One of the most challenging aspects of following Christ is the ever-present need to remind ourselves that what we see and experience is ultimately not eternal; that the trials and afflication we go through here are character-tests to galvanize our faith in Jesus no matter what confronts us. We pray this study can encourage your faith and exhort you to look with great longing to our Savior's return.
[Psalm 34:18-19 NASB95] "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”
- What is the legacy of the righteous? What did David say with reference to his affliction?
[Psalm 119:71 NASB95] "It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”
- Before his affliction what was David's tendency?
[Psalm 119:67 NASB95] "Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.”
- When affliction came upon him what did he consider it was for?
[Psalm 25:18 NASB95] "Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive all my sins.”
- There is a consequence for sins, but there is also a lesson and invitation to grow closer to the Savior in every rebuke.
- How does God regard the cry of the afflicted?
[Job 34:28 NASB95] "So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted—”
- With what feelings does the LORD look upon His children?
[Psalm 103:13 NASB95] "Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”
- Remember, to fear the LORD is to love and obey His word. Daniel and his friends were constantly in great affliction, but their prayers were heard because they would not compromise their faith.
- What is the LORD promised to be to those who are oppressed?
[Psalm 9:9 NASB95] "The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;”
- Read Psalms 18 and Romans 8. In the judgment, the faithful have an eternally-sound and guaranteed refuge in the person of Christ. No accusation will stand against those who have clung to Christ as their Mediator and Substitute.
- When Christ was about to leave the earth, what did He say He would send to His disciples?
[John 16:7 NASB95] "“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
- What is the Helper/Comforter also called?
[John 15:26 NASB95] "“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,”
- What has the LORD promised to those who mourn?
[Matthew 5:4 NASB95] "“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
- What comfort does Paul offer to those who have lost loved ones to death?
[1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 NASB95] "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
- What use are we to make of having the Comforter in our heart?
[2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NASB95] "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”
- When in affliction, how should one rest his case?
[Romans 8:28 NASB95] "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
- How does Jesus exhort those who have tribulation in this life?
[John 16:33 NASB95] "“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””
- What comforted Paul in his troubles?
[Romans 8:18 NASB95] "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
- What did he call the troubles that came upon him?
[2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NASB95] "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."