Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5560 suffering  »  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

Psalm 119:53 See also Job 19:7; Psalm 82:2

Frustration

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

Loss

Genesis 27:34 See also Ruth 1:20-21; Proverbs 5:11-14; Lamentations 1:12

Bereavement

2 Samuel 18:33 See also Genesis 23:1-2; Genesis 37:34-35; Genesis 50:1-3; Exodus 12:30; Deuteronomy 34:8; 2 Samuel 19:4; Matthew 2:16-18; Jeremiah 31:15; John 11:32-35

Childlessness

Genesis 30:1 See also 1 Samuel 1:4-8

Parting from loved ones

Acts 20:38 See also 1 Samuel 20:41; 2 Kings 2:12; Songs 5:6-8

Spiritual loss

Luke 13:28 See also Judges 2:4; Matthew 25:11

Great fear

Genesis 45:3 See also Genesis 20:8; Genesis 32:7-8; Exodus 20:18-19; 1 Samuel 17:24; 1 Kings 19:3-4; Isaiah 21:2-4; Daniel 5:8-9; Luke 21:26

Guilt

Matthew 27:3-4 See also Genesis 3:8; John 16:8; Acts 2:37; Hebrews 10:2,22

Emotional suffering in the Lord's work

Jesus Christ's suffering

Isaiah 53:3 See also Matthew 26:38 pp Mark 14:34

The apostles' suffering

2 Corinthians 11:28-29 See also Romans 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9; Galatians 4:19

Expressions of emotional suffering

Sadness

Nehemiah 2:1-3; Psalm 107:39; Psalm 116:3; Matthew 26:22 pp Mark 14:19

Weeping and groaning

Jeremiah 9:1

Joseph wept as he saw his brothers again:

Genesis 42:24; Genesis 43:30; Genesis 45:1-2 2 Samuel 15:30 Covering the head and going barefoot were also signs of sorrow; Ezra 3:12-13; Nehemiah 1:4; Psalm 6:6-7; Psalm 32:3-4; Psalm 137:1; Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 14:17; Matthew 26:75 Peter wept bitterly after disowning Jesus Christ; John 11:35

Anger

Jonah 4:1 See also Exodus 32:19-20; 2 Samuel 6:8; Revelation 16:10-11

Bitterness

Exodus 17:3; 1 Samuel 30:6; Job 3:1; Job 7:11; Jonah 4:3; Romans 3:14

God's response to the emotional suffering of believers

He comforts them

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

He has delivered them through Jesus Christ

Isaiah 53:4

Jesus Christ gives them rest

John 14:1 See also Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:27

There is no suffering in heaven

Revelation 21:4 See also Isaiah 35:10; Revelation 7:17

The proper response of believers to emotional suffering

Assessing the problem before God

Psalm 73:16-17; Psalm 119:78; Romans 8:28

Controlled emotion before God

Judges 20:23; Psalm 22:1-2; Psalm 62:8; Psalm 74:1

Prayer

Hebrews 5:7 See also Genesis 18:22-25; Genesis 32:9-11; Numbers 16:22; 2 Samuel 12:15-17; Psalm 38:9; Psalm 77:1-9; Jonah 2:1; Mark 5:22-23; James 5:13

Continuing to do what is right

Job 1:20-22; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27

See also

5056  rest
5198  weeping
5795  bereavement
5799  bitterness
5831  depression
5879  humiliation
5945  self-pity
6172  guilt
8602  prayer
8754  fear