It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. Psalm 119:71 (Amp)
With the eyes a man sees, but with the mind man interprets what he sees. We must begin to see things differently especially unpleasant times and seasons of our lives. There are certain men in scriptures whose life and experiences makes me sit and meditate on the kind of mind they have such is Sarah, David, Job and Ruth. Their convictions never hanged on what they saw around them but on what they saw within them.
Afflictions though linked with sin and death does not necessarily have to be a result of sin. There are times when God allows man to be afflicted as a way of correction, chastisement, teaching, discipline and judgement. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, we see how Paul had to be afflicted to keep him humble.
In like manner, our behaviour as Christians must sometimes be shaped through the encouragement of dangers and unpleasant circumstances that life throws at us. Any testimony that is void of God and his ability is not a testimony. God allows us to go through the things we go through so we will stop attributing His glory to ourselves. He is a jealous God.
Without God’s loving correction and discipline, it will be impossible for us as believers to develop spiritual strength. The world always depends on its strength but God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and until believers submit themselves to God’s tutorship for their lives, there can never be victory over the world.
If the Lord didn’t permit threatening conditions to come into our lives, we will soon begin to yield to the feeling of self-sufficiency, overconfidence and eventually neglect God. King Nebuchadnezzar learnt a great lesson in the bush for seven meaningful years when he ignored God. The rich fool left earth immediately he became overconfident in human strength.
The next time you feel distressed by an uncomfortable situation, just remember these words “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your statutes”.
I am loved of the Lord and a show of his workmanship. I might pass through waters and fire but I will not be consumed nor will I be burnt and if I go through hell I will not stop. God is breaking me, melting me and moulding me to use me for good and honourable works.
