“It is good for me that I was troubled so that I might learn Your Law.” Psalm 119:71.

Nobody wants to get afflicted. No one wants to get into trouble. You see nobody goes looking for afflictions. The truth is troubles and afflictions automatically visit us even if you like or not. In some cases, we get into trouble due to our foolishness. Other times you did right and others did not like you or what you were doing. Additionally, living in this sin bound world naturally results in sickness, health issues, relationship issues and so forth.

However, the Bible affirms God is intimately involved with all our troubles. It was true about Job. It was true about Joseph. This was true about Daniel. It was also true about David, Paul, and even the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This awareness can comfort us. God is intimately aware and involved with my sufferings. Because He knows and He is involved in my pains/sufferings, not only I have hope of deliverance but also help and comfort in the midst of it.

Our today’s insight says, “It is good for me that I was troubled so that I might learn Your Law.” C W Lewis said, “God whispers in our pleasure but he shouts in our pain.” Someone else said afflictions are God’s loudspeakers to get our attention to Him and His Word.

Our insight teaches us one of the reasons why God allows affliction is to prepare us to know Him in a deeper fashion and teach us certain valuable spiritual lessons we would not learn otherwise. Psalmist says it is good for me that I was troubled so that I might learn Your Law. Do not ignore the fact there are people who would not use such God approved troubles to learn. They try to go deep into disobedience and rebelliousness. You see we as parents also face the same issue. A good child will learn from the discipline. A wayward child would use it to harden his or her heart toward the parents.

You see the choice is ours. However, our choice determines our future wellbeing and how God could use us again in His unique and sovereign ways. Job in his severe sufferings said this, “I had heard of You only by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.  So I hate the things that I have said. And I put dust and ashes on myself to show how sorry I am.” His afflictions help him to see God. So he repented about the way he talked before. I put him in dust and ashes to show how sorry He was. True repentance was the result. The result was double blessings although he lost all in the first place.

Beloved, your personal afflictions would also cause to you see God because you only heard about Him before. Now you look at Him as He looks at your face. You want to know more about Him and His word that is recorded in the pages of the Bible.

Sometimes God allows afflictions so that you would learn the priorities of life. Of course your children and family are important. Your job is important. Your health is important. But more than all you need God’s blessing, salvation, and eternal life. You must make sure your future is safe and secure. You need true peace, real joy, and the assurance of hope for the future. Bible says these are heavenly spiritual blessings God grants you in Jesus Christ. God heals and saves you in Jesus Christ first because He died, buried, and rose again for your sins and spiritual healing.

“Father in heaven, Let my faith and trust in you may increase manifold through the circumstances of my life. I only heard about you. Now I want to see you and learn more about you. I believe You sent Jesus to die for my sins, to save me and grant me eternal life. I know life has more than I experience now. You put thoughts of eternity in my heart. I accept Jesus as my savior. Please save me, forgive me and grand me eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”