GOD HELPS BELIEVERS OVERCOME AFFLICTIONS
In this world we are troubled with many kinds of afflictions. However, The biblical word of God says: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (PSALMS 34:19). For “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28). And for our Learning and encouragement, the Bible provides examples of God delivering people from different kinds of afflictions (Romans 15:4).
JOB IS AN EXAMPLE OF A UPRIGHT PERSON WHO OVERCAME AFFLICTIONS WITH GOD’S HELP.
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)….“[God] knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Still, “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part” (Job 42:12).
DAVID IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PERSON AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART WHO FELL, BUT WAS AFFLICTED AND FORGIVEN BY GOD.
God said David was “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14); but, David went astray from the Lord; and was afflicted.
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 arranged for the soldier to killed in battle. However, God sent his prophet Nathan to tell David about his sins, and to pronounce judgment on him.
Yet, 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 grief in his family all his life. (2 Samuel 11 and 12).
God allowed the son born to David and Bathsheba to be sick and die, despite the king ‘s 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). But after Absalom was killed by one of the king’s soldiers, David grieved for him (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 Word of God says, “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 it” (Hebrews 12:6, 10-11; Proverbs 3:12).
Furthermore, God says: “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 his Son (1 John 1:9; John 3:16).
GOD EVEN AFFLICTED HIS SON FOR OUR SINS, AND TO BE OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW TO OVERCOME THE WORLD.
God so loved(A) the world that he gave(B) his one and only Son,(C) that whoever believes(D) in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For the wages of sin is death,(A) but the gift of God is eternal life(B) in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
To this(A) you were called,(B) because Christ suffered for you,(C) leaving you an example,(D) that you should follow in his steps.22 “He committed no sin,(E)and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a](F)
23 When they hurled their insults at him,(G) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(H) Instead, he entrusted himself(I) to him who judges justly.(J) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(K) in his body on the cross,(L) so that we might die to sins(M) and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:21-24).
Jesus has made the Holy Spirit available to help his believers. He said: “If you love me, keep my commands.(A) 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate(B) to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.(C) The world cannot accept him,(D) because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.
The Lord’s apostle Peter who overcame his afflictions with God’s help, wrote: “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).
