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 shall separate us from Christ's love? Shall affliction or distress, persecution or hunger, nakedness or danger or the sword? As it stands written in the Scripture, "For Thy sake they are, all day long, trying to kill us. We have been looked upon as sheep destined for slaughter." read more. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who has loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither the lower ranks of evil angels nor the higher, neither things present nor things future, nor the forces of nature, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which rests upon us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Therefore we are not cowards. Nay, even though our outward man is wasting away, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day. For this our light and transitory burden of suffering is achieving for us a preponderating, yes, a vastly preponderating, and eternal weight of glory; read more. while we look not at things seen, but things unseen; for things seen are temporary, but things unseen are eternal.
And judging by the stupendous grandeur of the revelations--therefore lest I should be over-elated there has been sent to me, like the agony of impalement, Satan's angel dealing blow after blow, lest I should be over-elated. As for this, three times have I besought the Lord to rid me of him; read more. but His reply has been, "My grace suffices for you, for power matures in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I boast of my infirmities rather than complain of them--in order that Christ's power may overshadow me. In fact I take pleasure in infirmities, in the bearing of insults, in distress, in persecutions, in grievous difficulties--for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reckon it nothing but joy, my brethren, whenever you find yourselves hedged in by various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith leads to power of endurance.
Blessed is he who patiently endures trials; for when he has stood the test, he will gain the victor's crown--even the crown of Life--which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.