Prayer in Times of Tribulation and Suffering
Prayer in Times of Tribulation and Suffering
Christians across various traditions agree that prayer is an essential response to tribulation and suffering, but they differ on its nature, purpose, and expected outcomes. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on prayer in times of distress, such as Psalms 80:8 and 90:15, which emphasize God's willingness to hear and deliver the afflicted [1, 2].
The practice of praying in times of tribulation is rooted in biblical injunctions and examples. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists various aspects of prayer under affliction, including seeking God's presence, comfort, mitigation of troubles, and deliverance [4]. The Psalmist's cry, "O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee" (Psalm 102:1, Geneva1599), exemplifies this practice [3].
Lutheran and Reformed Perspectives
In Lutheran tradition, as reflected in Luther's Small Catechism, the Lord's Prayer is seen as a model for praying in times of tribulation. The catechism teaches believers to pray for God's will to be done and for deliverance from evil [5]. Reformed theologians like John Calvin emphasize the importance of prayer in times of affliction, seeing it as a means of seeking God's comfort and deliverance. Calvin's Institutes highlight the role of prayer in expressing trust in God's sovereignty and providence [9].
Eastern Orthodox Perspective
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as represented by John Chrysostom, views prayer in times of tribulation as a means of spiritual growth and purification. Chrysostom's homilies on various epistles encourage believers to persevere in prayer during suffering, trusting in God's wisdom and benevolence [6, 7].
Shared Ground
Despite differences in emphasis and theological nuance, Christian traditions agree that prayer in times of tribulation is a vital aspect of the believer's life. They concur that prayer should be accompanied by faith, patience, and trust in God's goodness. The biblical promise that "He saveth them out of their distresses" (Psalm 107:16) is a common foundation for prayer in times of suffering [10].
Diverging Views on the Purpose and Outcome of Prayer
The traditions diverge on the specific purposes and expected outcomes of prayer in times of tribulation. Some, like the Reformed tradition, emphasize praying for God's glory and the believer's sanctification, while others, like the Lutheran tradition, focus on seeking comfort and deliverance. The Baptist/Reformed commentary by John Gill on Psalms 107:16 highlights the importance of crying unto the Lord in trouble, expecting salvation from distress [10].
The patristic tradition, as seen in Augustine's Exposition on Psalms, interprets tribulation as an opportunity for prayer and spiritual growth. Augustine notes that tribulation can prompt believers to call upon God, leading to deliverance and glorification [8].
Sources
- Psalms “In tribulatione invocasti me, et liberavi te. Exaudivi te in abscondito tempestatis ; probavi te apud aquam contradictionis. -- Psalms 80:8”
- Psalms “Clamabit ad me, et ego exaudiam eum ; cum ipso sum in tribulatione : eripiam eum, et glorificabo eum. -- Psalms 90:15”
- 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.”
- 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”
- Luther's Small Catechism (Lutheran) “Luther's Small Catechism (Lutheran, 1529), The Lord’s Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:11 1:11 1:26 1:26 1:26 1:27 1:27 1:27 1:31 1:31 2:2 2:7 2:17 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:5 3:16 3:24 4 4:9 4:14 6:2 6:3 6:4 6:9 6:12 7:7 8:21 12:1 12:4 12:16 13:10 13:10-11 14:14 14:21-23 15:16 16:5 16:6 17:8 18:11 18:12 18:14 18:21 19:13 19:14 19:24 21:10 21:12 21:12 22:7-8 22:16 22:18 22:18 24:1-67 24:22 24:65 25:21 25:21 26:4 27:46 28:1 28:13 31:42 31:45 32:48 35:18 37:9-10 37:20 39:1 39:6 40:4 40:7 40:8 40:14-15 40:22 41 41:16 42:36 43:14 43:30 45:5 48:15-16 49:9 64:28 Exodus 2:11 2”
- 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”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM L.[10] (part 21): come to thee: because perchance if thou wast not troubled, thou wouldest not call on Me: but when thou art troubled, thou callest on Me; when thou callest upon Me, I will draw thee forth; when I shah draw thee forth, thou shalt glorify Me, that thou mayest no more depart from Me. A certain man had grown dull and cold in fervour of prayer, and said, "Tribulation and grief I found, and on the Name of the Lord I called."[1] He found tribulation as it were some profitable thing; he had rotted in the slough of his sins; now he ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 4:5-6 4:6 4:11 4:12 4:18 Colossians 1:2-3 1:4 1:5 1:5 1:9-10 1:12 1:13 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:16 1:16 1:16-18 1:17 1:18 1:19-20 1:20 1:20 1:21 1:21-22 1:24 1:24 1:26 1:26 1:26 2:2 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:10 2:11 2:12 2:12 2:13-14 2:14 2:14 2:14-15 2:16 2:16-17 2:17 2:17 2:17 2:19 2:20 2:20-21 2:23 2:23 3:1 3:1 3:1-2 3:2 3:3 3:3 3:4 3:5 3:6 3:10 3:10 3:11 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:16 3:19 3:24 3:25 4:3 4:17 1 Thessalonians 1:5 2:13 2:18 2:20 3:5 3:12 3:13 4:3 4:4 4:5 4:7 4:7 4:15 4:16 4:16 4:16-17 5:2 5:9 5:17-18 5:19 ”
- 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”