Afflicted by God Part 1
Psalm 119:71–72 (NASB95) It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
We all have a worldview, whether we acknowledge it or not, which is how we interpret the world. It is a way of understanding life, death, joy, sadness, and essentially everything around us. As for Christians, our worldview is to be biblical, meaning we are to view the world through the lens of Scripture. When reading a passage like Psalm 119:71-72, it might strike you with a sense of oddity. Reread the psalmist's words in verse 71, "It is good for me that I was afflicted…" In other words, suffering is good.
How can affliction and suffering ever be good?
I would venture a guess and say most people throughout the world would believe such an idea to be insane. Is the psalmist stating that all affliction is good? What about the physical, emotional, and spiritual sufferings of those we love?
(Please note: some of the links in this post are affiliate links to author pages on Amazon.com. If you purchase anything using our links, we will receive a small commission. Thank you!)
First, let's clarify that the word' affliction' used in our verse above literally means to be oppressed. It is a word used frequently in our culture. More specifically, the psalmist used 'afflicted' in the sense of being humbled.
Second, our suffering or afflictions are often self-inflicted due to our own choices. Look at the words used in verses 67-68, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes." It is through suffering that God captured the psalmist's attention and restored his relationship with the Father. Suffering was also the instrument God used to instill a new appreciation for the Word of God.
Our afflictions create a sense of dependence or independence, as well as joy or bitterness. Suffering either draws one closer to God or pushes one farther away from Him. The Scriptures contain a plethora of examples for the believer. In the Old Testament, we see individuals like Joseph, who, the more he suffered, the more he trusted God. Then there's Jonah, who was just angry and bitter because he disagreed with God extending His grace to a people he despised. Time doesn't allow us to examine men like Paul and Steven in the New Testament, who both suffered greatly but maintained their trust and joy in the Lord.
I once suggested to my wife that the best teacher for one of our sons was pain, and this wasn't what she or I wanted for him. Yet, I was sure painful experiences would help put him on the right path in life. Both my sons are the men they are today because they both learned from a bit of pain.
I want to encourage you to turn to God all the more when pain enters your life. Learn from the discomfort; call out to God, delve deeper into His Word, and lean upon other believers.
A great way to bring healing is to write out your painful story, and as you write, be sure to incorporate as many details as possible, including the feelings you experience while writing. Once you've completed your story of pain, let it rest for a day or two before revisiting it to read through it again. Be sure to read it aloud and allow yourself to grieve; then, spend a little more time in prayer. Depending on the depth of your pain, you should make revisions one or two more times, then follow the same pattern, or rereading and praying. As time passes, the hope is that the severity of your pain will lessen and become more tolerable.
May the Lord bless and keep you,
Dr. Rod West
Check out this classic from Dr. James Dobson, "When God Doesn't Make Sense." It's an excellent book for those who are hurting.
We all have a worldview, whether we acknowledge it or not, which is how we interpret the world. It is a way of understanding life, death, joy, sadness, and essentially everything around us. As for Christians, our worldview is to be biblical, meaning we are to view the world through the lens of Scripture. When reading a passage like Psalm 119:71-72, it might strike you with a sense of oddity. Reread the psalmist's words in verse 71, "It is good for me that I was afflicted…" In other words, suffering is good.
How can affliction and suffering ever be good?
I would venture a guess and say most people throughout the world would believe such an idea to be insane. Is the psalmist stating that all affliction is good? What about the physical, emotional, and spiritual sufferings of those we love?
(Please note: some of the links in this post are affiliate links to author pages on Amazon.com. If you purchase anything using our links, we will receive a small commission. Thank you!)
First, let's clarify that the word' affliction' used in our verse above literally means to be oppressed. It is a word used frequently in our culture. More specifically, the psalmist used 'afflicted' in the sense of being humbled.
Second, our suffering or afflictions are often self-inflicted due to our own choices. Look at the words used in verses 67-68, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes." It is through suffering that God captured the psalmist's attention and restored his relationship with the Father. Suffering was also the instrument God used to instill a new appreciation for the Word of God.
Our afflictions create a sense of dependence or independence, as well as joy or bitterness. Suffering either draws one closer to God or pushes one farther away from Him. The Scriptures contain a plethora of examples for the believer. In the Old Testament, we see individuals like Joseph, who, the more he suffered, the more he trusted God. Then there's Jonah, who was just angry and bitter because he disagreed with God extending His grace to a people he despised. Time doesn't allow us to examine men like Paul and Steven in the New Testament, who both suffered greatly but maintained their trust and joy in the Lord.
I once suggested to my wife that the best teacher for one of our sons was pain, and this wasn't what she or I wanted for him. Yet, I was sure painful experiences would help put him on the right path in life. Both my sons are the men they are today because they both learned from a bit of pain.
I want to encourage you to turn to God all the more when pain enters your life. Learn from the discomfort; call out to God, delve deeper into His Word, and lean upon other believers.
A great way to bring healing is to write out your painful story, and as you write, be sure to incorporate as many details as possible, including the feelings you experience while writing. Once you've completed your story of pain, let it rest for a day or two before revisiting it to read through it again. Be sure to read it aloud and allow yourself to grieve; then, spend a little more time in prayer. Depending on the depth of your pain, you should make revisions one or two more times, then follow the same pattern, or rereading and praying. As time passes, the hope is that the severity of your pain will lessen and become more tolerable.
May the Lord bless and keep you,
Dr. Rod West
Check out this classic from Dr. James Dobson, "When God Doesn't Make Sense." It's an excellent book for those who are hurting.
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