God's Presence in Times of Trouble and Suffering
God's Presence in Times of Trouble and Suffering
The biblical concept of God's presence in times of trouble and suffering is rooted in the understanding that God is a refuge and strength to His people. Psalm 46:1 declares, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" [1]. This theme is echoed throughout the Psalms, where the psalmist cries out to God in distress, seeking His salvation and protection (Psalm 69:29) [2].
The presence of God is not limited to times of peace and prosperity; it is also a comfort in times of affliction. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights various biblical references that emphasize God's presence and support during troubles, including Psalm 27:5-6 and Isaiah 43:2 [3]. The textbook also notes that God comforts His people (Isaiah 49:13; 2 Corinthians 1:4-5) and preserves them (Psalm 34:20) [3].
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is portrayed as being present with His people in times of suffering. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, Christ is with His people (John 14:18), supports them (2 Timothy 4:17; Hebrews 2:18), and comforts them (Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:1) [3]. The compassion and sympathy of Christ are essential to His priestly office, as He is able to sympathize with those who are weak in faith, tempted, and afflicted (Hebrews 5:2,7; Matthew 11:28-30) [4].
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as represented by John Chrysostom, emphasizes the importance of God's presence in times of trouble. Chrysostom's homilies on various biblical books, including Galatians and 1 Peter, highlight the role of faith and the presence of God in comforting believers during times of suffering [5].
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, also emphasizes God's presence in times of trouble. Gill's commentary on Zephaniah 3:17 notes that Christ is in the midst of His people, supporting and supplying them, and protecting and defending them [7]. Similarly, Gill's commentary on Psalm 18:5 highlights the importance of calling upon the Lord in times of distress [8].
The biblical concept of God's presence in times of trouble and suffering is not limited to individual experiences but is also reflected in the corporate life of the church. The presence of God is seen in the abundance of His people's families and herds (Psalm 107:38) [6].
Sources
- Psalms “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. -- Psalms 46:1”
- Psalms “But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me. -- Psalms 69:29”
- 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: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: 13:17 13:23 James 1:6 2:13 2:19 2:26 3:11 4:3 1 Peter 1:3 1:12 2:13 2:21 2:21 2:22 2:22 2:22 5:5 5:8 5:8 5:8 2 Peter 2:4 3:13 1 John 2:9 3:2 3:8 4:8 Revelation 1 1:4 1:9 1:11 1:16 1:20 2 3 3:12 14:1 14:4 14:13 15:6 20:9 22:16 Tobit 12:9 Wisdom of Solomon 1:4 1:14 11:23 11:24 14:16 Sirach 2:2 2:2 2:4 2:10 2:11 2:27 3:10-12 3:11 5:6 6:14 6:16 6:34 7:6 7:31 9:13 9:15 10:9 10:12-13 11:1 11:2 11:3 11:3 11:4 11:15 11:28 12:13 13:15 14:9 15:9 16:3 18:13 18:13 19:14-15 20:20 21:2 22:21-22 23:17 23:17 25:1 25:1 25:11 26:27 28:6 31:1 32:10”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 107:38: 107:38 God’s presence can be seen in the abundance of his people’s families and herds (127:3; 133:3; cp. 109:8).”
- Zephaniah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zephaniah 3:17: The Lord thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty Every word carries in it something very encouraging to the church and people of God; and is an antidote against those fears and faintings they are subject to; Christ "is in the midst of" them; near at hand to support and supply them, to assist and strengthen them, to protect and defend them; he is not only near by his essential presence, which is everywhere; and by his providential presence, which is concerned with all his creatures; but by his gracious presence, peculiar to his church and people; and which gives th”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 18:5: In my distress I called upon the Lord,.... The great Jehovah, the everlasting I AM, who is the most High in all the earth, and who is able to save, Heb 5:7; and cried unto my God; as Jesus did, Mat 27:46; so the members of Christ, when in distress, as they often are, through sin and Satan, through the hidings of God's face, a variety of afflictions, and the persecutions of men, betake themselves to the Lord, and call upon their God: a time of distress is a time for prayer; and sometimes the end God has in suffering them to be in distress is to bring them to the thro”