CAN YOU BENEFIT FROM BEING AFFLICTED AND EXPERIENCING TROUBLING TIMES?

SCRIPTURE:
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 
The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces 
of silver and gold. Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding 
to learn your commands. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, 
for I have put my hope in your word. I know, LORD, that your laws are 
righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your 
unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
(Psalm 119:71-76)

MEDITATION:
Every person either has already, 
or will eventually experience an affliction of some type.
It could be a physical illness, the loss of a job, a wayward child, 
the results of a bad decision, an overwhelming frustration, 
the loss of a loved one, etc.

During biblical times, the universal thought was that afflictions 
were a result of sin (either by the person, or by their parents).
This was probably erroneous thinking since Job was heavily afflicted, 
but was characterized as 
“a man who was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” 
(Job 1:1)
If a man of his caliber experienced trials and tribulations, 
shouldn’t we expect to have difficulties in our lives as well?

One glaring question is, “Can we benefit from afflictions?”
Secondly, “Can others benefit from our being afflicted?”
The answer to both questions is, “Yes”.

David, a man after God’s heart, rejoiced in his affliction 
because his trials added to his knowledge of God.
For David, learning more about the Lord’s constancy, grace and provisions 
were more valuable than any amount of money.
David’s heart and spirit were enriched as a result of his afflictions.

Affliction acts as spiritual fertilizer for a believer’s faith. 
David’s radical pursuit of the Lord 
developed while he was running from a murderous king. 
The years between his victory over Goliath and his ascension to the throne,
were physically demanding and emotionally draining. 
Yet the challenges he faced molded the future king into a wise leader, 
a cunning warrior, and a humble servant of God. 

David’s psalms reveal that his struggles taught him dependence on 
God (Psalm 4), perseverance (Psalm 13), 
and many other valuable spiritual traits. 
The Lord also provided comfort, 
even as He stretched the warrior-poet’s faith.
Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to 
shame, for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. (Psalm 86:17). 
As God intended, David’s words offer 
comfort and consolation to others who must walk through misery. 

Through affliction, God molds His children into comfort carriers.
“…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any 
trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4) 
The message we offer is the one we learned in our trials: 
God is enough. He is sufficient to meet needs when the pit is deep, 
the obstacle is high, or the suffering is prolonged. 
In addition, 
our own life proves that hardship makes Christians stronger and wiser. 

The scriptures tell us that believers are a sweet aroma on the earth. 
But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s 
triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge
of him everywhere. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
When we are led by God to triumph over affliction, 
we become the fragrance of His care to a hurting world. 
We carry cheer to the discouraged, relief to the hurting, 
and the message of Christ’s love to all. 

ACTION:
Are you in the midst of an affliction of some type 
and having feelings of hopelessness?
Does it seem like walls are closing in on you 
and your emotions have become fragile?
It can be easy to fall into a state of depression 
when you focus on the negatives of the problem you are dealing with.
God cares about you and He wants to lead you 
through this time and mold you into a better person.
Think about that – the Creator of the world 
cares about you and wants to help you.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your encouraging words in the Bible that 
give me hope when I am afflicted. Help me to look to You and what You are 
doing in my life to make me a better person. Satan wants to beat me down 
into a state of depression, but You are much more powerful than him and You 
want to lift me up out of the pit. My spirit may be broken but as I focus 
on what You are doing to help me, I find new hope and know that I will be 
able to get through this trial. Help me to take mental notes while I am 
being rescued from my affliction so that You can use me to reach out to 
others who are hurting. Show me how to point others to Jesus through my 
words and my actions. Teach me to pray for others who are going through 
trials and to be ready to respond as the Holy Spirit inspires me.”