How do we know that he is with us in tribulation? From being in that tribulation. Who would endure, who would hold out, who persevere without him? We must consider it a great joy we fall into various tribulations, not only because ‘it behooves us through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God,’ but because ‘the Lord is near the brokenhearted.’ As someone said, ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me.’ He is indeed with us every single day until the end of the world. But when shall we be with him? When ‘we shall be caught up in the clouds to meet Christ in the air, of course, then shall we be always with the Lord.’ When shall we appear with him in glory? Surely when Christ, our life, appears. Meanwhile he must remain hidden, that tribulation may precede rescue, and rescue glorification.
Bernard of Clairvaux, Lenten Sermons on the Psalm ‘He Who Dwells,’ Sermon Sixteen – On the Fifteenth Verse: “He has called to me, I will answer him; I am with him in trouble, I will rescue him and glorify him.” (CF 25, pp 248f.)