Good Afflictions
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:67, 71
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.
I can’t and wouldn’t ever try to tell someone else how good their afflictions and problems have been for them. I wouldn’t suggest you do so either. The Psalmist, though, isn’t talking about someone else. He is speaking for himself about how he sees things. And what he says is his afflictions (whatever they were) were good for him.
His afflictions were good because he learned something from them. Of course, not everyone learns when they are in the school of hard knocks. Some folk just get mad at the teacher. But the Psalmist learned and that was good. Even he recognized it.
The Psalmist also acknowledges that his straying and his afflictions were connected. I don’t want to make the leap and say that he was afflicted because he strayed, although that is possible. But he doesn’t say that. He just says that before his affliction he strayed and after his affliction he obeyed. I think we can say that affliction got his attention and made him aware of his straying, and it had the effect of putting him back on track spiritually. And that was good.
If you are suffering, I can’t say there is any direct connection between that and some spiritual malaise in your life. Job’s friends would say that. It won’t. That is between you and God. What I will say is your afflictions can have a positive outcome if they cause you to learn and to draw close to Christ in faith, love, and obedience.