Distressed (3076) (lupeo from lupe = sorrow) signifies pain, of body or mind and means to cause one to experience severe mental or emotional distress or physical pain which may be accompanied by sadness, sorrow or grief. The King James' translation of lupeo as heaviness parallels our colloquial sayings like -- "It weighs heavy on my soul" or "My soul is weighed down with affliction." or "My soul is so burdened." The verb is aorist tense indicating past completed action which points to the fact that these saints have already experienced various trials. Lupeo is used 26 times in the NT: Matthew 14:9 And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. Matthew 17:23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day." And they were deeply grieved. Matthew 18:31 "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property. Matthew 26:22 And being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?" Matthew 26:37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Mark 10:22 But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property. Mark 14:19 They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, "Surely not I?" John 16:20 "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy. John 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep. Romans 14:15 (note) For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 2 Corinthians 2:2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? 2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. 2 Corinthians 2:5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree-- in order not to say too much-- to all of you. 2 Corinthians 6:10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 7:8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it-- for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while--9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. Ephesians 4:30 (note) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 1Thessalonians 4:13 (note) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 1 Peter 1:6 (note) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials There are use of lupeo in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) (Gen. 4:5; 45:5; Deut. 15:10; 1 Sam. 29:4; 2 Sam. 13:21; 19:2; 2 Ki. 13:19; Neh. 5:6; Est. 1:12; 2:21; 6:12; Job 31:39; Ps. 55:2; Prov. 25:20; Isa. 8:21; 15:2; 19:10; 32:11; 57:17; Jer. 15:18; Lam. 1:22; Ezek. 16:43; Dan. 6:14, 18; Jon. 4:1, 4, 9; Mic. 6:3) At Gethsemane as our Lord anticipated Calvary, He began to be grieved" (lupeo) and distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved (related verb "perilupeo" grieved all around, surrounded by grief, severely grieved) to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me. (Mt 26:37-38). If the trial of Gethsemane was painful to the perfect Man, Christ Jesus, we must understand that to deny that our trials are painful is to make them even worse. Christians must accept the fact that there are difficult experiences in life and not put on a brave front just to appear “more spiritual.” Paul wrote to the saints at Thessalonica who had lost loved ones not to "not grieve (lupeo), as do the rest who have no hope" (1Th 4:13-note) but to "comfort one another with" the sure hope of future glory to be revealed at Christ's return (1Th 4:18-note). As Rotherham has commented "God not only holds out a future release but sympathizes with our present struggle." Is God bending, shaping, or polishing you right now? What's your attitude? Are you "greatly rejoicing", thanking and praising God, or are you grumbling, moaning and complaining about the process? Trials from God (in contrast to trials from Satan) are intended not to provoke us but to prove us and to "improve" us for our good and His glory. Spurgeon... What! can there be rejoicing and heaviness in the same heart at the same time? Oh, yes! our experience has taught us that we can be at the same moment, in heaviness of heart and yet rejoicing in the Lord. Or, “trials.” Some people cannot comprehend how a man can greatly rejoice, and yet be in heaviness at the same time; but there are many things, in a Christian’s experience, that cannot be understood except by those who experience them; and even they God many a mystery which can only be expressed by a paradox. There are some who think that God’s people should never be heavy in spirit; but the apostle says, “Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness.” He does not say, “If need be, ye are in manifold trials;” but, “If need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold trials,” for the “needs be” is as much for the depressed spirit as for the trials themselves. It is possible, in Christian experience, for a man to rejoice greatly and yet to be in heaviness. No man can explain this paradox to his fellow, yet he understands it himself. “In heaviness through manifold trials,” yet greatly rejoicing in the full conviction that they will soon be over, and that then we shall enter into unutterable joy. Be of good courage, then, you who are now depressed, you who are in heaviness; “lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” The fiery furnace is very hot; but the Son of man is in it with you; and, by his grace, you shall come out of the furnace before long. This is your life. This is like a rainbow made up of the drops of earth’s sorrow in the beams of heaven’s love a happy combination, after all. (1 Peter 1- Commentary) BY VARIOUS TRIALS: en poikilois peirasmois: (See Torrey's Topic "Afflictions Made Beneficial") Job 5:19 From six troubles He will deliver you, even in seven evil will not touch you. Trouble may roar upon us, but it cannot devour us. It may vex us, but it shall not do us real harm. If we suffer a perfect number of trials we shall also have an all-sufficient degree of grace. --Spurgeon, The Interpreter Love's presence keeps the bush alive, Grace 'mid the flames can make us thrive; Nor need th' afflicted saint despair, Though in the fire, the Lord is there.