Afflicted Saints: should Trust in the Goodness of God
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Afflicted saints, those believers who endure trials, suffering, and tribulations, are called to place their trust in the goodness of God. Throughout Scripture, the theme of trusting in God's goodness amidst adversity is prevalent, offering comfort and guidance to those who are weary and burdened.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible consistently affirms the goodness of God, even in the midst of suffering. Psalm 34:8 invites believers to "taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." This verse encourages the afflicted to experience God's goodness personally, finding refuge and blessing in Him.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul speaks to the reality of suffering and the hope found in God's goodness. Romans 8:28 assures believers that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." This promise provides a foundation for trust, affirming that God orchestrates all circumstances for the ultimate good of His people.

Examples of Trust Amidst Affliction

The Bible provides numerous examples of saints who trusted in God's goodness despite their afflictions. Job, a man described as "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1), endured immense suffering yet declared, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15). Job's unwavering trust in God's character serves as a powerful testament to faith amidst trials.

King David, often pursued by enemies and facing personal turmoil, repeatedly expressed his trust in God's goodness. In Psalm 27:13, he proclaims, "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." David's confidence in God's goodness sustained him through his darkest moments.

Encouragement for the Afflicted

Afflicted saints are encouraged to trust in God's goodness, knowing that He is both sovereign and loving. Isaiah 41:10 offers reassurance: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." This promise of divine presence and support is a source of strength for those enduring hardship.

Furthermore, 1 Peter 5:7 invites believers to "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." This verse underscores the personal care and concern God has for His people, encouraging them to entrust their burdens to Him.

The Role of Faith

Faith plays a crucial role in trusting God's goodness during affliction. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This assurance enables believers to trust in God's goodness, even when circumstances seem contrary.

The afflicted are reminded that their trials are temporary and serve a greater purpose. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 states, "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen." This perspective encourages believers to focus on the eternal, trusting that God's goodness will ultimately prevail.

Conclusion

Afflicted saints are called to trust in the goodness of God, drawing strength from His promises and the examples of faithful believers throughout Scripture. By placing their hope in God's unchanging character, they find comfort and assurance amidst life's trials.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Job 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Corinthians 1:9
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Surely Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me all the Days of My Life ...
... But here we must not conclude that the Saints and holy persons have ... long it is the
wish of Providence that we should be burdened and afflicted, we may ...
/.../callan/the shepherd of my soul/xi surely goodness and mercy.htm

Counsel for Outward Behaviour.
... permit ourselves to be harassed and afflicted by them ... was on this account that the
saints sighed continually ... We should be particularly careful as regards those ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/ii counsel for outward behaviour.htm

Why Men do not Attain Quickly to the Perfect Love of God. Of Four ...
... it at once, as some of the saints have done ... His will that these plants and flowers
should grow"some ... to rejoice nor to be greatly afflicted, whether sweetness ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xi why men do.htm

A Mystery! Saints Sorrowing and Jesus Glad!
... own fig-tree, and talk to the poor tried saints, and say ... It is good for me that I
have been afflicted.' " I tell ... God, of what would be his lot if he should die. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/a mystery saints sorrowing and.htm

Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity God's Judgment when Christ ...
... you, 7 and to you that are afflicted rest with ... he shall come to be glorified in his
saints, and to ... as a baptized child of God the Christian should justly enjoy ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty sixth sunday after trinity.htm

God.
... ability in him "to comprehend with other saints what is ... which others tremble, for
fear it should poison them ... have more often seen that the afflicted are always ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/i god.htm

Of Bearing the Cross --One Branch of Self-Denial.
... world shall rejoice," (John 16:20.) And lest any one should regard this ... Scripture
gives saints the praise of endurance when, though afflicted by the ...
/.../sergieff/on the christian life/chapter iii of bearing the.htm

Question Lxxxii of Devotion
... the devotion which we have to the Saints of God ... religious people, and for their sake
they should put aside ... heart: A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit;[94 ...
/.../aquinas/on prayer and the contemplative life/question lxxxii of devotion.htm

Necessity of Contemplating the Judgment-Seat of God, in Order to ...
... Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the ... those who lie afflicted by a
knowledge of their poverty? ... the gifts of Christ, because if he should seek for ...
/.../chapter 12 necessity of contemplating.htm

Of Bearing the Cross --One Branch of Self-Denial.
... And lest any one should regard this as vicious, he expressly declares ... Scripture gives
saints the praise of endurance when, though afflicted by the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 of bearing the.htm

Resources
What were the emerods God afflicted the Philistines with in 1 Samuel 5? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about affliction? | GotQuestions.org

Why does God allow sickness? | GotQuestions.org

Afflicted: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Afflicted

Afflicted Saints: Christ Comforts

Afflicted Saints: Christ Delivers

Afflicted Saints: Christ is With

Afflicted Saints: Christ Preserves

Afflicted Saints: Christ Supports

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: Apostles

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: David

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: Eli

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: Job

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: Joseph

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: Moses

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: Nehemiah

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: Paul

Afflicted Saints: God Comforts

Afflicted Saints: God Delivers

Afflicted Saints: God is a Refuge and Strength To

Afflicted Saints: God is With

Afflicted Saints: God Preserves

Afflicted Saints: should Acknowledge the Justice of Their Chastisements

Afflicted Saints: should Avoid Sin

Afflicted Saints: should be Frequent in Prayer

Afflicted Saints: should be Patient

Afflicted Saints: should be Resigned

Afflicted Saints: should Imitate Christ

Afflicted Saints: should Imitate the Prophets

Afflicted Saints: should Keep the Pious Resolutions Made During Afflictions

Afflicted Saints: should not Despise Chastening

Afflicted Saints: should Praise God

Afflicted Saints: should Take Encouragement from Former Mercies

Afflicted Saints: should Trust in the Goodness of God

Afflicted Saints: should Turn and Devote Themselves to God

Afflicted: Duty to The

Duty Toward The Afflicted: To Bear Them in Mind

Duty Toward The Afflicted: To Comfort Them

Duty Toward The Afflicted: To Pity Them

Duty Toward The Afflicted: To Pray for Them

Duty Toward The Afflicted: To Protect Them

Duty Toward The Afflicted: To Relieve Them

Duty Toward The Afflicted: To Sympathise With Them

Duty Toward The Afflicted: To Visit Them

Related Terms

Afflict (55 Occurrences)

Comforted (56 Occurrences)

Naaman (19 Occurrences)

Ill-treated (7 Occurrences)

Thicket (9 Occurrences)

Relief (32 Occurrences)

Destitute (25 Occurrences)

Dropsy (1 Occurrence)

Mistreated (14 Occurrences)

Barest (3 Occurrences)

Abase (7 Occurrences)

Anathoth (16 Occurrences)

Adonai (1 Occurrence)

An'athoth (19 Occurrences)

Ajalon (10 Occurrences)

Showing (41 Occurrences)

Shared (21 Occurrences)

Haemorrhage (3 Occurrences)

Deserving (19 Occurrences)

Overwhelmed (33 Occurrences)

Pine (28 Occurrences)

Haughty (35 Occurrences)

Abi'athar (28 Occurrences)

Complaint (29 Occurrences)

Estate (40 Occurrences)

Deserve (40 Occurrences)

Sovereign (209 Occurrences)

Oppressed (81 Occurrences)

Affliction (120 Occurrences)

Distressed (70 Occurrences)

Worketh (49 Occurrences)

Founded (42 Occurrences)

Merry (38 Occurrences)

Oppression (67 Occurrences)

Wast (84 Occurrences)

Treated (69 Occurrences)

Stronger (59 Occurrences)

Desolate (189 Occurrences)

Lame (35 Occurrences)

Needy (83 Occurrences)

Fasting (34 Occurrences)

Drawing (60 Occurrences)

Selah (76 Occurrences)

Suffering (104 Occurrences)

Forget (77 Occurrences)

Poor (276 Occurrences)

Sick (117 Occurrences)

Despised (96 Occurrences)

Justice (212 Occurrences)

Suffered (88 Occurrences)

Abiathar (29 Occurrences)

Violently (92 Occurrences)

Elisha (70 Occurrences)

Hardships (12 Occurrences)

Humility (20 Occurrences)

Worthy (92 Occurrences)

Pity (165 Occurrences)

Quicken (16 Occurrences)

Gracious (106 Occurrences)

Various (52 Occurrences)

Killing (41 Occurrences)

Noticed (19 Occurrences)

Noon-day (8 Occurrences)

Na'omi (21 Occurrences)

Noonday (13 Occurrences)

Nahum (3 Occurrences)

Untied (6 Occurrences)

Uncovereth (12 Occurrences)

Unanswered (2 Occurrences)

Oppresses (6 Occurrences)

Outcasts (13 Occurrences)

Opens (30 Occurrences)

Obscurity (10 Occurrences)

Jaw-teeth (4 Occurrences)

Layest (10 Occurrences)

Laid (552 Occurrences)

Labours (19 Occurrences)

Lowliness (9 Occurrences)

Lament (44 Occurrences)

Afflicted Saints: should Take Encouragement from Former Mercies
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