LEARNING FROM AFFLICTIONS
“God causes all things, even afflictions and suffering, to work for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28; Psalm 119:71). We may learn from seeing how God used afflictions for the good of some people in the Bible (Romans 15:4).
JESUS SUFFERED FOR OUR WRONGS
Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that we would follow in His steps. He did no wrong, but he took our sins upon himself in his body up on the cross; so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. By His wounds we are healed. (1 Peter 2:21-24).
Though Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered for us (John 3:16; Hebrews 5:8).
God would have us to be conform to the likeness of his Son Jesus Christ, by following his example of obedience (Romans 8:29).
JOB WAS AFFLICTED TO TEST HIS FAITH
God told Satan there was no other man on earth like his servant Job, a man who fears God and shuns evil. Yet, God permitted Satan to test Job’s faith in God. Satan took Job’s possessions and his children; afflicted his body all over with sores; and turned his wife and friends against him. (Job 1,2,4)
But Job proved faithful, saying: “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (Job 14:14)….“For I know that my redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another” (Job 19:25-27)….“He [God] knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). However, “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part” (Job 42:12).
The Lord tells us to know, no one has suffered losing anything for his sake, who will not receive much more in this life, and eternal life also (Mark 10:29-30).
The Lord’s apostle Peter said: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13). “So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).
DAVID WAS AFFLICTED FOR GOING ASTRAY
God said David was “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14); yet, David went astray from the Lord.
King David confessed: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word” (Psalm 119:67). David came to understand, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71)
King David committed adultery with a woman while her husband was away at war. When the king discovered that Bathsheba was pregnant with his child, he had the soldier killed in battle.
God sent his prophet Nathan to tell David about his sins, and to pronounce judgment on him.
But because David repented, God tempered his judgment with mercy. God did not take David’s life nor his kingdom, but he allowed David to have many troubles and in his family and have much grief. (2 Samuel 11 and 12).
God allowed the son of Bathsheba and David to be sick and die, despite the king fasting and praying for the son to live (2 Samuel 12:15-18). One of David’s son raped his half-sister (2 Samuel 13:14). The brother of the sister, Absalom, killed the one who raped her (2 Samuel 13:29). When Absalom was older, he tried to take over his father’s throne (2 Samuel 15:13-14). He even violated the kings wives in public (2 Samuel 16:22). Yet, after Absalom was killed by one of the king’s soldiers, David grieved a lot (2 Samuel 18:33).
Reflecting on the pain and disciple of God, for his going astray, David commented: “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn [to obey] Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71).
“The Lord disciplines the one he loves…he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by” (Hebrews 12:6, 10-11; Proverbs 3:12).
In the process of his discipline, God would have focus on the things we can still accomplish for him, and not be hindered the things that are behind (Philippians 3:13-14).
And the Lord wants us to know: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness;” because of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9; John 3:16).
PAUL SUFFERED FOR THE GOSPEL
After being converted to believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul said, “I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:9-10).
But Paul informs us that the Lord said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, the apostle said, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
Evidently we can be confident in knowing that God’s grace is sufficient to save from all afflictions—whether related to sins, tests and trials of faith, weaknesses and goings astray, uplifting the gospel, or any other troubles we may encounter–as believers and followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
