Affliction is a common human experience that involves suffering, adversity, and trials. The Bible has a lot to say about affliction and provides comfort, wisdom, and hope to those experiencing hard times. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages about affliction:
Psalms
The Book of Psalms contains many cries to God during times of distress and pain. These honest expressions give voice to human suffering and reveal the writers’ faith that God ultimately hears their plea. For example:
“I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eyes waste away because of grief; they grow weak because of all my foes.” (Psalm 6:6-7)
“Why do you hide your face and forget our affliction and oppression?” (Psalm 44:24)
The psalms show it is acceptable to pour out our hearts to God during affliction. God can handle our laments, doubts, fears, and pain.
Job
The Book of Job tells the story of a righteous man who lost everything – health, wealth, and family. Job struggled to make sense of his suffering. His friends believed he must have sinned greatly to deserve such calamity. But Job maintains his innocence and asks why God allows the righteous to suffer.
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1)
“Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones.” (Job 33:19)
Job shows that affliction sometimes comes for complex reasons we don’t understand. The text gives glimpses into heavenly realities beyond human comprehension. In the end God blesses Job for maintaining his integrity.
Lamentations
The Book of Lamentations expresses grief over the destruction of Jerusalem after the Babylonian siege. Written by the prophet Jeremiah, it captures the loneliness, agony, doubt, and despair brought by this national tragedy. For example:
“He has made my flesh and my skin waste away; he has broken my bones.” (Lamentations 3:4)
“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!” (Lamentations 3:19)
Yet even in the depths of pain, Jeremiah confesses hope that God is faithful and offers mercy each new day (Lamentations 3:22-23). Lamentations validates our human pain but points to God’s compassion through it all.
2 Corinthians
The apostle Paul experienced many hardships and persecutions as he spread the gospel. He writes about finding strength and comfort in Christ during affliction. For example:
“We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.” (2 Corinthians 1:8)
“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:5)
Paul viewed suffering as an opportunity to rely more fully on God’s power and grace. Afflictions can teach humility, build endurance, and connect us to the sufferings of Christ.
James
The letter of James encourages believers to persevere joyfully through trials, reminding that hardship can strengthen our faith. For example:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” (James 1:2)
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)
James teaches that God uses difficulties to refine us and draw us into deeper relationship with Himself. Our response to affliction shows the genuineness of our faith.
1 Peter
Peter’s first epistle reminds Christians that suffering should not surprise us. Just as Christ suffered rejection and pain, believers should expect afflictions living in a fallen world. For example:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12)
“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)
Peter encourages seeing affliction through a lens of eternity. Hardships refine our faith and allow us to share in Christ’s sufferings. Persevering leads to great reward.
Benefits from Affliction
In addition to providing comfort, the Bible highlights how affliction can positively shape our faith and character. Here are some benefits that can come from suffering:
- Affliction humbles us and reveals our need for God.
- Suffering deepens our trust in God’s faithfulness and power.
- Trials refine and purify our faith like fire refines gold.
- Hardships can produce endurance, strength, and maturity in our character.
- Suffering gives us greater compassion and empathy for others.
- Pain draws us closer to Christ as we share in His sufferings.
- God can use our testimony of persevering through trials to encourage others.
God’s Comfort in Affliction
The Bible not only addresses the purpose of affliction, but also provides many promises of God’s comfort, support, and nearness when we suffer. Here are some key verses of comfort:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (Psalm 94:19)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22)
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:5)
These verses assure us that God walks with us in the darkest valley. He will sustain, strengthen, and redeem our pain for good.
Prayers for Deliverance
While God can use suffering for our maturation, it’s natural to long for its end. Scripture shows believers crying out in their distress, asking God for deliverance or relief. Examples include:
“Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan.” (Psalm 55:2)
“I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up; I suffer your terrors; I am paralyzed.” (Psalm 88:15)
“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2)
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:13–14)
God invites us to openly share our affliction in prayer. He does not always remove the trial, but He promises to carry us through it with sufficient grace.
Hope Amid Affliction
No matter how painful our human suffering, the Bible insists we can have hope through affliction when we trust God. His promised redemption outweighs present troubles. Examples of this hope include:
“The Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” (Lamentations 3:31-32)
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
These verses remind us that affliction will not have the final say. God specializes in redeeming suffering for new life, leading to glory beyond compare.
Takeaways
In summary, here are some key Biblical perspectives on affliction:
- God allows trials for purposes often unknown to us that ultimately work for good.
- Affliction can strengthen character, deepen intimacy with God, increase compassion for others, and equip us to comfort others.
- God draws especially near to those suffering and grieving.
- Prayer and lament before God are appropriate responses in affliction.
- We can rejoice even in trials as God’s power sustains us and leads to eternal reward.
- Suffering in this fallen world cannot compare with the glory of what is to come for those who endure.
- The promise of redemption gives hope to make it through every affliction.
In all of life’s trials and pains, we can turn to a God who fully understands human affliction and offers His faithful presence to comfort and uphold us. The Bible provides rich resources to nourish persevering faith amid every hardship.