God's Good Purposes in Dark and Difficult Times
God's purposes are consistently described in scripture as great, wonderful, immutable, sovereign, and eternal [3]. Even in periods of darkness and difficulty, God's overarching plan remains steadfast, often working through such circumstances to achieve good [3, 4].
The Bible frequently portrays God as actively involved in both light and darkness. Genesis 1:18 states that God divided the light from the darkness and "saw that it was good" [1]. one tradition notes that God causes the night, which "belongs to God" [7]. This divine ownership of both day and night suggests that even in what humans perceive as "dark times," God's presence and purpose are not absent. Indeed, the prophet Nahum declares, "The Lord is good, and giveth strength in the day of trouble: and knoweth them that hope in him" [2].
Difficult times, including afflictions, are presented in scripture as having beneficial purposes. These can include promoting God's glory, demonstrating His power and faithfulness, teaching His will, and turning individuals back to Him [4]. Affliction can also lead people to seek God in prayer, convince them of sin, and encourage confession [4, 6]. For instance, Psalm 119:71 states, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." The long-suffering of God, a part of His character, aims for salvation and should lead to repentance [5].
The concept of an "acceptable time" is also relevant, particularly in the context of Christ's suffering and death. John Gill interprets Psalms 69:13 and Isaiah 49:8 as referring to the time of Christ's earthly ministry, sufferings, and death as an "acceptable time" to God the Father, because through these events, God's perfections were glorified and His purposes fulfilled [8, 9]. This perspective suggests that even the most profound suffering can be part of God's good and acceptable plan.
Sources
- Genesis “and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. -- Genesis 1:18”
- Nahum “Nahum 1:7 (DRC) — The Lord is good, and giveth strength in the day of trouble: and knoweth them that hope in him.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Counsels and Purposes of God, The — Are great -- Jer 32:19. Are wonderful -- Isa 28:29. Are immutable -- Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Jer 4:28; Ro 9:11; Heb 6:17. Are sovereign -- Isa 40:13,14; Da 4:35. Are eternal -- Eph 3:11. Are faithfulness and truth -- Isa 25:1. None can disannul -- Isa 14:27. Shall be performed -- Isa 14:24; 46:11. The sufferings and death of Christ were according to -- Ac 2:23; 4:28. Saints called and save according to -- Ro 8:28; 2Ti 1:9. The union of all saints in Christ, is according to -- Eph 1:9,10. The works of God according to -- Eph 1:11. Shoul”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
- 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Night — The darkness first called -- Ge 1:5. Caused by God -- Ps 104:20. Belongs to God -- Ps 74:16. The heavenly bodies designed to separate day from -- Ge 1:14. The moon and stars designed to rule and give light by -- Ge 1:16-18; Jer 31:35. Commenced at sunset -- Ge 28:11. Continued until sunrise -- Ps 104:22; Mt 28:1; Mr 16:2. Regular succession of Established by covenant. -- Ge 8:22; Jer 33:20. Ordained for the glory of God. -- Ps 19:2. Originally divided into three watches -- La 2:19; Jdj 7:19; Ex 14:24. Divided into four watches by the Romans -- Lu 12:38; Mt 14”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 49:8: Thus saith the Lord,.... These are the words of God the Father to his Son continued; the Jews themselves interpret them of the Messiah (z): in an acceptable time have I heard thee: this was the time when Christ was here on earth, when he became incarnate, and suffered and died for his people: this was an acceptable time to God the Father; his very sufferings were acceptable; his sacrifice was of a sweet smelling savour; his righteousness was well pleasing to him; for by all this his perfections were glorified, his purposes were answered, his covenant and promises fu”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 69:13: But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord,.... Christ betook himself to prayer in these circumstances, and not to railing and reviling again: he applied to his divine Father, and committed himself to him that judgeth righteously, and prayed both for himself and for his enemies too: and this he did in an acceptable time; or "a time of good will" (c); which was the time of his sufferings and death; so called, because the good will and pleasure of God was seen therein; in not sparing his Son, his own and only begotten Son, his beloved Son, and delivering him up to”