Christians, do you ever think of afflictions as being good?

Question

I have a hard time thinking it's good while I'm going through it, but years later I might realize that this brought me to a higher level spiritually as it forced me to run to Jesus.

This is part of a message by David W. on the subject:

HEALING AFFLICTIONS

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: BUT NOW have I kept thy word” (Psalm
119:67).

I believe in healing. I believe in affliction. I believe in “healing
afflictions.” Any affliction that keeps me from going astray—that drives me
deeper into his Word—is healing. God’s most gracious healing force
spiritually and physically can be afflictions.

To suggest that pain and affliction are of the devil is to suggest that David
was driven by the devil to seek God’s Word. I have suffered great pain. I
have called on God for deliverance and I believe him for complete healing. Yet,
while I go on believing, I continue to thank God for the present condition and
let it serve to remind me how dependent on him I really am. With David I can
say, “It is good for me” (Psalm 119:71).

Pain and affliction are not to be despised as coming from the devil. Such
burdens have produced great men of faith and insight.

“Casting ALL your care upon him…” (1 Peter 5:7).

How are you doing today in all your afflictions? Are you able to praise God in it?

Answer 1

Affliction and suffering should be anticipated by us for we are the reason The Lord and Satan are in contention. Satan does not waste his time targeting the unbeliever or the reprobate for he has them already but it is the faithful who are in his sights and to whom his demons are assigned and their sole purpose is to take our faith. John 12:25, 15:19 and 1 Corinthians 15:19 are the verses that the faithful can relate to in the life's journey as The Called Out.

Satan's use of affliction, suffering and misery directed towards us is what the Lord uses to strengthen our resolve as Christians following the Lord,"What does not kill us makes us stronger" is applied here as well as in our lives. As a young combat marine in Vietnam there is no amount of training they can give you that makes you fearless. It is only after that initial baptism of fire and subsequent fire fights that you learn to put your fear to the side and after the fight is over and you are still alive and you see the damage that you contributed to the demise of the enemy , that is when you start shaking in fear for at the time of the fight you learn that you do not have time to be scared. This is what makes seasoned combat veterans. It is the afflictions that season us as Christian Soldiers in Christ. But we must remember the Lord's promise to us concerning this that He will not let us have more than we can handle. Sometimes He may take us to the line and just as we are about to surrender His Holy Spirit reveals Him to us and for those who are fortunate enough to experience this, this starts that personal relationship with Him and this is the relationship which trumps religion for religion was just where we started.

Any Christian who claims to have Satan at the bottom of his feet or likes to proclaim how being a Christian has bought joy and happiness into his every day live, to me he as proclaimed himself as nominal in his faith for it is Satan's pressure that drives us to the Rock of shelter from him.

Answer 2

Afflictions are what makes us strong in trusting the Lord. They many times get us on our knee's when nothing else could. This body is going back to dust and we are to serve God through out our lives.

Answer 3

Afflictions, though not "good" may be lessons for each of us in our future.. The only thing that may cause us NOT to be a good lesson is our attitude toward them. Afflictions, crosses to bear, aptitudes, abilities, inabilities, early life experiences .....can all be learning curves, warnings, or opportunities to learn and improve from, though some may prove to be just obsticles we may never advance pass....It all depend upon us and how we approach and accept or repel them

Answer 4

' Three times I besought the Lord about this ,that it should leave me ,but he said to me ," My grace is sufficient for you , for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me . For the sake of Christ , then ,I am content with weakness , insults ,hardships , persecutions,and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong . ' ( Bible : 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 )



The contents of the Bible and it's Language is understandable by the austere and devoted Christians only . I can understand what you say ( of course what the Bible says ) . We can not expect others to understand the Biblical things . As the Bible says ,one can not understand the Bible unless the the Lord graciously opens his/her eyes . Hence ,let us all Christians generously forgive all those who just criticize and humiliate us when we confess our Strong Faith on the Bible-God and His Word .

We Christians are the only People trained and strengthened by God to be Happy even in the most critical situations . Others can not...!



God Bless you ..!



Christian.

( May 26,2010 )

Answer 5

yes, sister, i absolutely praise God for my afflictions. not to say i enjoy them. i can't wait for heaven, to be honest, but i'm old enough now that i have come to realize that trials and tribulations draw me closer to Him. i do praise Him in every storm and for the storm. i have seen many times in my own life how He worked bad for good and i know He is faithful and that's how it will always be.



i recently heard Joni Erickson Tada speak about being quadriplegic and what a blessing it has been to her. she did not realize that for many years. as a matter of fact, she prayed for years to be healed and believed she would be, but she now knows that God has blessed her greatly through being quadriplegic. if you look at all the quadriplegics in the world and then look at Joni and all she has accomplished and her amazing spirit, well, it's not hard to see that the Lord has used her greatly and blessed her abundantly. she is definitely one of the most inspiring people to ever have lived, and what a heart she has for God, all because she is quadriplegic.

Answer 6

I Do Now !!!!!!!!



I have seen the Fruit of Affliction in my life.....Times have changed for me !



I Love a God who Literally is Near and Never far from me !

Answer 7

You are a sick individual. You have an affliction of the brain. Pain and suffering fantasies? Good luck with that, that will serve you well through life. Sad.

Answer 8

Religious belief is an affliction. And Christians think that it is very good.

Answer 9

Before I was, I was not, therefor I must be when I am.

Answer 10

is that why god invented cancer? as a cruel way to trick people into worshiping him?