Affliction is Beneficial
Back to Comfort for Christians
Affliction is Beneficial
"It was good for me to be afflicted!" Psalm 119:71
Adversity often proves to be a painful blessing — and prosperity a pleasant evil. Few people have derived any spiritual benefit from prosperity — but many have borne testimony that adversity has done them immense good.
Affliction has brought many people to Christ, who never thought of seeking Him before; and it has restored many, who in prosperity had wandered from Him. Many, very many, can say, "It was good for me to be afflicted! — for it stopped me in my mad career of sin and folly; it instructed me and taught me to know more of myself and of my God than I ever knew before! Affliction . . .
softened me and brought me to lie low before God;
weaned me from the world;
corrected me of my foolish notions; and
made Heaven appear ten times more precious and glorious!"
The affliction . . .
that brings us to the feet of Jesus,
that gives us sober views of all earthly things, and
that stirs us up to make our calling and election sure
— always does us good!
God's sweetest smiles and His kindest visits — are granted to us in seasons of affliction. Let us, therefore, seek grace to sanctify our affliction and to make every pain, privation, and sorrow — a blessing. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and acknowledge His justice, grace, and faithfulness in afflicting us.
Then when we come out of the furnace — we also shall be able to bear this testimony: "It was good for me to be afflicted!"
Merciful Lord, with every affliction give me special grace so that I may thereby . . .
learn Your truth,
prefer Your will,
observe Your precepts,
and seek Your glory!
May all my afflictions prove real blessings to my soul. Sanctify me in trouble — and sanctify me by trouble, to Your praise.
"Before I was afflicted I went astray — but now I obey Your Word!" Psalm 119:67
"I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me!" Psalm 119:75