Affliction Can Be A Good Thing
Hos 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
God hides Himself when we turn from Him. He causes or allows affliction so that we will seek Him. When we realize how weak we are without Him then we will seek Him. As one song says “When you’re tired of fighting, chained by your control there’s freedom in surrender. Lay it down and let it go!” Return to Him and seek His grace and the relationship where you listen as He speaks.
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Also as one man prophesied in church, “I will move when you want me.” God will not force you to want Him, but affliction will change your wants if you see the need for Him in that affliction. David sang about his afflictions and how it led him to keep God’s Word. He wants to bring us to obedience for our good. He is not the celestial killjoy as some see Him. He made the universe and knows how we should live in it with joy and peace. The deceiver paints God as harsh and uncaring. If we teach and discipline our children because we love them and want to spare them pain how much more so does a loving Father Creator do the same for us?
Are you afflicted? Some may have come from God and some from the devil but often most of our affliction comes from self-inflicted wounds. We turn from God if we know Him or have never sought Him because we think we know better than the one who created us. Learn from the affliction and turn to Him or turn back to Him.
You may think that too much water has passed under the bridge or that your sins are too great. David and Jeremiah felt that way.
Psalm 38:4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
Lamentations 3:54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
Yet, what did David also say about sins or iniquities?
Psalm 130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
The disciples wanted to count iniquities and felt generous at forgiving seven sins a day, but Jesus had another idea.
Mathew 18
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Even the Old Testament has a 1 John 1:9 for those thought there was no grace in the OT.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
There is room for you in His arms no matter what the sins or the number. Let your affliction turn you to the one that can heal you and release you into a new life of abundance. Seek Him and then let His power and Spirit cause you to keep His Word. You will see things in your life you never dreamed could happen! Maranatha!!!
