5567 suffering, emotional aspects of

Suffering gives rise to inner distress, on account of a sense of injustice, frustration, loss or anger. Christ himself provides an example of such suffering to believers.

Causes of emotional suffering

A sense of injustice Ps 119:53 See also Job 19:7; Ps 82:2

Frustration Job 19:8 See also Job 23:8-9; 1Th 2:18

Loss Ge 27:34 See also Ru 1:20-21; Pr 5:11-14; La 1:12

Bereavement 2Sa 18:33 See also Ge 23:1-2; Ge 37:34-35; Ge 50:1-3; Ex 12:30; Dt 34:8; 2Sa 19:4; Mt 2:16-18; Jer 31:15; Jn 11:32-35

Childlessness Ge 30:1 See also 1Sa 1:4-8

Parting from loved ones Ac 20:38 See also 1Sa 20:41; 2Ki 2:12; SS 5:6-8

Spiritual loss Lk 13:28 See also Jdg 2:4; Mt 25:11

Great fear Ge 45:3 See also Ge 20:8; Ge 32:7-8; Ex 20:18-19; 1Sa 17:24; 1Ki 19:3-4; Isa 21:2-4; Da 5:8-9; Lk 21:26

Guilt Mt 27:3-4 See also Ge 3:8; Jn 16:8; Ac 2:37; Heb 10:2,22

Emotional suffering in the Lord’s work

Jesus Christ’s suffering Isa 53:3 See also Mt 26:38 pp Mk 14:34

The apostles’suffering 2Co 11:28-29 See also Ro 9:1-4; 1Co 15:31; 2Co 1:8-9; Gal 4:19

Expressions of emotional suffering

Sadness Ne 2:1-3; Ps 107:39; Ps 116:3; Mt 26:22 pp Mk 14:19

Weeping and groaning Jer 9:1 Joseph wept as he saw his brothers again: Ge 42:24; Ge 43:30; Ge 45:1-2
2Sa 15:30 Covering the head and going barefoot were also signs of sorrow; Ezr 3:12-13; Ne 1:4; Ps 6:6-7; Ps 32:3-4; Ps 137:1; Isa 15:5; Jer 14:17; Mt 26:75 Peter wept bitterly after disowning Jesus Christ; Jn 11:35

Anger Jnh 4:1 See also Ex 32:19-20; 2Sa 6:8; Rev 16:10-11

Bitterness Ex 17:3; 1Sa 30:6; Job 3:1; Job 7:11; Jnh 4:3; Ro 3:14

God’s response to the emotional suffering of believers

He comforts them 2Co 1:3-4

He has delivered them through Jesus Christ Isa 53:4

Jesus Christ gives them rest Jn 14:1 See also Mt 11:28-30; Jn 14:27

There is no suffering in heaven Rev 21:4 See also Isa 35:10; Rev 7:17

The proper response of believers to emotional suffering

Assessing the problem before God Ps 73:16-17; Ps 119:78; Ro 8:28

Controlled emotion before God Jdg 20:23; Ps 22:1-2; Ps 62:8; Ps 74:1

Prayer Heb 5:7 See also Ge 18:22-25; Ge 32:9-11; Nu 16:22; 2Sa 12:15-17; Ps 38:9; Ps 77:1-9; Jnh 2:1; Mk 5:22-23; Jas 5:13

Continuing to do what is right Job 1:20-22; Eph 4:1; Php 1:27

See also