The Blessing of Affliction

Psalm 119:71 ~ "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."

It is not an easy thing for people to embrace their afflictions as if they are a blessing. But, my dear friends, it is a good thing that we undergo the affliction of the LORD. 

In a culture rich with the pleasantries of life and the ability to receive almost immediate satisfaction with the various needs and wants that fill the human experience, it is a difficult thing to imagine that there are benefits to the sufferings we endure. But, in truth, there are ample blessings received along the rough road, benefits that would otherwise be missed if our way was filled only with comfort.

So, as we look upon our text today, the Psalmist described his affliction as something "good." The term means beneficial, and can even be translated "beautiful" on some occasions. Imagine that--something beautiful born out of suffering. Ask any woman who has gone through the travail of labor and she will describe the end result of her pain as a tremendous blessing. Hear the words of Solomon from Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He has made everything beautiful in its time." What was the king of Israel concerned with in that chapter--that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity, both the good and the bad, and the Almighty God can make even the hard realities of life a thing of beauty when we look to Him.

And consider the end result of the affliction. The Psalmist says, "...that I may learn your statutes." Did you know that there are lessons of truth that can be earned only through the crucible of affliction. Our Lord Jesus endured suffering. Read it in Hebrews 5:8, "Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." Did you think that you could possibly learn obedience to the will of God in any other way than how our Lord, Himself, learned obedience? 

I do believe that we forget at times that we are sinners and we must learn the precious truths of God Almighty in order to walk in His holiness. Intellectual awareness of truth is good, but experiential knowledge is transforming. And we need to be transformed. Hebrews 12:10-11 states, "For they [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he [Almighty God] disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Hear what the Psalmist said in a verse preceding our text for today, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word" (Psalm 119:67). We easily divert from the "straight and narrow" without the disciplining hand of the Almighty God. And, dear Christian, we ought to love such discipline. In fact, if we do not undergo God's discipline, it tells us that we are considered "illegitimate children" (see Hebrews 12:8).

Consider a man who has never undergone discipline. They go through life with the foolish expectation that it all should be measured out for his benefit. And then the harsh reality comes crashing down around him and he rails against all those who would not embrace his folly--especially the LORD. Proverbs 19:3 tells us, "When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD." Dear ones, children that never undergo needed discipline will find that the folly of their youth is never transformed into the wisdom of maturity. 

Beloved, take a moment and think back to the times of trial that you went through. Could it be that you learned more about Christ, about true faith and real love during those times than during times of ease? Comfort is no sign of God's providential blessing and suffering is no indication of His anger. 

Let us close out with a word from the Apostle Peter, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Perhaps, when we see the difficulty for what it is, we can say with the Psalmist that it was good for us, also, to be afflicted.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

---