We have all heard at one time or another people question why God would allow this or that tragedy to happen to them, or to someone else. “If God loved me, why did He let this happen to me?” “I never did anything to deserve this!” are comments we hear. Perhaps we have even made similar statements. Today’s Scripture passage comes from Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in the Bible, and also the longest chapter in the whole Bible, as well. The psalmist might have wondered the same thing as he went through various trials. However, as we shall see as we look at two verses in this Psalm, verses 67 and 71, he learned that this was for his good.
People, particularly unbelievers, argue that if God is all-powerful and all-good and loving, then He should prevent any suffering. These folks often come to the conclusion that God is either not powerful, not good, or both. The Bible does not indicate who wrote Psalm 119, so we don’t know what afflictions the author went through, however he does indicate that he went through something that was significant, which left a deep and lasting impression upon him. Rather than letting these experiences make him bitter and angry at God, he let them teach him some important lessons.
God allows afflictions to come upon us for various reasons. They can be a result of the general sin that is in the world, which came as a result of the Fall. They can also come upon us as a result of sin in our own life, or through the sin in the life of others near us. Afflictions can work out for the best. Through his trials, Job learned more about God, and developed an even closer relationship to Him than he had before. God used the afflictions of Joseph, from the brutal treatment at the hands of his brothers, to false imprisonment in order to prepare him for the special task of becoming prime minister of Egypt. The apostle Paul became an even more effective witness for the Lord Jesus through the many afflictions he went through.
While in the midst of afflictions we may question why God is allowing this to happen to us. Afflictions can help to refine our faith, making us more like Jesus if we allow them to. God may be trying to protect us from worse harm, and draw us closer to Him. His goal is never to hurt us. The pain and afflictions we go through can be a good thing. If we never felt physical pain we wouldn’t know when we’ve been injured and get help. God has used specific trials, illness, or grief in some people’s life to draw them to Him in salvation. He also uses them in our life in order to lead us to seek His help throughout those trials.
Sometimes afflictions help to correct us when we have sinned and gone astray from God. God deals with our sins and wanderings with discipline. The type of discipline will vary, but it is designed to lead us away from the sin which trapped us. In those instances, how do we react? We can get angry at God, shaking our fist at Him. Or we can try to learn from the discipline. Stay close to the Lord through His Word. Then thank God that He loves us enough to discipline us.
We have a choice for how we respond to trials and afflictions. We could blame God or others. We could also become bitter and resentful in our life. We also have the choice to turn to God, and ask Him what His purpose has been for allowing the affliction into our life. If we allow Him, God can use these afflictions to teach us, and help us grow into great servants for Him.
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