In the School of Hard Knocks

 

Proverbs 30: 8- 9 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

I don't know about you, but I often must learn my lessons in the school of hard knocks.  When I was in Christian grade school, the principle would often threaten to apply the board of education to the seat of knowledge if we misbehaved.  I never had to experience that but I came close.

As God's child, many of the most valuable lessons He has taught me have been learned through tough times.  It is when things are going great and I am comfortable, I tend to get too busy and neglect my private times of worship with God.  I become "full" and in effect say, "Who is the LORD?".  Or, I may become dissatisfied with what I have and in a sense take God's name in vain by complaining that I don't have enough blaming Him for not providing for me.

When affliction comes my way, it eventually drives me to my knees and back to the cross where I belong.  It is during those tough times that God slows me down and begins to teach me more of what it means to be holy and to trust Him.

Going through difficult times is not fun or easy, but I can say with the Psalmist, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted."

Dear Father,  You know what is best for me even though You must sometimes use affliction in my life to teach me the lessons I must learn, You only do it for my good.  Please help me to always remember this when the going gets tough.  Amen.