PTSD and Bringing Glory to God in Suffering

Post-traumatic stress disorder presents a profound challenge to the Christian life, yet Scripture addresses the broader reality of suffering with remarkable directness. Peter writes that believers who suffer as Christians should "not be ashamed, but glorify God in this name" ^[2], and that enduring "the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God" is commendable ^[3]. The apostle does not minimize the pain but locates it within a framework where suffering itself becomes an occasion for worship.

Suffering as Participation in Christ

The New Testament consistently frames Christian suffering not as meaningless trauma but as participation in Christ's own afflictions. Peter instructs believers to "rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory" ^[1]. John Gill explains this as partaking in "the sufferings of his body, the church, which is mystically himself," endured "for the sake of him and his Gospel" ^[6]. This union means that what feels like isolated anguish is actually a form of conformity to Christ, who himself "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust" ^[7].

Calvin observes that believers under affliction experience a "certain degree of repugnance in their hearts, because natural sense shuns and dreads what is adverse to it," yet simultaneously possess a "pious affection" that "tries to obey the divine will" even through these difficulties ^[5]. This tension—between the legitimate horror of trauma and the Spirit-given capacity to trust—is not resolved by denying the former but by anchoring hope in God's character.

Praise Through the Attribute of Suffering

The rabbinic tradition preserves a striking interpretation of Psalm 56:11: "In God, I will praise His word" refers to God's benevolence, while "In the Lord, I will praise His word" refers to "the attribute of suffering; even if God brings suffering to bear upon me, I will still praise Him" ^{[8, 9, 10]}. This distinction acknowledges that glorifying God in suffering is qualitatively different from praising Him in prosperity—it requires praising the same God under opposite circumstances.

Paul models this when he writes of glorying "in tribulations," not because they are desirable "to the flesh," but because they are "for Christ's sake, and in a good cause" and serve as "trials of grace" ^[12]. The apostle endures "all things" for "the elect's sakes," that they too might obtain "salvation" and "glory in reigning with Him eternally" ^[11]. PTSD may cloud one's sense of God's presence, yet the biblical witness insists that suffering—even when it leaves lasting wounds—can still serve the purposes of a God who "exhibits his mercy in healing" and "manifests saving grace" even through sickness ^[4].

Sources

I Peter “I Peter 4:13 (BSB) — But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.”
1 Peter “1 Peter 4:16 (NASB) — but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”
I Peter “I Peter 2:19 (BSB) — For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sickness — Sent by God -- De 28:59-61; 32:39; 2Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict -- Job 2:6,7; Lu 9:39; 13:16. Often brought on by intemperance -- Ho 7:5. Often sent as a punishment of sin -- Le 26:14-16; 2Ch 21:12-15; 1Co 11:30. One of God's four sore judgments on a guilty land -- Eze 14:19-21. God Promises to heal. -- Ex 23:25; 2Ki 20:5. Heals. -- De 32:39; Ps 103:3; Isa 38:5,9. Exhibits his mercy in healing. -- Php 2:27. Exhibits his power in healing. -- Lu 5:17. Exhibits his love in healing. -- Isa 38:17. Often manifests saving grace to”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 63: they feel bitterly, they are at the same time filled with spiritual joy; though pressed with anxiety, breathe exhilarated by the consolation of God. Still there is a certain degree of repugnance in their hearts, because natural sense shuns and dreads what is adverse to it, while pious affection, even through these difficulties, tries to obey the divine will. This repugnance the Lord expressed when he thus addressed Peter: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldst”
1 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Peter 4:13: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings,.... Not of his personal sufferings; though they were partakers of the benefits and blessings which come through them, and result from them, such as justification, peace, and pardon, and which are matter and ground of rejoicing; but of the sufferings of his body, the church, which is mystically himself; and are called his, because of the union between him and his people, and the sympathy he bears to them, and because they are endured for the sake of him and his Gospel, and conform the saints, and make t”
1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 3:18: Confirmation of Pe1 3:17, by the glorious results of Christ's suffering innocently. For--"Because." That is "better," Pe1 3:17, means of which we are rendered more like to Christ in death and in life; for His death brought the best issue to Himself and to us [BENGEL]. Christ--the Anointed Holy One of God; the Holy suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust. also--as well as yourselves (Pe1 3:17). Compare Pe1 2:21; there His suffering was brought forward as an example to us; here, as a proof of the blessedness of suffering for well-doing. once-”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128a.120:9: Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: The proof is from here, as it is stated: “In God, I will praise His word; in the Lord, I will praise His word” (Psalms 56:11). The Gemara explains that In God, I will praise His word; that is the revelation of God’s attribute of benevolence, while: In the Lord, I will praise His word; that is the attribute of suffering; even if God brings suffering to bear upon me, I will still praise Him.”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128b.120:9: Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: The proof is from here, as it is stated: “In God, I will praise His word; in the Lord, I will praise His word” (Psalms 56:11). The Gemara explains that In God, I will praise His word; that is the revelation of God’s attribute of benevolence, while: In the Lord, I will praise His word; that is the attribute of suffering; even if God brings suffering to bear upon me, I will still praise Him.”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 60b.9: Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: The proof is from here, as it is stated: “In God, I will praise His word; in the Lord, I will praise His word” (Psalms 56:11). The Gemara explains that In God, I will praise His word; that is the revelation of God’s attribute of benevolence, while: In the Lord, I will praise His word; that is the attribute of suffering; even if God brings suffering to bear upon me, I will still praise Him.”
2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 2:10: Therefore--Because of the anxiety I feel that the Gospel should be extended; that anxiety being implied in Ti2 2:9. endure--not merely "I passively suffer," but "I actively and perseveringly endure," and "am ready to endure patiently all things." the elect's sakes--for the sake of the Church: all the members of Christ's spiritual body (Col 1:24). they . . . also--as well as myself: both God's elect not yet converted and those already so. salvation . . . glory--not only salvation from wrath, but glory in reigning with Him eternally (Ti2 2:12)”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 5:3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also,.... The tribulations of the saints are many and various, through the hatred of the world, the temptations of Satan, their own corruptions; and are the will of their heavenly Father; what Christ has foretold, and they expect; and here particularly design such as are for Christ's sake, which being supported under, and carried through, they glory in: not that these are desirable in themselves, and to the flesh; but they glory in them as they are for Christ's sake, and in a good cause; as they are trials of grace, and of ”

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