Would you like relief for your friends and family when they are undergoing hardship? How about yourself? Where can you go and what can you do to find relief? To begin with, scripture tells us where you will not find consolation – from the world itself. World: Psalm 69:20; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Lamentations 1:2 Think about it. Healing is only temporary since we will all die eventually. Financial gain is only temporary since we will leave our money behind when we die. Fame is no solution. Some of the richest and healthiest celebrities are miserable. The Bible is right! Where you can find help So what is the answer? The Bible teaches us three things about comfort. Source – The Bible tells us that God is the author and giver of relief and deliverance. He provides it to us directly, through His scriptures, and through ministers of the gospel. Author and giver: Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 61:2; John 14:16-18; 15:26; 16:7; Acts 9:31; Romans 15:5; 2 Corinthians 1:3,5; 7:6; Col 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 // Scriptures: Psalm 119:50,76; Romans 15:4 // Ministers: Isaiah 40:1,2; 1 Corinthians 14:3; 2 Corinthians 1:4,6 Relief – God promises to provide consolation to the saved. His comfort is abundant, strong and everlasting. For the believers, it is a cause for our giving praise to God. Promised. Isaiah 51:3,12; 66:13; Ezekiel 14:22,23; Hosea 2:14; Zechariah 1:17 // Abundant. Psalm 71:21; Isaiah 66:11 // Strong. Hebrews 6:18 // Everlasting. 2 Thessalonians 2:16 // Praise. Isaiah 12:1; 49:13 To Whom – God will give consolation to the poor, sick, lonely (i.e. deserted), and worried (i.e. troubled in mind). He will provide for those who are persecuted. And He will give relief and comfort to those who are tempted with sin and who mourn for their sins. Poor: Psalm 10:14; 34:6,9-10 // Sick: Psalm 41:3 // Deserted: Psalm 27:10; 41:9-12; John 14:18; 15:18-19 // Troubled: Psalm 42:5; 94:19; John 14:1,27; 16:20,22 // Persecuted: Deuteronomy 33:27 // Tempted: Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9; James 1:12; 4:7; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 2:10 // Mourn: Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 1:18; 40:1,2; 61:1; Micah 7:18,19; Luke 4:18 In other words, God will give exactly what they need to the saints who need it. How you can help yourself But how can you get what you need to overcome your afflictions? According to the Bible, you should do these three things: Anticipate – Expect adversity. It’s going to happen. Be prepared to endure it. Expect: Matthew 24:9; John 16:1-4, 33; 2 Timothy 3:12 // Prepared: 2 Timothy 2:3, 4:5 Think – Get the right attitude. Imitate Christ and the prophets. Accept adversity when it happens. Be patient throughout your ordeal. Do not despise chastening, but instead acknowledge the justice of your disciplining. Do not become discouraged or lose heart. Instead, rejoice in affliction, praising God throughout your ordeals. Imitate: Hebrews 12:1-3; 1 Peter 2:21-23; James 5:10 // Accept: 1 Samuel 3:18; 2 Kings 20:19; Job 1:21; Psalm 39:9 // Patient: Luke 21:19; Romans 12:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; James 1:4; 1Pe 2:20-21 // Not despise: Job 5:17; Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5 // Acknowledge: Nehemiah 9:33; Job 2:10; Isaiah 64:5-7; Lamentations 3:39; Micah 7:9 // Discouraged: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-17; Ephesians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:3 // Rejoice: Romans 5:3; Colossians 1:24; James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 4:12-14 // Praise: Psalm 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23 Act – Turn and devote yourself to God. Trust in His goodness. Avoid sin. Focus on the positive by taking support from former mercies. And be frequent in prayer. Turn: Psalm 116:7-9; Jeremiah 50:3-4; Hosea 6:1 // Trust: Job 13:15; Psalm 71:20; Romans 8:35-37; 2 Corinthians 1:9; Revelation 2:10-11 // Avoid: Job 34:31-32; John 5:14; 1 Peter 2:12 // Focus: Psalm 27:9; 2 Corinthians 1:10 // Prayer: Psalm 50:15-17 It’s that simple! Now, before we learn from the Bible what we should pray about, let’s look at another problem that you have to deal with. What should you do to help other people around you who are undergoing their own pain and suffering? How you can help others The Bible tells us to “administer” to other persons who are undergoing affliction – even in the prospect of death and under the infirmities of age. But what does “administer” mean? Again, scripture provides clear instructions. Administer: 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11,14 // Death: Job 19:25-26; Psalm 23:4; John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 7:14-17; 14:13 // Age: Psalm 71:9,18 We are told to do these ten things: Keep people who are undergoing difficulties in mind Sympathize with them Visit them Comfort them Encourage them Help them Relieve them Share their burdens Protect them Pray for them What should Christians pray for with respect to pain and suffering Christians are told to pray about pain and suffering – both for ourselves when we face hard times, and for others. But what should you say? Again, the Bible provides clear instructions. It tells us to ask for these four things: Help – Believers should ask God for His support and comfort. Ask God to consider your troubles. Then ask for His presence, and continual support. Finally, ask Him for relief. Consideration: 2 Kings 19:16; Nehemiah 9:32; Psalm 9:13; Lamentations 5:1 // Presence: Psalm 10:1; 102:2 // Persistence: Psalm 51:11 // Consolation: Psalm 4:6; 119:76,82 Understanding – Next, ask to know the cause of your trouble. Ask God for divine teaching and direction. Finally, ask that you may be turned to Him. Causation: Job 6:24; 10:2; 13:23-24 // Teaching: Job 34:32; Psalm 27:11; 143:10 // Direction: Psalm 80:7; 85:4-6; Jeremiah 31:18 Relief – Next, ask for relief and deliverance; for a lessening of your troubles; for mercy; for deliverance; for restoration to joy; and ultimately for revival. Mitigation: Psalm 39:12,13 // Mercy: Psalm 6:2; Habakkuk 3:2 // Deliverance: Psalm 25:17,22; 30:10; Isaiah 64:9-12; Jeremiah 17:14 // Joy: Psalm 51:8,12; 69:29; 90:14-15 // Revival: Psalm 143:11 Benefits – Finally, ask to receive some of the benefits of adversity. Specifically, ask for pardon and deliverance from sin, for increase of faith, for protection and preservation from your enemies, and to be taught the uncertainty of life. Pardon: Psalm 39:8; 51:1; 79:8 // Faith: Mark 9:24 // Protection: 2 Kings 19:19; 2 Chronicles 20:12; Psalm 17:8-9 // Uncertainty: Psalm 39:4 Where you can go from here Perhaps you would like a copy of these lessons for future reference or to share with a friend. We have prepared them in pdf format – which can be saved to your hard drive, or read any time using the Adobe Reader, or printed out as you desire. You can obtain your copy of the presentation without scriptural references here, and your copy of the presentation with scriptural references here. We have also prepared a two page (front and back) quick reference guide. This is ideal for handing out to friends when you want to help them. We recommend you keep several copies on hand in your own Bible for this purpose. And you can never tell when you may need to use the material yourself. You can obtain your copy here. Finally, always remember to put things into perspective. Realize that God uses pain and suffering to accomplish specific purposes. When adversity happens to you or someone you know, turn to God in faith and trust. Ask Him for help, understanding, relief and the benefits of affliction. And keep this up over and over again until it becomes your second nature. You will be amazed how much this helps!