Understanding Divine Goodness in Hardship and Trial

Divine goodness, a core attribute of God's character, is understood as his benevolence towards his creatures, encompassing mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience towards impenitent sinners, and grace towards the unworthy ^[6]. This goodness is often described as great, excellent, marvelous, multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful ^[7]. While God's goodness is consistently affirmed, its manifestation in the midst of hardship and trial presents a complex theological consideration.

Scripture indicates that suffering can serve as a means through which God's goodness and righteous judgment are revealed. The apostle Peter writes that enduring unjust suffering with a consciousness of God is commendable and a grace from God ^{[1, 3]}. Similarly, Paul states that "tribulation worketh patience" ^[15]. This suggests that trials can be instrumental in developing spiritual virtues such as patience, experience, and hope ^{[8, 15]}. The book of Hebrews further elaborates on this, quoting Proverbs 3:11-12 to explain that hardship can be understood as the Lord's loving discipline, intended to train believers in righteousness and holy character ^[10]. The Psalmist also confesses faith in God's ability to transform misery and weakness into abundant life, finding encouragement in God's righteous character amidst suffering ^[13].

The concept of God's goodness in hardship is also connected to his righteousness and justice. Paul, in 2 Thessalonians, refers to the tribulations endured by believers as a "manifest token of the righteous judgment of God" ^{[11, 12]}. This means that the suffering of the godly, and the prosperity of the wicked, are not signs of divine indifference but rather indicators of a future judgment where God will "recompense tribulation to them that trouble you" ^{[4, 12]}. John Calvin, in his commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, suggests that trials can serve as "seals of adoption to the children of God" when endured with fortitude and patience, while for the wicked, they are a "token of their condemnation" ^[14].

God's goodness is also expressed through his "loving-kindness," which is placed in the highest regard because without it, individuals might flee from God in fear and despair ^[9]. This loving-kindness is experienced through Christ and is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful ^[7]. It is through this loving-kindness that saints are drawn to God, preserved, quickened, and comforted ^[7].

However, the experience of suffering also raises questions about God's severity. Romans 11:22 speaks of "the goodness and severity of God," noting severity towards those who fell, and goodness towards those who continue in his goodness ^[2]. This implies a distinction in how God's attributes are manifested depending on one's relationship with him. The book of Wisdom even suggests that some might seek to "examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness, and try his patience" ^[5].

Sources

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.”
Romans “See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off. -- Romans 11:22”
I Peter “I Peter 2:20 (LITV) — For what glory is it if you patiently endure while sinning and being buffeted? But if you are suffering while doing good, and patiently endure, this is a grace from God.”
II Thessalonians “II Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV) — Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;”
Wisdom “Wisdom 2:19 (DRC) — Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness, and try his patience.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
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 ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Patience — God, is the God of -- Ro 15:5. Christ, an example of -- Isa 53:7; Ac 8:32; Mt 27:14. Enjoined -- Tit 2:2; 2Pe 1:6. Should have its perfect work -- Jas 1:4. Trials of saints lead to -- Ro 5:3; Jas 1:3. Produces Experience. -- Ro 5:4. Hope. -- Ro 15:4. Suffering with, for well-doing, is acceptable with God -- 1Pe 2:20. To be exercised Running the race set before us. -- Heb 12:1. Bringing forth fruits. -- Lu 8:15. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; Ga 6:9. Waiting for God. -- Ps 37:7; 40:1. Waiting for Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 2Th 3:5. Waiting for the hope of the gospel. -- R”
Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 9:24: Nothing but an experimental knowledge of God will save the nation. understandeth--theoretically; in the intellect. knoweth--practically: so as to walk in My ways (Jer 22:16; Job 22:21; Co1 1:31). loving kindness--God's mercy is put in the first and highest place, because without it we should flee from God in fear and despair. judgment . . . righteousness--loving-kindness towards the godly; judgment towards the ungodly; righteousness the most perfect fairness in all cases [GROTIUS]. Faithfulness to His promises to preserve the godly, as well a”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:5: 12:5-6 In these verses, the encouraging words are quoted from Prov 3:11-12, a passage that regards hardship as the Lord’s loving discipline for his children. God can turn a wide variety of trials and difficulties to our good, training us in righteousness and holy character.”
2 Thessalonians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Thessalonians 1:5: A manifest token of the righteousness judgement of God - The persecutions and tribulations which you endure, are a manifest proof that God has judged righteously in calling you Gentiles into his Church; and these sufferings are also a proof that ye are called in; for they who enter into the kingdom of God go through great tribulation; your going through that tribulation is a proof that ye are entering in, and God sees it right and just that ye should be permitted to suffer before ye enjoy that endless felicity. The words, however, may be understood in anothe”
2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 1:5: Which--Your enduring these tribulations is a "token of the righteous judgment of God," manifested in your being enabled to endure them, and in your adversaries thereby filling up the measure of their guilt. The judgment is even now begun, but its consummation will be at the Lord's coming. David (Psa 73:1-14) and Jeremiah (Jer 12:1-4) were perplexed at the wicked prospering and the godly suffering. But Paul, by the light of the New Testament, makes this fact a matter of consolation. It is a proof (so the Greek) of the future judgment, which will”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 71:19: 71:19-21 God’s righteous character provides encouragement and strength in the midst of suffering. The wounded psalmist confesses faith in God’s ability to transform his misery and weakness into abundant life.”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 9.4: a manner seals of adoption to the children of God, if they endure them with fortitude and patience: the wicked give a token of their condemnation, because they stumble against a stone by which they shall be bruised to pieces. ( Matthew 21:44 .) And that from God . This is restricted to the last clause, that a taste of the grace of God may allay the bitterness of the cross. No one will naturally perceive the cross a token or evidence of salvation, for they are things that are contrary in appearance. Hence Paul calls ”
Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 5:3: we glory in tribulation also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience--Patience is the quiet endurance of what we cannot but wish removed, whether it be the withholding of promised good (Rom 8:25), or the continued experience of positive ill (as here). There is indeed a patience of unrenewed nature, which has something noble in it, though in many cases the offspring of pride, if not of something lower. Men have been known to endure every form of privation, torture, and death, without a murmur and without even visible emotion, merely because they deeme”

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