Minute Musings...By His Light

Psalms 119:71  "It is good for me that I have been afflicted:  that I might learn
Thy statutes."

How do you view affliction?  Do you look at it as a hindrance or asset to your life? 
The Psalmist, King David viewed affliction as something good in his life!  You might
be shaking your head right about now wondering how in the world someone could
possibly view afflictions as good.  Well, there are a couple of ways.

When you go through life with no problems, either physical or material, you tend to
start relying on yourself.  But I guarantee you that the moment physical problems or
reversals in your finances, relationships or social standing come, you start to look
for help.  You realize that you are not invincible, you are in fact fallible.  Problems
tend to turn our gaze towards God, Who is infallible!  It is to our shame that we look
to God more when affliction knock at our door, then when our way is carefree.

David knew that his affliction would turn his attention back to the Word of God, he
realized that this was where his help would come from.  David knew from personal
experience that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble"
Psalms 46:1  David had seen God come to his defense, he had seen the strength of
God at work in his life.  How?  Psalms 46:10  "Be still, and know that I am God."
When we surrender our weak attempts at solving our problems over to God, and
wait quietly for Him to work, in His time, we will see the power of God work in our
lives.

God allows physical afflictions into our lives for several reasons.  The first we've
already established, it turns our gaze from ourselves back to God.  This is a testimony
to the unsaved.  They not only see our surrender to God's will, but they will also
observe God's hand in our lives, sustaining us, giving us the grace and endurance
to live with the problem.  We read in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 of the Apostle Paul's
test with a physical problem.  It says in verses 8 - 10, "For this thing I besought the
Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And He said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee:  for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest
upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:  for when I am weak, then am I
strong."  God Almighty knew that this physical problem was needed in Paul's life
and Paul knew the secret for spiritual strength in his life...letting Christ have His way,
yielding fully to God's will for his life.  It is only as we fully surrender our wills to the
Lord's that we will know peace in the midst of suffering.  It is in our weakness that the
strength of the Lord will be made visible. 

We are never alone in our suffering, God has promised to be always by our side.
Job was a man that endured tremendous affliction, yet he said this in Job 29:3,
"When by His light I walked through darkness."  Are you walking by God's
light through your darkness today?  He has promised His presence.  Pray that
God will show you how to view afflictions in your life as something positive.  They
have a definite purpose for your life, they are the means to a deeper walk with the
Lord, and a more vibrant testimony to the lost, and also to other believers!