It Is Good for Me That I Was Afflicted

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It Is Good  for Me  That I  Was Afflicted

God’s children  get put down  in so many different ways  —  within  and without.     Sometimes  our prayers don’t seem  to be answered  —  and we wonder  if God  has left us  for some unknown reason.     Our faith  is battered  as the evils  of this world  mock  our faith  and God.     One thing after another  goes wrong  and soon  we feel defeated  and alone.

To top that off,  the ungodly  in this world  don’t seem  to have a care  as they experience success  in their endeavors  and mockingly shrug their shoulders  at any mention  of God.     We might wonder  why God seems  to bless them  —  but not us.     Such feelings  can be devastating  —  to say the least.

The amazing thing  is that God our Savior  is holding us  in His protecting hands  through all our sufferings.     In time  we’ll see  and remember  how we’ve been helped  over all sorts  of hurdles.     That’s when it’s time  to give thanks  like the psalmist did  —  and humbly accept  God’s wisdom  in leading us  through this life.     The psalmist wrote  in Psalm 119:71,

It is good  for me  that I was afflicted,
That I may learn  Your statutes.

All  those troubles,  fearsome times,  and sufferings  are for our eternal good.     That’s good  to know.     God is refining,  strengthening,  and purifying  our faith.     As Proverbs 17:3  says,

The refining pot  is for silver  and the furnace  for gold,
But the LORD  tests hearts.

We might feel  the test is unreasonably severe,  but God knows  what he is doing.     So,  in Zechariah 13:9,  the LORD says,

And I will bring  the third part  through the fire,
Refine them  as silver  is refined,
And test them  as gold  is tested.
They will call  on My name,
And I will answer them;
I will say,  ‘They are My people,’
And they will say,  ‘The LORD  is my God.’

When God is done refining us,  our hearts  will truly  be His.     Let us be glad  for His wisdom  and love,  saying,  “Hallelujah!     LORD,  we can trust You  to refine  and test us.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

 

Pray for our country.

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… Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus …

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect, but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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