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Understanding God's Goodness in Suffering and Trials

God's goodness is understood to be a perfection of His character, exercised toward His creatures in various circumstances [6]. This goodness is described in scripture as great, excellent, marvelous, multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful [4]. Even in times of suffering and trials, Christian theology maintains that God's goodness remains constant and can be perceived.

Suffering is an inevitable part of the Christian life, with believers being encouraged to expect it [10]. The apostle Peter instructs Christians not to be surprised by the trials that will inevitably come, especially for those seeking to live godly lives [10]. This suffering can take various forms, including persecution for the sake of God [7]. However, enduring pain and suffering unjustly, particularly because of one's conscience toward God, is considered commendable [1, 2]. If it is God's purpose for someone to undergo pain, it is better to do so for well-doing than for evil-doing [3].

In the midst of affliction, God is depicted as being with His afflicted saints, serving as a refuge and strength [8]. He comforts, preserves, and delivers them [8]. Christ himself is also with and supports the afflicted [8]. The example of Christ's suffering is presented as an argument for patience under trials [13]. Christ voluntarily submitted to suffering and was patient under it [7]. He suffered for the sins of humanity, the just for the unjust, providing a profound example for believers [13, 15]. The apostle Paul expressed a desire to know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death [5].

The trials faced by saints are understood to lead to patience [9]. This patience, in turn, produces experience and hope [9]. John Chrysostom notes that enduring sufferings with fortitude and patience can serve as a seal of adoption for the children of God [11, 14]. While suffering may not naturally appear as a sign of salvation, the grace of God can alleviate the bitterness of the cross [14]. The righteous character of God provides encouragement and strength during suffering, transforming misery and weakness into abundant life [12].

Sources

  1. 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.”
  2. 1 Peter “For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. -- 1 Peter 2:19”
  3. I Peter “I Peter 3:17 (BBE) — Because if it is God's purpose for you to undergo pain, it is better to do so for well-doing than for evil-doing.”
  4. 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 ”
  5. Philippians “Philippians 3:10 (BSB) — I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,”
  6. 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 ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
  8. 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”
  9. 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”
  10. 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:12: 4:12-19 Peter instructs Christians one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. 4:12 don’t be surprised: Christians, especially those seeking to lead godly lives, can expect to face the hostility of a sinful world (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29).”
  11. 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”
  12. 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.”
  13. 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 3:18: Here, I. The example of Christ is proposed as an argument for patience under sufferings, the strength of which will be discerned if we consider the several points contained in the words; observe therefore, 1. Jesus Christ himself was not exempted from sufferings in this life, though he had no guilt of his own and could have declined all suffering if he had pleased. 2. The reason or meritorious cause of Christ's suffering was the sins of men: Christ suffered for sins. The sufferings of Christ were a true and proper punishment; this punishment was suffered to expia”
  14. 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 ”
  15. 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-”
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