God's Goodness in Times of Trouble and Suffering

The goodness of God, a core aspect of His character, is understood as a perfection He exercises toward His creatures in various circumstances ^[4]. This divine attribute is not diminished by human suffering or times of trouble; rather, it is often in these difficult periods that God's goodness is most profoundly experienced and revealed ^{[4, 5]}. The biblical witness, particularly the Psalms, frequently portrays God as a refuge and strength, a "very present help in trouble" ^[3].

The concept of God's goodness encompasses several facets, including benevolence, mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience, especially towards those who are impenitent ^[4]. When extended to the unworthy, it is termed grace ^[4]. This goodness is consistently described as "great," "excellent," "good," "marvellous," "multitudinous," and "everlasting" ^[6]. It is also considered "better than life" itself ^[6].

Biblical texts frequently affirm God's presence and support for those who are afflicted. Psalm 46:1 declares, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" ^[3]. Similarly, Psalm 37:39 states, "But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble" ^[2]. These passages highlight God's active role in providing security and deliverance during distress ^{[2, 3]}. Torrey's Topical Textbook further elaborates on this, noting that God is with afflicted saints, serving as their refuge and strength, comforting them, preserving them, and delivering them ^[5]. Christ is also depicted as being with and supporting those in affliction, offering comfort and preservation ^[5].

The goodness of God is particularly evident in His response to the cries of those in distress. When people "cry unto the Lord in their trouble," He saves them out of their distresses ^[14]. This act of crying out to God in affliction is seen as a proper season for prayer, leading individuals to the throne of grace when humbled ^[14]. Even Christ, in His own days of trouble and suffering, betook Himself to prayer, applying to His divine Father and committing Himself to Him ^{[15, 13]}. This prayer was offered "in an acceptable time," understood as the time of His sufferings and death, which was characterized by God's "good will and pleasure" ^[13].

While God's goodness is constant, the experience of suffering raises questions about its manifestation. The Bible acknowledges that even the righteous can face significant hardship. For instance, the book of Job grapples with the suffering of a righteous man, challenging the simplistic view that sinners are always "cut off" early ^[8]. The New Testament further clarifies that Christians, especially those striving for godly lives, should anticipate hostility and trials from a sinful world ^[9]. This expectation is rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the experiences of early believers ^[9].

Despite the inevitability of suffering, God's goodness is understood to be at work even within these trials. The Tyndale House commentary on 1 Peter notes that Peter instructs Christians on how to face these inevitable trials, urging them not to be surprised by them ^[9]. The suffering of evil people is often presented as a consequence of their own actions, with God ensuring that sinners receive proper punishment ^[12]. However, this does not negate the suffering of the righteous.

The goodness of God is also linked to His justice. Easton's Bible Dictionary explains that "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection" ^[4]. God's anger, when expressed, is not a spontaneous emotional outburst but a necessary response to sin from a holy God ^[10]. This divine wrath is depicted throughout the Old Testament and is predicted to have a decisive outpouring on human sin at the end of history ^[10]. Yet, even in judgment, God's long-suffering patience is a manifestation of His goodness ^[4].

The concept of "loving-kindness" (Hebrew: hesed) is closely associated with God's goodness and mercy ^[6]. This loving-kindness is described as being "through Christ" ^[6]. It is a source of comfort, preservation, and quickening for saints ^[6]. The consideration of God's dealings provides knowledge of His loving-kindness ^[6].

In times of trouble, believers are encouraged to "wait upon God" ^[7]. This waiting involves recognizing God as the God of providence and salvation, the giver of all blessings, and the one who provides mercy, pardon, consolation, guidance, protection, and the fulfillment of His word and promises ^[7]. This act of waiting is considered good and is something God calls His people to do ^[7].

The goodness of God is not merely a passive attribute but an active force that delivers and sustains. Psalm 41:1 states, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble" ^[1]. This highlights a connection between righteous action (considering the poor) and divine deliverance, underscoring God's active involvement in the lives of those who seek to live righteously ^[1]. Even when facing adversity, the response of blessing those who curse is in line with Jesus' teaching, demonstrating a reflection of divine goodness in human conduct ^[11].

Sources

Psalms “Psalms 41:1 (KJV) — Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.”
Psalms “But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. -- Psalms 37:39”
Psalms “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. -- Psalms 46:1”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 21:7: The answer is Rom 2:4; Ti1 1:16; Psa 73:18; Ecc 8:11-13; Luk 2:35-end; Pro 16:4; Rom 9:22. old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (Job 8:12, Job 8:14).”
1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:12: 4:12-19 Peter instructs Christians one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. 4:12 don’t be surprised: Christians, especially those seeking to lead godly lives, can expect to face the hostility of a sinful world (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29).”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 4:12: 4:12 We work: To avoid being blamed by others for taking money, Paul preferred to support himself (9:3-18; Acts 18:3; 20:33-35). • We bless those who curse us: Paul’s response was in line with Jesus’ teaching (Matt 5:44-45; cp. Rom 12:14, 17-21).”
Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 1:31: 1:31 Evil people suffer the consequences of their own actions (see 1:15-19); God will ensure that sinners receive their proper punishment (see Matt 25:44-46; Heb 10:29; 2 Pet 2:9).”
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”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 107:16: Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,.... A time of affliction is a time of trouble, and a proper season for prayer; and by it persons are brought to the throne of grace, when humbled under the mighty hand of God, to seek for relief. Hezekiah in his affliction prayed to the Lord, though Asa sought to the physicians only, and not to the Lord; this is to be understood of such who are convinced of their folly, brought to a sense of sin and danger, and therefore cry to the Lord for his sparing mercy, and pardoning grace. And he saveth them out of their distres”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 20:1: The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble,.... All the days of Christ were days of trouble; he was a brother born for adversity; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs; he had his own sorrows, and he bore the griefs of others; he was persecuted by Herod in his infancy; he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness; he was harassed by the Scribes and Pharisees continually; he was grieved at the hardness, impenitence, and unbelief, of that perverse and faithless generation of men, and was sometimes made uneasy by his own disciples: at some particular seasons his soul o”

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