Afflictions and adversities are an inevitable part of the human experience, often serving as a crucible for spiritual growth and reliance on God. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on how believers can find consolation amidst trials, emphasizing God's presence, promises, and the hope of eternal glory.

God's Presence in Affliction

The Scriptures affirm that God is intimately present with His people during times of trouble. Psalm 34:18 declares, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit." This assurance of God's nearness offers profound comfort, reminding believers that they are not alone in their suffering. Isaiah 43:2 further promises, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you."

The Role of Christ's Suffering

The New Testament highlights the sufferings of Christ as a source of consolation for believers. In 2 Corinthians 1:5 , Paul writes, "For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." The identification with Christ's sufferings not only provides comfort but also a model for enduring adversity with faith and hope.

The Comfort of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, referred to as the Comforter, plays a crucial role in providing solace during trials. Jesus promised His disciples in John 14:16 , "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever." The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit assures believers of God's ongoing support and guidance through life's challenges.

The Encouragement of Scripture

The Word of God serves as a wellspring of encouragement and hope. Romans 15:4 states, "For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope." The Bible's narratives, promises, and teachings provide a framework for understanding and enduring afflictions with a perspective rooted in faith.

The Community of Believers

The fellowship of believers is another vital source of consolation. Galatians 6:2 exhorts, "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." The Christian community is called to support one another, offering prayer, encouragement, and practical help to those in distress.

The Hope of Eternal Glory

The ultimate consolation for believers lies in the hope of eternal glory. Romans 8:18 offers a perspective that transcends present sufferings: "I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us." This future hope provides a powerful incentive to persevere, knowing that earthly trials are temporary and will give way to eternal joy and peace in the presence of God.

The Purpose of Trials

Scripture also teaches that afflictions serve a divine purpose, refining faith and character. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." This perspective transforms adversity into an opportunity for spiritual growth and maturity.

In summary, the Bible offers a multifaceted approach to finding consolation in afflictions and adversities, emphasizing God's presence, the example of Christ, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the encouragement of Scripture, the support of the Christian community, the hope of eternal glory, and the divine purpose behind trials. These elements together provide a robust framework for enduring and overcoming the challenges of life with faith and hope.Genesis 21:17
And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, What ails you, Hagar? fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.
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Genesis 16:7-13
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
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Genesis 26:17,33
And Isaac departed there, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelled there.
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Genesis 31:42
Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely you had sent me away now empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.
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Exodus 3:7,8,16,17
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
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Exodus 14:13,14
And Moses said to the people, Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day, you shall see them again no more for ever.
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Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before you; and shall say, Destroy them.
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2 Samuel 22:28
And the afflicted people you will save: but your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.
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Job 5:6-27
Although affliction comes not forth of the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground;
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Job 11:16-19
Because you shall forget your misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
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Job 16:5
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.
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Job 29:25
I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelled as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.
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Job 31:19-22
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
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Job 35:10
But none said, Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night;
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Psalm 9:9,10
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
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Psalm 23:4
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.
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Psalm 27:5,6
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up on a rock.
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Psalm 30:5
For his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
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Psalm 31:7
I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy: for you have considered my trouble; you have known my soul in adversities;
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Psalm 34:4,19,20
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
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Psalm 37:23,24,32,33
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.
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Psalm 41:3
The LORD will strengthen him on the bed of languishing: you will make all his bed in his sickness.
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Psalm 42:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted in me? hope you in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
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Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
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Psalm 50:15
And call on me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
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Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he shall sustain you: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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Psalm 56:8-10
You tell my wanderings: put you my tears into your bottle: are they not in your book?
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Psalm 62:1,2,5-8,11,12
Truly my soul waits on God: from him comes my salvation.
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Psalm 68:6
God sets the solitary in families: he brings out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
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Psalm 69:20,33
Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
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Psalm 71:20
You, which have showed me great and sore troubles, shall quicken me again, and shall bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
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Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
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Psalm 94:17-19
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelled in silence.
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Psalm 103:13,14
Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear him.
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Psalm 112:4
To the upright there rises light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
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Psalm 119:50,52,54,92,143
This is my comfort in my affliction: for your word has quickened me.
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Psalm 138:3,7,8
In the day when I cried you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul.
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Psalm 140:12
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
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Psalm 145:14
The LORD upholds all that fall, and raises up all those that be bowed down.
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Psalm 147:3
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
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Proverbs 12:13
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
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Ecclesiastes 4:1
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
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Isaiah 4:6
And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
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Isaiah 14:31,32
Howl, O gate; cry, O city; you, whole Palestina, are dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.
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Isaiah 25:4
For you have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
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Isaiah 30:19,20
For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: you shall weep no more: he will be very gracious to you at the voice of your cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer you.
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Isaiah 40:1,2,29
Comfort you, comfort you my people, said your God.
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Isaiah 41:10,13,14,17
Fear you not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
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Isaiah 42:3
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment to truth.
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Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle on you.
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Isaiah 49:13
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD has comforted his people, and will have mercy on his afflicted.
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Isaiah 50:4,7-10
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as the learned.
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Isaiah 51:3-13
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
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Isaiah 54:4,11
Fear not; for you shall not be ashamed: neither be you confounded; for you shall not be put to shame: for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more.
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Isaiah 58:10
And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon day:
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Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
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Isaiah 63:9
In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
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Isaiah 66:5,13,14
Hear the word of the LORD, you that tremble at his word; Your brothers that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
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Jeremiah 31:13,25
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
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Jeremiah 39:17,18
But I will deliver you in that day, said the LORD: and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid.
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Lamentations 3:31-33,57
For the LORD will not cast off for ever:
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Ezekiel 11:16
Therefore say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
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Hosea 2:14,15
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her.
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Hosea 6:1-3
Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up.
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Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him.
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Zephaniah 3:18
I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
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Matthew 5:4,10-12
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
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Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
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Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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Matthew 14:27
But straightway Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
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Matthew 25:34-36,40
Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
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Matthew 28:5,9,10
And the angel answered and said to the women, Fear not you: for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified.
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Mark 6:50
For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and said to them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
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Luke 6:21-23
Blessed are you that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh.
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Luke 7:13
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, Weep not.
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Luke 12:6,7
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
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Luke 21:18
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
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John 14:1,16,18,27
Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.
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John 15:18,20
If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.
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John 16:20,22,33
Truly, truly, I say to you, That you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
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Acts 12:5
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church to God for him.
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Acts 23:11
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome.
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Romans 8:28,35-39
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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Romans 12:12,15
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
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Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
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2 Corinthians 1:3-5,7
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
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2 Corinthians 4:8-10,16,17
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
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2 Corinthians 7:6
Nevertheless God, that comforts those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
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2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
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Galatians 6:2
Bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
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Philippians 1:19
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
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1 Thessalonians 4:13,16-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
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2 Thessalonians 1:7
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
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2 Thessalonians 2:16,17
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
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2 Timothy 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
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2 Timothy 4:17
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
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Hebrews 2:14,15,18
For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
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Hebrews 4:15,16
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
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Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us:
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Hebrews 12:1-4
Why seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
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Hebrews 13:3,5,6
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
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James 1:12,27
Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.
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James 5:8,10
Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near.
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1 Peter 2:21-24
For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:
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1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you:
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1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you.
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Revelation 2:9,10
I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
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Revelation 3:2,10
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God.
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Revelation 7:14-17
And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
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Temptations and Trials.
... by temporal afflictions and adversities, so He ... and good Christians aver, incessant
afflictions are necessary ... to deprive them of all consolation and confidence ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/v temptations and trials.htm

That the Union of Our Will with the Good-Pleasure of God Takes ...
... that he is lovingly to support adversities, since they ... to be loved when it distributes
afflictions and when ... the pleasure which is in the consolation; but the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii that the union.htm

What and Whence are These?
... amid the afflictions, and adversities, and catastrophes ... Tribulations abounded and
afflictions were multiplied to the ... the whole volume of consolation; yea, we ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/what and whence are these.htm

Letter v. --The Fear of Being Wanting in Submission.
... in giving you either light or consolation. ... He sends spiritual trials and purely interior
afflictions. ... sanctify themselves in temporal adversities by preaching ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter v the fear of being.htm

The Twelfth Chapter: the Royal Road of the Holy Cross
... Be ready to suffer many adversities and many kinds ... and consider them the greatest
consolation, for even ... but rather in enduring great afflictions and sufferings ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the twelfth chapter the royal.htm

Christian Graces.
... by prevailing with the soul to suffer all troubles, afflictions, and adversities
that it ... in the gospel, to find it out to thy own comfort and consolation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xviii christian graces.htm

A Psalm of Remembrance
... their continual exercises of soul, their deep afflictions, their desperate adversities,
and their ... and ecstacy, but not less of solid consolation: I mean ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/a psalm of remembrance.htm

The Bereavements of the Christian Home. [A]
... so, you have here a source of great consolation. ... but meekly submit to the providential
afflictions of our ... We should remember that all the adversities of life ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xxvi the bereavements of.htm

Lessons.
... a brother evidently made and born for their adversities? ... us, and Jesus for us, in
all our afflictions. ... to those same exalted themes of consolation which, for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/iii lessons.htm

Whither Goest Thou?
... These words afford rich consolation to the saints; and if ... appoints the weight and
number of all our adversities. ... every trial comes from God, afflictions are no ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/whither goest thou.htm

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