“Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.” (41,48-50,59-60,67,71-72,75)
The author describes being afflicted – with what, they do not say – yet they frame this affliction in a positive light. I commonly hear the question “if God is a God of love, why does He allow good people to suffer?”
If we take a page from this Psalm, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (v71) and “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (v67). In the author’s perspective, suffering turned them to God and God’s promises.
Another common question is “where is God in my suffering?” The author also states “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life” (v50). The author believes that comfort during times of trial comes from the Word of God (His promises, His presence, His steadfastness, His love, etc).
The concluding verse that really hit home for me was “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.” (v75) It’s a powerful thought to realize that God may let us suffer because He is faithful to us, knowing that by testing our faith, our faith will be deepened and we will grow stronger.
Two of my favorite passages on this are: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (Jas 1:2-4) and “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Pet 1:7)
Father God, all-knowing Lord and Creator, we come before You today in awe of Your wisdom. We thank you for suffering – as odd as that sounds, we thank You that nothing is wasted and through our suffering we can grow more steadfast in our faith and deeper in relationship with You. Please help us not to waste these opportunities for growth, and please help us to ignore the voice of the evil one who tries to tear us down in the times of suffering. Please guard our hearts against such attacks and keep us close to You, never letting us stray too far. May we stand the test of our faith with the strength that You bring out in us, and may we attest to Your glory to those who observe us. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training