Trusting God's Goodness in Times of Suffering
Trusting God's Goodness in Times of Suffering
The biblical concept of trusting God's goodness in times of suffering is rooted in the understanding that God is a faithful Creator who cares for His people even in their afflictions. The apostle Peter exhorts believers to "entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator" when suffering according to God's will [1]. This trust is grounded in the conviction that God is not only the Creator but also the preserver of His people, who will keep safe what is committed to Him [9].
The Psalms frequently express the sentiment of trusting in God's salvation and protection during times of pain and distress. For example, Psalm 37:39 states that "the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble" [3]. Similarly, Psalm 69:29 expresses a plea for God's salvation to protect the psalmist from pain and distress [2].
The New Testament reinforces this idea, with the apostle Paul writing that he takes pleasure in weaknesses and distresses for Christ's sake, because when he is weak, then he is strong [4]. This perspective is echoed in the writings of John Chrysostom, who emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's loving-kindness, which is described as great, excellent, and everlasting [7, 8].
In times of suffering, believers are encouraged to wait upon God, who is the Giver of all temporal blessings and the God of salvation [6]. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights various aspects of God's character that inspire trust, including His presence with the afflicted, His comfort, preservation, and deliverance of them [5].
Different Christian traditions interpret the concept of trusting God's goodness in times of suffering in similar ways. For instance, the Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes God's love and care for His people under their troubles [10]. The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke, highlights the importance of committing one's life to God, who is faithful and will fulfill His promises [9].
Sources
- 1 Peter “Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator. -- 1 Peter 4:19”
- Psalms “But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me. -- Psalms 69:29”
- Psalms “But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. -- Psalms 37:39”
- 2 Corinthians “Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. -- 2 Corinthians 12:10”
- 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: 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”
- 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 ”
- 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”
- 1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 4:19: Suffer according to the will of God - A man suffers according to the will of God who suffers for righteousness' sake; and who, being reviled, reviles not again. Commit the keeping of their souls - Place their lives confidently in his hand, who, being their Creator, will also be their preserver, and keep that safely which is committed to his trust. God is here represented as faithful, because he will always fulfill his promises, and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. But they had no reason to hope that he would care for their lives and souls unles”
- Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 54:11: Very precious promises are here made to the church in her low condition, that God would not only continue his love to his people under their troubles as before, but that he would restore them to their former prosperity, nay, that he would raise them to greater prosperity than any they had yet enjoyed. In the foregoing chapter we had the humiliation and exaltation of Christ; here we have the humiliation and exaltation of the church; for, if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. Observe, I. The distressed state the church is here reduced to by the providence”