When you are in the middle of trials, do you ever think about the fact that God may be the One causing your affliction? We tend to look at trials and afflictions as being evil and coming from the Evil one. But this is not necessarily true. Take a look at this verse:
The Psalmist says that the Lord has afflicted him! Why has the Lord afflicted him? There are a number of reasons the Lord afflicts us. Among them are the following:Psalm 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
God brings trials and afflictions our way to teach us to stay close to Him and to keep His word. He also brings them to teach us to learn His statutes or another word would be commands. In other words that we might learn obedience to His word.
Another reason God might bring affliction into our lives is to teach us humility and to teach us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
How often have we looked back and saw how God has been faithful to us through the trials of our lives only to look at the trial and affliction in front of us and begin to belly-ache about it? I can't tell you how often I have done this very thing. Our trials and afflictions are designed to sanctify us, to make us more holy and godly people. Are we allowing that to happen? It's a big challenge, but one that I need to take on more seriously. We need to look at our trials and afflictions as opportunities to learn what God has for us to learn through them, rather than belly-aching about the inconvenience they are as I so often catch myself doing.2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My
strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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