‘It is good for me that I was afflicted’
Do you have the spiritual maturity and eyes of faith to see that it has been good that you have suffered? A benefit to your character and endurance (Rom 5:3-4) that you have faced trials and afflictions of many kinds?
This is the rather audacious prayer of the 9th stanza of Psalm 119:
Psalm 119:65-72
65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart, I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
If we reflect on our own lives we might be hard-pressed to find a more effective tool than affliction that the Lord has used to shape us and conform us to the image of his Son. This leads me to 3 thoughts for you this week as we seek to glorify Christ in all that we do, including suffering.
Looking like Jesus!
A disastrous lie to believe is that the Christian life is one that is void of hardship. It leads us to hide our struggles and wear a smiley mask.
Let us be reminded that we have a saviour who suffered! The crowned king was first crushed for us. There is no Christianity without tears. Do not believe the lie that your life must look pristine to be faithful, for the times you are experiencing affliction may very well be the times you look most like Jesus.
‘we rejoice in our sufferings’
Says Paul in Romans 5:3 – Do we though?
Rejoicing – or ‘boasting’ – in our sufferings means that we a) recognise that we are suffering like Jesus, b) doing so prayerfully trusting in God that he will work all things together for good and c) living transparently with your church. Let your hardships lead you to your heavenly Father in prayer, for he is the God who comforts us in all our troubles (2 Cor 1:3-4). Let it draw you into deeper communion with him, and a nearer relationship with the people of God through the church. Real Christian community weeps together as much as it sings together (Rom 12:15).
We have been forgiven!
In Christ, God does not treat us as our sins deserve, but has forgiven us (Eph 1:7)! Our greatest need is to be reconciled to our creator and this has been accomplished through Christ. The pinnacle of blessing is right standing with our Heavenly Father. Everything else sits subordinate to this reality.
Therefore, if I am forgiven, then give me whatever is good according to your will Lord. If I have your favour, then I can bear whatever afflictions you deem best to teach me your instruction. Since I have your eternal love Father, I can weather any suffering with a content soul. ‘You are good, and do good, teach me your ways.’
James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Grace to you, Glory to God