My Afflictions

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Genesis 41:52 …For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction

Something good coming out of something bad. The silver lining in the cloud. Even in our darkest times God is the silver line that controls the happening in our lives. For God is good, and all things, even afflictions, work for good and for a purpose we may never understand in this life. It is often in our affliction that we acknowledge our need for God. It causes us to lean more on Him, for He is our strength and refuge in time of affliction. We don’t seek for bad things to happen, they just happen and often when we don’t expect it. Each day is a gift from God, and we commit our day into His hands. The affliction we face that day may turn our world upside down, and like Joseph put us in hole in the ground, and sold as a slave. But it is times like these that allow the fruit of Spirit to grow in our lives. We find purpose in God’s providence. We don’t necessarily find understanding, but in our afflictions God is working to fulfill His purpose in our lives.

God is Good All The Time

Ps 119 68, 71 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes….It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 

God is good all the time, even during affliction. How can this be? If God is good, then we would always experience things in our lives that bring pleasure and happiness. How can God be good when every time I turn around something bad is happening to me or someone else. We look at life as a series of events. The events are either good, bad, or indifferent, they don’t make us happy or sad. But the sovereignty of God sees our life from the beginning to the end. To those who love Him and desire to fulfill His will, all the good and bad things in life work together to a good end. When going through hard times or difficult situations, it is not easy to say , it is good for me that  bad things are happening to me. For it is during these times, that I have learned to lean on Him. To trust in His word that He is in control.  God is good, all the time for He is the calm in the storm. 

Choosing Affliction

Heb. 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Choosing affliction really is not normal. Most of us refrain from anything that will cause us pain, discomfort, or hardship. Why would a person who seem to have everything the world had to offer at that time, refuse it? Choosing between wrong and right comes from a desire to live for God. It does not make worldly sense to reject popularity and riches for a path that will bring criticism and objection. Choosing to live a Christian life that is based on the teaching of God’s word will ostracize oneself from the mainstream of worldly thinking. The notoriety that the world offers and the pleasure that riches can buy are but for the moment. Like vapor, they will soon pass away and it will vanish. Choosing the values that are eternal, values that Christ taught believers. Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. Follow His commandment regardless of what the world and the progressive thinkers of this day may say. Standing for love, grace, mercy, and righteousness (right living) is contrary to human desires. Choosing Christ as Savior and Lord will change our desires and like Moses, we can choose to serve God over serving sin.  

Light Afflictions

2 Corinth 4:17 “7 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”-

Trails, afflictions, hard times often seem like they never end. They seem to weigh heavy and sometimes we feel as tho they are crushing us to the ground. For the moment, it would seem that life is more than we can bare. Yes, we are trouble on every side. But it light of eternity, these afflictions are but a moment in time that will come to pass. How small and insignificant they will be when we look back and realize that they were but a vapor that came and went. When we consider that eternity is forever, and what we face today is but for a moment, we don’t need to despair. Hold on, keep the faith, keep believing, for we live not for this world, but for the world to come. 

God is not my Crutch

Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes.”-

God sometimes has to let us hit the “rock bottom of life” before we wake up and realize that we cannot make it without Him. He does not force our will to serve Him, but He often will send adversities our way to show us that the “arm of the flesh” is weak and we need His grace to help us make it through. The measures that are used often are drastic and we may question God’s purpose, but all things work toward the purpose to turn the hearts of people to God. People have a tendency to lean and depend on earthly things for security. They put their trust in their own abilities, their jobs, even their family. God wants us to depend on Him in every aspect of our lives. He wants us to do away with the “crutches” of self reliance and to fully lean on Him. “May I learn to fully trust God for all that I need, and give Him thanks for all that He provides” God is not my “crutch” I need more than a crutch, I need Him to carry me and sustain me each and every day.

Zophar, The Religous Dogmatist

August 5th, 2007
Job 11: 1-16, 20
Job is now in the midst of confusion. He is crying out to God for answers. He does not understand why he is being afflicted when he has done his best to flee wickedness and live right. Zophar, a man of self- importance, and one who values his opinion very highly is tired of Job’s “whining”. Job must see that there is only one cause for this suffering. Job has sinned, and he needs to stretch out toward God and confess his wickedness to God. Zophar leaves no room for any other possibilities, his ideas on how God works are right and there is only one way to deal with it. He usurps himself as God and passes judgment on Job with an air of arrogance and self-righteousness. When defending the faith, we must always stand for truth, but it must always be done in a spirit of meekness and humility.

Convinced opinion
• Job’s words go unanswered
• “Job, you are wrong, now listen to me”
Contend for the truth
• “Bless God! I’ll sent them right”
• More concern about being “right” than showing mercy
Condemnation of others
• Only God truly knows the heart of man
• Praying for others with compassion
Comprehension of God
• Man’s finite ability to comprehend all
• God’s sovereign will is accomplished
• Nothing is hid from God
• God knows the heart no matter the outward appearance
• Job’s declaration of righteousness is put the question
Confession of sin
• Prepare your heart- attitude of sorrow
• Stretch out your hand- Humility and God dependent
• Put iniquity away- confession and restitution
• The tabernacle is free of wickedness- sin is no longer entertained
Confidence toward God
• Clean conscience toward God and man
• Doubt and fears are swept away
Consequences of un-confess sin
• Hope is gone, life ends in despair