SUFFERING
(See PERSECUTION)
examples of suffering:
Christ
suffering of Christ (see also CHRIST, sufferings and substitutionary death of)
suffering for Christ (see also APOSTLE, the twelve and Paul as apostles, suffering)
♦ by Peter and John
♦ by Peter and James
♦ by Paul
• Acts 9:16; 14:19; 2 Corinthians 1:8; 11:23-28; Philippians 3:8, 10; Colossians 1:24; I Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Timothy 1:11-12; 2:3, 9; 3:10-11
♦ by other believers
other people
the righteous
♦ Abel
• Genesis 4:8 (cf. Hebrews 11:4)
♦ Joseph
♦ Israelites in Egyptian bondage
♦ Moses
♦ the poor, enslaved and oppressed
♦ Job
♦ Daniel's three friends
♦ Daniel
♦ saints in the tribulation period
♦ other righteous people
• Psalms 34:19; Matthew 5:10-12; I Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 3:12; Hebrews 10:32-34, 36-38; James 5:10; 1 Peter 2:19-21; 4:16; Revelation 2:9-10
♦ the wicked (see also JUDGMENT; PUNISHMENT)
types of suffering:
(See SICKNESS)
♦ enslavement to oppressors:
♦ death:
♦ natural disasters:
♦ severe sickness:
♦ a hard life:
♦ needy people:
♦ terrors from the Lord:
♦ financial loss:
♦ harm:
♦ hunger:
♦ paralysis:
♦ hemorrhage:
♦ persecution:
♦ fever:
♦ dropsy:
♦ tribulation:
♦ various afflictions:
♦ imprisonment:
♦ ill-treatment:
♦ martyrdom:
right reasons for suffering:
(See SUFFERING, examples of suffering)
♦ for God's purpose:
♦ for righteousness:
♦ for Christ's sake:
♦ for another member of Christ's body:
♦ for the benefit of other believers:
♦ for the gospel of divine grace:
♦ as a Christian servant in need:
♦ for the kingdom of God:
♦ as a good soldier of Christ:
♦ for godly living:
♦ for association with God's people:
♦ for the sake of conscience toward God:
♦ for doing right:
♦ as a Christian:
• 1 Peter 4:16; 5:9
♦ for living according to God's will:
wrong reasons for suffering:
♦ for various sins:
♦ for unfaithfulness:
♦ for being surety for a stranger:
♦ for being a companion of fools:
♦ for idleness:
♦ for betraying the righteous:
♦ for doing evil:
God's purposes in suffering:
♦ to test His people:
♦ to discipline for sin:
♦ to prompt His people to pray:
♦ to accomplish His will:
♦ to stimulate learning His word:
• Psalms 119:71 (cf. Deuteronomy 8:3)
♦ to purify His people:
♦ to perform His work for His glory:
♦ to spread His word:
♦ to enable believers to experience His grace and strength:
♦ to produce holy people through discipline:
God's response to His peoples suffering:
♦ He is present with them:
♦ He provides refuge, strength and help for them:
♦ He comforts them:
♦ He shares with them in suffering:
♦ He will relieve them of suffering at Christ's coming:
♦ He will remove all suffering in the glorified state:
proper response to suffering:
♦ become humble:
♦ recognize that God permits suffering:
♦ hope in the Lord:
♦ sympathize with those who suffer:
♦ seek the Lord as a refuge:
♦ give practical help to those who suffer:
♦ rejoice in suffering:
♦ accept suffering as divinely intended for good:
♦ conquer suffering through Christ:
♦ receive comfort from God:
♦ comfort those who suffer:
♦ trust in the Lord and not in ourselves:
• 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (cf. Acts 28:5)
♦ endure suffering:
♦ do not become discouraged:
♦ draw upon God's sufficient grace:
♦ bear one another's burdens:
♦ expect suffering:
♦ be patient:
♦ pray for oneself:
• James 5:13 (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8)
♦ ask for the prayers of others:
♦ pray for those who suffer:
♦ bear up under sorrows:
♦ do not fear suffering:
♦ be faithful:
♦ results of suffering
(See GOD'S PURPOSE IN SUFFERING)
• Genesis 50:20; Job 42:5-6, 10; Matthew 5:10-12; Romans 8:17-18; Hebrews 12:11; James 5:11; 1 Peter 2:19; 5:10
This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.