God's Word Regarding Affliction

Are any among you afflicted? Let us read and listen to what God tells us about this affliction.

Has anything been left as a legacy to the righteous?
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." Ps. 34:19.

What ought those in affliction to have from their friends?
"To him that is afflicted, pity should be showed from his friend." Job 6:14.

If one visits, and shows pity toward those in affliction, what does it indicate that he possesses?
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27.

What did David say with reference to his affliction?
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Ps. 119:71.

Before he had affliction, what was his tendency?
"Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy word." Ps. 119:67.

When affliction came upon him, what did he consider it was for?
"Look upon mine affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins." Ps. 25:18.

How does God regard the cry of the afflicted?
"He heareth the cry of the afflicted." Job 34:28.

With what feelings does the Lord look upon His children?
"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." Ps. 103:13.

What has the Lord promised to be to those who are oppressed?
"The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." Ps. 9:9.

When the Saviour was about to go away from the earth, what did He say He would send to His disciples?
"If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." John 16:7.

What is the Comforter called?
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me." John 15:26.

What has the Lord promised to the mourner?
"Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted." Matt. 5:4.

What prophetic words were especially designed to comfort the mothers in Bethlehem who should mourn for having lost their innocent children through the envy of Herod?
"Thus saith the Lord: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy." Jer. 31:16 (compare with Matt. 2:16-18).

What does the apostle present as a comfort to those who have lost dear friends by
death?
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him... Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thess. 4:14-18.

When one has received the Comforter in his heart, what use should he make of it?
"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Cor. 1:4.

How was Paul once comforted when in trouble?
"Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus." 2 Cor. 7:6.

When in affliction, how should one rest his case?
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Rom. 8:28.

How did the bonds which were endured by Paul work for good?
"But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places." Phil. 1:12.

How does Christ exhort those who have tribulation in the world?
"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." John 16:33.

What comforted the apostle in these troubles?
"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." Rom. 8:18.

What did he call the troubles that beset him?
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Cor. 4:17.

There are many more scriptures on this subject, but I would like to share one more passage of scripture that tells us how God can use affliction.

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.