finding Good in Difficult Circumstances and Trials
The concept of finding good in difficult circumstances and trials is deeply rooted in biblical thought, suggesting that adversity can serve a beneficial purpose in the lives of believers. This perspective is not about denying the pain of trials but understanding their potential for spiritual growth and divine intention.
One foundational idea is that difficulties can lead to a deeper understanding of God's ways. The Psalmist declares, "It is good for me to have been through trouble; so that I might come to the knowledge of your rules" [2]. This suggests that affliction can be a pedagogical tool, guiding individuals to a greater appreciation and adherence to divine instruction. John Gill, commenting on Lamentations, encourages believers to "search and try our ways" during times of murmuring and complaining, suggesting that such introspection can reveal God's enduring love and the provisions of the covenant of grace, even amidst suffering [3].
The Apostle Paul also touches on this theme, urging believers to "approve things that are excellent" or "try things that differ" [4]. This implies a discerning approach to life's experiences, recognizing that not all things are equal in value and that a careful examination can distinguish between what is truly good and what is not. This discernment is particularly relevant when facing challenging situations, as it allows for the identification of underlying good even when circumstances appear negative.
The idea that "all things work together for good" is a significant theological assertion found in Romans 8:28 [10]. This "good" is understood not merely as temporal well-being, but as spiritual good, leading to a "lively exercise of grace and a conformity of the soul to God" [10]. While worldly individuals may seek temporal good, believers are encouraged to recognize that even afflictions can contribute to their spiritual benefit [10]. This perspective reframes suffering not as an arbitrary event, but as something that can be integrated into a larger divine purpose for spiritual development.
The book of Job, though depicting immense suffering, also explores the search for understanding within adversity. Job himself, despite his trials, is portrayed as seeking judgment and knowledge of what is good [1]. While Job initially felt God was finding "occasions against me" and diligently searching for his sins [5], the narrative ultimately points to a deeper, albeit mysterious, divine plan. Even when remembering past iniquities or current afflictions, Job's experience highlights the profound impact of trials on one's spiritual and emotional state, sometimes leading to fear and trembling [6].
The pursuit of good is an active endeavor. The prophet Amos exhorts, "Seek good, and not evil" [7]. This involves not seeking evil persons or things, but rather pursuing the "summum bonum," the chief good, which is God Himself [7]. This pursuit of good is not limited to times of ease but is particularly pertinent during difficult periods, as it directs attention away from the immediate pain towards an ultimate source of goodness.
Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Ecclesiastes, draws an analogy between the search for the philosopher's stone and the search for God's work. one tradition notes that while the initial goal might not be achieved, the process of searching itself can lead to "many other useful discoveries and experiments" and provide "some satisfaction" [8]. Similarly, in the context of trials, Christians, even those with strong faith, can expect to face "very grievous afflictions" [9]. These afflictions, however, do not negate their "title to the greatest joy" but rather become part of a larger spiritual journey [9]. The emphasis is on the continuous search for good, even when the full scope of God's work remains elusive [8].
Sources
- Job “Job 34:4 (Geneva1599) — Let vs seeke iudgement among vs, and let vs knowe among our selues what is good.”
- Psalms “Psalms 119:71 (BBE) — It is good for me to have been through trouble; so that I might come to the knowledge of your rules.”
- Lamentations (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Lamentations 3:36: Let us search and try our ways,.... stead of murmuring and complaining, let us search for something that may support and comfort, teach and instruct, under afflictive providences; let us search into the love of God, which, though it cannot be fully searched out, it will be found to be from everlasting to everlasting; and that all afflictions spring from it; and that it continues notwithstanding them: let us search into the covenant of grace, in which provision is made for afflictions in case of disobedience, and for supports under them: let us search the Scriptu”
- Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 1:10: That ye may approve things that are excellent,.... Or "try things that differ". There are some things that differ one from other; as morality and grace, earthly things, and heavenly things, carnal and spiritual, temporal and eternal things, law and Gospel, the doctrines of men, and the doctrines of Christ; all which differ as much as chaff and wheat, as gold, silver, precious stones, and wood, hay, stubble. These are to be tried and proved; they are not to be received without distinction, but should be examined, which is right and best to be chosen and preferred;”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 33:10: Behold, he findeth occasions against me,.... That is, sought in order to find them; so Job in some places suggests, that God inquired after his sins, and sought diligently after them, that he might have something to bring against him; and because he could not find great sins, gross enormities, he sought after lesser sins; so some render the word, "staggerings", "totterings" (h); frailties, failings, and infirmities; and because he could find none of late of a very heinous nature, he went back as far as the sins of his youth; see Job 10:6; and this in order to pick a qua”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 21:5: Even when I remember,.... Either the iniquities of his youth he was made to possess; or his former state of outward happiness and prosperity he had enjoyed, and reviewed his present miserable case and condition, and called to mind the evil tidings brought him thick and fast of the loss of his substance, servants, and children, which were so terrible and shocking; or when he reflected on the instances of Providence he was about to relate in the following verses: I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh; which is sometimes the case of good men, both with respec”
- Amos (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Amos 5:14: Seek good, and not evil,.... Seek not unto, or after, evil persons and evil things; not the company and conversation of evil men, which is infectious and dangerous; nor anything that is evil, or has the appearance of it, especially the evil of evils, sin; which is hateful to God, contrary to his nature and will; is evil in its own nature, and bad in its consequences, and therefore not to be sought, but shunned and avoided; but seek that which is good, persons and things: seek the "summum bonnum", "the chief good", God, who is essentially, perfectly, immutably, and commu”
- Ecclesiastes (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 9:1: It has been observed concerning those who have pretended to search for the philosophers' stone that, though they could never find what they sought for, yet in the search they have hit upon many other useful discoveries and experiments. Thus Solomon, when, in the close of the foregoing chapter, he applied his heart to know the work of God, and took a great deal of pains to search into it, though he despaired of finding it out, yet he found out that which abundantly recompensed him for the search, and gave him some satisfaction, which he here gives us; for ther”
- James (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on James 1:2: We now come to consider the matter of this epistle. In this paragraph we have the following things to be observed: - I. The suffering state of Christians in this world is represented, and that in a very instructive manner, if we attend to what is plainly and necessarily implied, together with what is fully expressed. 1. It is implied that troubles and afflictions may be the lot of the best Christians, even of those who have the most reason to think and hope well of themselves. Such as have a title to the greatest joy may yet endure very grievous afflictions. As goo”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good,.... There is a temporal good, and a spiritual good, and an eternal one. Temporal good is what the men of the world are seeking after, and generally have the greatest share of, and the saints the least; and yet they have as much as is needful for them, and what they have, they have with a blessing; and even sometimes afflictions work for the temporal good of God's children: spiritual good lies in a lively exercise of grace and a conformity of the soul to God; and is what the men of the world least regard, and the sain”