Do you ever watch or listen to Joni and Friends? Recently, I was struggling with a headache. That is not unusual for me; I have had many headaches over the years. I was intrigued by the way Joni handled her pain. She described inviting the Lord Jesus to her pain. When the talons gripped her body, she would breathe deeply and run to Jesus for His view on things.
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life.”
Psalm 119:50
Meditating on the promises in God’s Word – that He is there with us, that He knows the details, that He cares about the pain and suffering, that He has sovereign purposes and plans – brings life, an ability to cope, even thrive, and have hope. What a beautiful thought that is! God loves us and meets us in our difficulties as well as our joys, if we invite Him to them.
Thanking God for the Affliction
In Psalm 119, there is another text that deals with affliction.
“If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.”
Psalm 119:92-93
The Psalmist expresses gratitude for God’s law and His precepts because without them he would have perished.
Do I know how to be thankful for my affliction?
Seems so wrong to give thanks for things that are so hard. But I remember how James admonishes me to count it joy when I have different trials (James 1:2-4).
“There is a purpose for the suffering.”
Dr. Santie McCracken, Grace-Toti ladies’ Bible study on I Peter
What kind of purpose could God possibly have in my suffering?
Oh, the answers are multiple. We know from His Word that God’s goal in our lives is to conform us to the image of His dear Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). That is the “good” mentioned in Romans 8:28 toward which God is orchestrating everything that happens to us. The heat of the suffering is an excellent tool that can help accomplish that goal. There are more reasons. Here are a few to consider:
God is justly allowing sin’s curse on the earth to take its natural course, the earth is broken and longing for redemption.
God is refining me, freeing me from some vice and building virtue in me (the greater good)
God is jolting me to get me really searching for Him in prayer and in the Bible.
God is equipping me to be a compassionate comfort and strength to others.
God is equipping me for greater service; expanding the scope of my influence.
God is freeing me from trust and dependence of things, teaching me that He is the only thing I should hold on to.
God is opening a door for me to share my faith and show God’s love.
God wants me to long for a better place – this is not our home.
God is privileging us to share in His suffering
God is increasing our rewards – glory in heaven is directly linked to suffering well now.
God is demonstrating that He can sustain and keep His children faithful.
What Promises Do You Cling to?
No doubt you also have some sort of affliction. It is seemingly impossible to go through this life with no kind of affliction. You may have grown accustomed to processing things well with thanksgiving and can’t really think of any affliction at the moment. That is fantastic! But most of us have some type of difficulty that God is using to shape us.
I wonder what promises you cling to in God’s Word as you endure those afflictions? Perhaps it is a hymn or song that brings comfort. I want to encourage you to have your stash of truths ready to go when needed. Hide verses and edifying songs in your heart so that at any time they can be called on to build you up in the Lord.
The biggest promise that never fails is that soon our “Blessed Hope” will come for us.
“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”
Titus 2:13
One day all pain will be gone. How can I say that? Because of Revelation 21:4.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Psalm 119:67, 71, 75
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Job 35:16
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.
th(i)nkful 