God's Goodness in the Face of Suffering and Affliction
God's goodness is a fundamental aspect of His character, encompassing benevolence, mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience [5]. This goodness is consistently demonstrated towards His creatures, even in the midst of suffering and affliction [5]. The Bible frequently describes God's loving-kindness as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting [6].
Afflictions are a common human experience [7]. The book of Psalms acknowledges this, with the psalmist declaring, "I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities" [1]. Even when God causes grief, He promises to show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion [4]. This suggests that suffering is not outside of God's knowledge or care. Indeed, Psalm 22:24 states that God "has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He has not hidden His face from him, but has attended to his cry for help" [3].
Biblical texts indicate that afflictions, though painful, can serve several purposes. They are often for the good of individuals and for the glory of God [7]. For instance, James 1:2-3 suggests that trials can produce steadfastness, while 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 speaks of God's strength being made perfect in weakness [7]. Christians are encouraged to bear afflictions with patience, knowing that they are directed by God and will ultimately result in their everlasting good in Christ Jesus [7]. The apostle Peter instructs believers not to be surprised by the trials they face, as hostility from a sinful world is to be expected for those seeking to live godly lives [9].
While God's goodness is constant, the Bible also speaks of His severity. Romans 11:22 highlights both "the goodness and severity of God," noting severity towards those who fell and goodness towards those who continue in His goodness [2]. This indicates that God's goodness is not a passive acceptance of all actions but is intertwined with His justice. God's anger is understood not as an emotional outburst, but as a holy and necessary response to sin [10]. Evil people, for example, are said to suffer the consequences of their own actions, and God ensures that sinners receive proper punishment [11].
Despite the presence of suffering, believers are encouraged to pray under affliction, seeking God's consideration of their trouble, His presence and support, divine comfort, mitigation of troubles, and deliverance [8]. Prayer is seen as a means of recovery and a way to turn to God during difficult times [13, 8]. God delivers the poor in their affliction not necessarily by removing the affliction, but by supporting them, providing grace, granting His presence, and comforting them [15]. For the upright, light can arise in darkness, bringing deliverance, prosperity, and spiritual joy [14]. The loving-kindness of God, which is unmerited and everlasting, is a source of comfort and preservation for believers [12, 6].
Sources
- Psalms “I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities. -- Psalms 31:7”
- Romans “See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off. -- Romans 11:22”
- Psalms “Psalms 22:24 (BSB) — For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He has not hidden His face from him, but has attended to his cry for help.”
- Lamentations “Lamentations 3:32 (BSB) — Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Afflictions — Common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Ps. 34:19); are for the good of men (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Cor. 12:7) and the glory of God (2 Cor. 12:7-10; 1 Pet. 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord's people (Ps. 94:12; Prov. 3:12). They are all directed by God (Lam. 3:33), and will result in the everlasting good of his people (2 Cor. 4:16-18) in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:12: 4:12-19 Peter instructs Christians one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. 4:12 don’t be surprised: Christians, especially those seeking to lead godly lives, can expect to face the hostility of a sinful world (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 1:31: 1:31 Evil people suffer the consequences of their own actions (see 1:15-19); God will ensure that sinners receive their proper punishment (see Matt 25:44-46; Heb 10:29; 2 Pet 2:9).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 26:3: For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes,.... The special lovingkindness of God, shown in the choice of him in Christ, in the provision of a Saviour for him, and in the effectual calling of him; which lovingkindness is unmerited, free, and sovereign, is from everlasting and to everlasting; it is better than life, excellent beyond expression, and marvellous: and this may be said to be "before his eyes"; because it was now in sight; he had a comfortable view of interest in it, and was persuaded nothing should separate him from it; it was upon his heart, shed abroad in”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 33:26: He shall pray unto God,.... As the former verse expresses the condition of the body of the man recovered from sickness, this the frame of his soul, and the spiritual blessings enjoyed by him: some understand this of his praying in the time of his affliction, and consider it as one means of his recovery; and indeed a time of affliction is a time for prayer; and which brings a good man to it, who in health and prosperity has been negligent of it; such an one will make his application to God for deliverance, and not to the creature; and it is his mercy and privilege he has”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 112:4: Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness,.... Upright ones are sometimes in the darkness of affliction, under divine desertions, without spiritual joy, and in an uncomfortable condition; when on a sudden light arises to them, like break of day, or the morning light: they have deliverance from affliction, and enjoy prosperity; the light of God's countenance is lifted up on them; the sun of righteousness arises upon them with healing in his wings; and spiritual joy and comfort are communicated unto them. It may denote the comforts the people of God have ami”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 36:15: He delivereth the poor in his affliction,.... The righteous or godly poor; who are not only poor in worldly things, but poor in spirit; who are humbled, brought low, and made contrite, through the afflicting hand of God: these, though the Lord does sooner or later deliver "out" of their afflictions, yet that is not intended here, but a deliverance "in" them; which is done by supporting them under them, by supplying them with his grace to bear them patiently, by granting them his gracious presence for their comfort in them, by stilling the enemy and the avenger, keeping ”