Prayer in the Midst of Suffering and Trials

Prayer is defined as direct address to God, an intercourse of the soul with God, which can be oral or mental, occasional or constant ^[5]. It is commanded in scripture, with passages like Isaiah 55:6, Matthew 7:7, and Philippians 4:6 urging believers to pray ^[6]. In times of suffering and trials, prayer becomes a crucial spiritual discipline, offering a means to seek divine comfort, support, and deliverance ^{[7, 8]}.

The biblical witness frequently depicts individuals and communities turning to prayer when facing distress. The Psalms, in particular, are rich with examples of prayer in affliction. Psalm 102:1 begins, "A prayer of the afflicted, when he shall be in distresse, and pour forth his meditation before the Lord. O Lord, heare my prayer, and let my crye come vnto thee" ^[2]. Similarly, Psalm 80:8 states, "In tribulatione invocasti me, et liberavi te. Exaudivi te in abscondito tempestatis; probavi te apud aquam contradictionis" (In tribulation you called upon me, and I delivered you. I heard you in the secret of the storm; I proved you at the water of contradiction) ^[1]. These passages illustrate a pattern of calling upon God in times of trouble, expecting to be heard and delivered ^[7]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalm 77:2, notes that "a time of trouble is a time for prayer," and that people of God often experience particular times of heightened trouble ^[11].

The New Testament reinforces the importance of prayer during hardship. Paul exhorts believers in Romans 12:12 to be "Reioycing in hope, pacient in tribulation, continuing in prayer" ^[3]. This instruction suggests that prayer is not merely a last resort but a continuous practice that sustains hope and patience through difficult circumstances. The apostle Paul himself experienced significant suffering, including "hardship and toil, often in watchings, in hunger and thirst, often in fastings, in cold and nakedness" ^[4]. Despite these trials, he and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight while imprisoned, demonstrating a profound reliance on God in their affliction ^{[12, 13]}. Their prayers likely included petitions for deliverance, support, and grace to endure, and even for their persecutors ^[13].

Prayer in suffering often involves specific requests. Believers are encouraged to pray that God would consider their trouble, for His presence and support, for divine comfort, for mitigation of troubles, and for deliverance ^[7]. There are also prayers for pardon and deliverance from sin, and for divine teaching and direction during trials ^[7]. The Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus as a model, offers a succinct expression of faith and includes petitions for daily needs and deliverance from evil, which are relevant in times of suffering ^[10].

The practice of prayer in affliction is not only for personal solace but also extends to intercession for others. The duty toward the afflicted includes praying for them, sympathizing with them, pitying them, and comforting them ^[9]. This communal aspect of prayer underscores the interconnectedness of believers, where the suffering of one is borne by all through prayer and support ^[9].

Throughout scripture, God is portrayed as being with the afflicted, serving as a refuge and strength, comforting, preserving, and delivering them ^[8]. Christ also supports and comforts those who suffer ^[8]. This understanding provides a theological foundation for the efficacy and necessity of prayer in the midst of trials, as it connects the suffering individual to the divine source of comfort and aid.

Sources

Psalms “In tribulatione invocasti me, et liberavi te. Exaudivi te in abscondito tempestatis ; probavi te apud aquam contradictionis. -- Psalms 80:8”
Psalms “Psalms 102:1 (Geneva1599) — A prayer of the afflicted, when he shall be in distresse, and pour forth his meditation before the Lord. O Lord, heare my prayer, and let my crye come vnto thee.”
Romans “Romans 12:12 (Geneva1599) — Reioycing in hope, pacient in tribulation, continuing in prayer,”
II Corinthians “II Corinthians 11:27 (LITV) — in hardship and toil, often in watchings, in hunger and thirst, often in fastings, in cold and nakedness,”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
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”
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: Afflicted, Duty Toward The — To pray for them -- Ac 12:5; Php 1:16,19; Jas 5:14-16. To sympathise with them -- Ro 12:15; Ga 6:2. To pity them -- Job 6:14. To bear them in mind -- Heb 13:3. To visit them -- Jas 1:27. To comfort them -- Job 16:5; 29:25; 2Co 1:4; 1Th 4:18. To relieve them -- Job 31:19,20; Isa 58:10; Php 4:14; 1Ti 5:10. To protect them -- Ps 82:3; Pr 22:22; 31:5.”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 77:2: In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord,.... Not the creature, for help, and creature amusements to drive away trouble, but the Lord, in private, by prayer and supplication; a time of trouble is a time for prayer, Jam 5:13, all men have their trouble, but the people of God more especially; and there are some particular times in which they have more than usual, and then it may be said to be "a day of trouble" with them; which sometimes arises from themselves, the strength of their corruptions, the weakness of their graces, their backwardness to duties, or poor perfo”
Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 16:25: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises--literally, "praying, were singing praises"; that is, while engaged in pouring out their hearts in prayer, had broken forth into singing, and were hymning loud their joy. As the word here employed is that used to denote the Paschal hymn sung by our Lord and His disciples after their last Passover (Mat 26:30), and which we know to have consisted of Psa. 113:1-118:29, which was chanted at that festival, it is probable that it was portions of the Psalms, so rich in such matter, which our joyous suffere”
Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 16:25: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, When others were asleep, and all things were still and quiet; See Gill on Psa 119:62, and they prayed doubtless for themselves, for their deliverance in God's time and way, and for support under their present afflictions; and for supplies of grace, to enable them to bear with patience and cheerfulness, until an issue was put to them; and for their enemies, and, particularly it may be for the jailer, who had used them so ill; and for the churches of Christ, for all the saints, and for the spread and success of the Gospel: and san”

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