Reference: Afflictions
Easton
common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Ps 34:19); are for the good of men (Jas 1:2-3,12; 2Co 12:7) and the glory of God (2Co 12:7-10; 1Pe 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord's people (Ps 94:12; Pr 3:12). They are all directed by God (La 3:33), and will result in the everlasting good of his people (2Co 4:16-18) in Christ Jesus (Ro 8:35-39).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Who can separate us from Christ's love? Can suffering or misfortune or persecution or hunger or destitution or danger or the sword? As the Scripture says: "For your sake we are being put to death the livelong day; we are treated like sheep to be slaughtered." read more. And yet in all these things we keep on gloriously conquering through Him who loved us. For I have full assurance that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor the present nor the future nor evil forces above or beneath, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God as shown in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So I never give up; instead, although my outer nature is wasting away, my inner nature is constantly renewed from day to day. For this slight and momentary sorrow continues to accumulate for me a solid and eternal glory far beyond any comparison, read more. because I do not keep my eyes on things that are seen but things that are unseen. For things that are seen are temporary, but things that are unseen are eternal.
So, to keep me from being over-elated, there was sent upon me a physical disease, sharp as a piercing stake, a messenger of Satan, to continue afflicting me, and so to keep me, I repeat, from being over-elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this to make it go away and leave me, read more. but He said to me, "My spiritual strength is sufficient, for it is only by means of conscious weakness that perfect power is developed." So I most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the strength of Christ may overshadow me. That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecution, and difficulties, which I endure for Christ's sake, for it is when I am consciously weak that I am really strong.
You must consider it the purest joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, for you surely know that what is genuine in your faith produces the patient mind that endures;
Blessed is the person who endures trial, for when he stands the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.