Despite affliction’s negative connotations, the Bible portrays it as an instrumental facet of spiritual development, providing solace, hope, and even liberation from earthly limitations. This summary revolves around the theme of affliction as presented in the Bible, describing its significance, the purpose behind it, and how believers are advised to respond to it.
What Does the Bible Say About Affliction?
The Bible addresses affliction within a broad spectrum of contexts: trials, tribulations, sickness, adversities, hardships, and even persecutions. These afflictions, according to the Bible, are across-the-board parts of the human experience and integral components of spiritual growth. They may serve as disciplining tools, reminding believers of their need for a deeper connection with God, or as instruments of purification to achieve greater spiritual clarity. The Bible invites its followers to view affliction not as a curse, but as opportunities for spiritual enlightenment.
Who Faces Affliction According to the Bible?
Affliction is an experience shared by all, regardless of their status, faith, or virtues. The Bible, with its widespread narratives, presents a plethora of figures- from Kings and Prophets to disciples and ordinary humans, who encounter affliction in various forms. This universality underlines the concept that affliction is not always a consequence of wrongdoing or sin, but sometimes a divine touchstone to encourage maturity and sustain faith.
Why Does the Bible Consider Affliction Significant?
The Bible describes affliction as a catalyst for spiritual growth and transformation. It encourages a positive perspective towards affliction by highlighting its various benefits, such as patience, resilience, and a deeper understanding of life and faith. The Bible’s portrayal of affliction aims to foster an attitude of perseverance and endurance during hard times, empowering believers for spiritual and personal growth. Consequently, affliction, despite its hardships, is depicted as a significant and transformative process in the journey of faith.
When Does Affliction Occur in the Bible?
Affliction is prevalent throughout the Bible, occurring in varying timelines and settings. It takes place in grand narratives, prophetic oracles, and everyday scenarios depicting common trials of life. Affliction’s occurrence is often linked with critical moments in the lives of Bible characters, signifying turning points, decision-making periods, or remarkable instances of faith. The timing of affliction serves to remind believers of the continuous presence of God in times of hardship, providing comfort and guidance.
How are Believers Expected to Respond to Affliction in the Bible?
Rather than encouraging a fear of or flight from affliction, the Bible urges its followers to face these situations with valor and unwavering faith. It encourages them to seek solace in prayer, maintain their spiritual integrity, and endure with patience. While empathizing with human pain, the Bible offers reassurance – even amidst suffering, believers can find hope, growth, and divine assistance. Thus, the response to affliction, according to the Bible, should be one of resilience, adherence to faith, and optimism.
Below is our full list of bible verses on affliction (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Affliction
Psalm 34:17-20
“17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.”
Related Themes: Depression Homelessness Rejection Deliverance Hopelessness
Psalm 34:19
“19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
Related Themes: Suffering Persecution Omnipotence Adversity
2 Corinthians 12:9
“9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: 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 upon me.”
Romans 5:3-4
“3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”
Related Themes: Suffering Perseverance Patience Hope
Romans 8:18
“18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Related Themes: Suffering Hope Business Creativity Lust
1 Corinthians 10:13
“13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Related Themes: Lust Self-Control Addiction Strength Temptation
Psalm 119:71
“71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
2 Corinthians 4:16
“16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
Philippians 4:13
“13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Related Themes: Strength Omnipotence Self Confidence Life Greatness
James 5:11
“11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
Related Themes: Perseverance Patience Healing Endurance
Romans 8:28
“28 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.”
Related Themes: Suffering Frustration Sovereignty Complaining Life
Philippians 4:6
“6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Related Themes: Patience Prayer Loneliness Nervousness Worry
2 Corinthians 4:17
“17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
Related Themes: Suffering Hope Glorification Sickness Suffering
Psalm 22:26
“26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.”
Related Themes: Gluttony Hunger Humility Satisfaction
James 1:2-4
“2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Related Themes: Suffering Joy Perseverance Frustration Complaining
Psalm 22:24
“24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.”
Related Themes: Suffering
Psalm 10:17-18
“17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.”
Related Themes: Hope Homelessness Humility Abuse Heart
John 16:33
“33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Related Themes: Frustration Suffering Peace Homelessness Bitterness
Hebrews 12:1
“1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Related Themes: Perseverance Patience Bitterness Perseverance Quitting
Romans 8:1
“1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Related Themes: Lust Criticism Frustration Trespassing Frustration
1 John 3:1-2
“1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Related Themes: Love Children Self-Esteem Persecution Identity
Psalm 9:13-14
“13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
“7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”
Psalm 9:18
“18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.”
Related Themes: Hope Homelessness Serving The Poor
Matthew 4:23
“23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”
Psalm 10:14
“14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.”
Joshua 1:9
“9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Related Themes: Frustration Courage Business Self Confidence Fear
John 3:16
“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Life Love Money Omnipotence
Isaiah 46:10
“10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Omnipotence Destiny All Things Are Possible
Psalm 22:23-24
“23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.”
