Questions About Suffering & Trials
Bible Studies on Suffering & Trials
Save Me, O God, for the Waters Have Come Up to My Neck
One of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament, this extended lament describes overwhelming suffering while maintaining hope in God's salvation. I...
7 min readEncouragement in Persecution
Paul opens his second letter to Thessalonica by thanking God for their growing faith and love, offering comfort amid persecution, and affirming that G...
5 min readTrials and True Religion
James opens his practical letter by addressing trials as opportunities for growth, the proper response to temptation, and the nature of true religion�...
6 min readSuffering for Doing Good
Peter addresses marriage relationships, emphasizing wives' gentle and quiet spirits and husbands' considerate treatment of wives. He then encourages a...
7 min readLiving for God's Will
Since Christ suffered in the flesh, believers should arm themselves with the same attitude, living for God's will rather than human desires. Peter add...
6 min readHear My Prayer, O Lord
A prayer of the afflicted when faint and pouring out lament. The psalmist's personal suffering meets hope in God's eternal faithfulness and the promis...
7 min readA Prayer of One Afflicted
David cries out under the weight of sin's consequences, describing physical suffering and abandonment by friends, yet holding onto hope in God alone.
6 min readThe Work of the Spirit and Sorrow Turned to Joy
Jesus prepares His disciples for persecution and promises that the Spirit will convict the world and guide them into all truth. Though sorrow will com...
7 min readThey Have Afflicted Me from My Youth
Psalm 129 recounts Israel's history of oppression and declares confidence that God will cut off those who hate Zion.
4 min readA Model Church
Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians' faith, love, and hope. They received the word with joy despite affliction and became an example to believers th...
5 min readThe God of All Comfort
Paul opens with praise to God who comforts us in all troubles so we can comfort others. He shares his affliction in Asia and God's deliverance, callin...
5 min readTimothy's Encouraging Report
Paul expresses his deep concern for the Thessalonians' faith and his joy upon receiving Timothy's positive report about their steadfastness amid perse...
5 min readThe Olivet Discourse: Signs of the End
Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple and describes signs preceding His return—wars, famines, persecution, false prophets, and the abominatio...
8 min readThe Olivet Discourse: Signs of the End
Jesus predicts the temple's destruction and describes signs preceding His return—wars, earthquakes, persecution, the abomination of desolation, and ...
7 min readThe Trial, Crucifixion, and Burial of Jesus
Jesus stands before Pilate and Herod, innocent yet condemned. He carries His cross to Golgotha, is crucified between criminals, and forgives His execu...
8 min readStruggling with the Prosperity of the Wicked
Asaph honestly wrestles with why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. His journey from envy to sanctuary perspective to renewed faith speaks...
7 min readJesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
Jesus commissions His twelve apostles with authority and instructions for their mission. He warns of persecution, calls for fearless witness, and teac...
8 min readServants and Fools for Christ
Paul describes apostles as servants and stewards who will be judged by the Lord alone. He contrasts the Corinthians' self-satisfaction with the apostl...
5 min readAwake! Why Do You Sleep, O Lord?
The sons of Korah lament national defeat despite faithfulness, recalling past victories while crying out for God to awaken and redeem His suffering pe...
7 min readThe 144,000 and the Great Multitude
Before the seventh seal, two groups appear: 144,000 sealed from every tribe of Israel, protected from judgment; and a great multitude from every natio...
6 min readLiving Stones and Royal Priests
Believers are called to grow spiritually like newborn babies, becoming living stones built into a spiritual house. As a chosen people and royal priest...
7 min readLetters to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira
Jesus addresses four churches: Ephesus has lost first love despite good works; Smyrna faces tribulation but is spiritually rich; Pergamum holds fast d...
7 min readGodlessness in the Last Days
Paul warns of terrible times characterized by self-love and false religion, points to his own example of persecution endured, and reminds Timothy that...
5 min readTreasure in Jars of Clay
Paul doesn't lose heart despite affliction. The gospel light shines from weak human vessels so that power is clearly God's. Momentary troubles achieve...
5 min readThe Widow's Offering and Signs of the End
Jesus commends a poor widow who gives all she has. He prophesies the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, warning of wars, earthquakes, persecutio...
7 min readHow Long, O LORD?
David pours out his heart in one of Scripture's most transparent expressions of suffering, asking "how long" four times before moving from despair to ...
4 min readPeter's Miraculous Escape
Herod kills James and imprisons Peter, but the church prays earnestly. An angel frees Peter in a miraculous escape, while Herod's pride leads to his d...
5 min readA Living Hope
Peter writes to scattered believers about their living hope through Christ's resurrection, the tested genuineness of their faith, and their call to ho...
7 min readOpen Hearts
Paul urges them not to receive God's grace in vain. He catalogues his sufferings as evidence of genuine ministry. He pleads for them to open their hea...
5 min readFeeding Four Thousand and Peter's Confession
Jesus feeds four thousand, warns against the leaven of the Pharisees, and heals a blind man in two stages. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter confesses Jesus...
8 min readCome and See What God Has Done
An exuberant call to worship celebrating God's awesome deeds. The psalm moves from cosmic invitation to personal testimony, showing how corporate prai...
6 min readMore Than Conquerors
Romans 8 is often called the greatest chapter in the Bible. It takes us from no condemnation to no separation, revealing the security and hope we have...
14 min readJoseph Rises to Power
Genesis 41 describes Joseph's dramatic rise from prison to prime minister through his interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams, demonstrating that God's tim...
6 min readAnanias and Sapphira and Growing Opposition
Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit about their gift and face sudden judgment. The apostles perform many signs and wonders. They are arrested ...
7 min readHumble Yourselves
Peter's final chapter addresses elders with pastoral instruction, calls all to humility and trust in God, warns about the devil's schemes, and closes ...
6 min readA Prayer in Anguish
David cries out from deep distress, pleading with God not to discipline him in anger, and finds hope in God's steadfast love even as he weeps through ...
5 min readPhilip and the Ethiopian
Persecution scatters the church, but the gospel spreads. Philip preaches in Samaria with great results. Simon the magician believes but is rebuked for...
8 min readDarkness Is My Closest Friend
The darkest psalm in the Psalter, ending without resolution or hope. Heman the Ezrahite cries out from overwhelming suffering, feeling abandoned by Go...
6 min readThe Brevity of Life
David reflects on life's fleeting nature, struggling to maintain silence about his suffering before realizing he must speak to God about his brief exi...
6 min readThe Suffering Servant
The most detailed messianic prophecy in the Old Testament describes the Servant who would be despised, rejected, and pierced for our transgressions. H...
7 min readHow Long, Lord? Will You Be Angry Forever?
A communal lament over Jerusalem's destruction, crying out for help against enemies who have defiled God's temple and slaughtered His people. The psal...
5 min readThe Divine Warrior and Covenant Faithfulness
A warrior comes from Edom with garments stained crimson, having trodden the winepress of judgment alone. The chapter then recounts God's steadfast lov...
6 min readJesus Made Like His Brothers
After warning against neglecting salvation, the author explains why Jesus became human: to taste death for everyone, to destroy the devil's power, and...
6 min readPaul's Defense Before Agrippa
Paul delivers his most eloquent defense, recounting his conversion and mission. Agrippa is almost persuaded, but Paul remains in chains—bound for Ro...
5 min readOracle Against Moab
Isaiah pronounces judgment on Moab, Israel's neighbor to the east. Cities fall, people flee, and mourning fills the land. Yet even in judgment, there ...
4 min readGuarding the Gospel
Paul writes from prison to encourage Timothy, calling him to fan into flame his spiritual gift, not be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul, and guard the...
5 min readRunning the Race
Surrounded by witnesses, believers must run with perseverance, fixing eyes on Jesus. God disciplines His children for their good. The chapter contrast...
7 min readTaste and See That the LORD Is Good
David praises God for delivering him from fear, inviting others to taste God's goodness and learn the fear of the LORD that leads to life.
7 min readThe Fall of Humanity
The serpent tempts Eve, humanity falls into sin, and the consequences ripple through creation. Yet even in judgement, God promises a Redeemer.
3 min readThe Three Annual Festivals and Justice
Deuteronomy 16 establishes the three annual pilgrimage festivals—Passover, Weeks, and Booths—and provides instructions for appointing just judges ...
5 min read