Affliction. As Christians we all will experience times when trials and suffering come our way. How we view and handle these afflictions are critical if we are to fulfill the command in (I Thessalonians 5:16): “Rejoice always.” I believe that the more we fall in love with Jesus and the more we understand that joy is always possible, even while we are going through trials, the sooner we will make affliction an ally and not an enemy. God has a divine good purpose in allowing afflictions in our lives.
In the case of Jesus, He was willing to undergo suffering in service of a higher goal. And that higher goal was to redeem humanity from the curse of sin and our date with eternal damnation. In our case the higher goal is to bring glory to the Father. And while suffering is never pleasurable, even when it is done to advance the kingdom of God, it can fill your heart with intense joy since I can think of nothing more wonderful than having the approval of our heavenly Father and watching our efforts bless others. For you see when we suffer affliction and use it to serve others, we will obtain levels of personal fulfillment far exceeding any others. In fact, self-denial and suffering can bring us joy that we can’t get in any other way.
Below are many quotes on affliction that I pray will help you and provide you with comfort when you find yourself in the middle of a fiery trial.1
“Those who dive in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.” ~ Matthew Henry
“Most of the grand truths of God have to be learned by trouble; they must be burned into us with the hot iron of affliction, otherwise we shall not truly receive them.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
“We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God.” ~ Dwight L. Moody
“By affliction He teaches us many precious lessons, which without it we should never learn. By affliction He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, makes us long for heaven.” ~ J. C. Ryle
“As sure as God puts His children in the furnace of affliction, He will be with them in it.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
“Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.” ~ Matthew Henry
“The Lord’s mercy often rides to the door of our heart upon the black horse of affliction.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
“Affliction doth not rise out of the dust or come to men by chance; but it is the Lord that sends it, and we should own and reverence His hand in it.” ~ Thomas Boston
“Whatever affliction comes in our life, our Lord goes into the valley with us, leading us by the hand, even carrying us when it is necessary.” ~ Billy Graham
“The agony of a man’s affliction is often necessary to put him into the right mood to face the fundamental things of life. The Psalmist says: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept Thy Word.” ~ Oswald Chambers
“God’s arrows of affliction are sharp and painful so He can get our attention. He won’t let His beloved children get away with sin because He knows it robs us of blessings, opportunities, and even character refinement.” ~ Charles Stanley
“If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace along the way, and glory at the end, all this our Savior has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no afflictions.” ~ J. C. Ryle
“The furnace of affliction is a good place for you, Christian; it benefits you; it helps you to become more like Christ, and it is fitting you for heaven.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
“In times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God.” ~ John Bunyan
“God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29).” ~ Jerry Bridges
“Trials are intended to make us think, to wean us from the world, to send us to the Bible, to drive us to our knees.” ~ J. C. Ryle
“There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
“A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves constant ease and serenity within us; and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can befall us from without.” ~ Joseph Addison
“Afflictions are light when compared with what we really deserve. They are light when compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus. But perhaps their real lightness is best seen by comparing them with the weight of glory which is awaiting us.” ~ Arthur W. Pink
“Affliction may be lasting, but it is not everlasting.” ~ Thomas Watson
1 TOP 25 AFFLICTION QUOTES (of 548) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)