Psalm 119:71

Psalm 119:71

Afflictions can be good

This is not a sentiment that we would expect to find expressed in the world, “You need to go through it, you need to suffer, you could do with a bit of pain and anguish and then maybe you would be grateful for what you have!” In fact, the world’s way is to try to eliminate pain and suffering completely, or at least to ameliorate their effects. The plan is that we all get rich and prosperous and then we can buy our way out of trouble, and if that doesn’t work then we can use alcohol or drugs to deaden the pain of life’s afflictions. And yet, there are people all around us who are suffering. Everyone suffers, it is a prerequisite to living here on earth. We don’t teach this or speak of it but cover it up and try to show some sympathy to the poor souls who draw the short straw when it comes to life’s trials. Even the children in our culture are anaesthetised against a little bit of short-term pain, there used to be a belief, biblically based, that to spare the rod was to spoil the child. Is the Bible wrong? In today’s world they cannot be allowed to learn the difference between right and wrong by undergoing even a tiny bit of suffering. 

When will we wake up and admit that we must all suffer, afflictions are part of life’s journey, and they are not necessarily bad? If troubles bring us closer to the Lord and we learn His decrees, then they are for our good. As believers we can embrace the bad times, the physical ailments, the mental anguish, the spiritual desert places, the dark alleys of life because, for us, there will always be a way through and in undertaking that journey of pain we learn a great deal about our God and His protective care. Praise be to His Name!

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