The apostle Paul confidently and boldly said "all things work together for good to them who love God and are called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8: 28) That would include afflictions. The apostle affirms this plainly saying "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto." (I Thess. 3: 3) If we walk by sight, this will be hard to believe, for many times those in affliction cannot see how any good can come from it. But, if we walk by faith, trusting God and his word, then we believe good will come from it whether we can see the good or not.
A song we used to sing when I was a Hardshell was the one given below. The lyrics are:
Afflictions, though they seem severe,
In mercy oft are sent;
They stopped the prodigal’s career,
And forced him to repent.
Although he no relentings felt
Till he had spent his store;
His stubborn heart began to melt
When famine pinched him sore.
“What have I gained by sin, he said,
But hunger, shame, and fear;
My father’s house abounds with bread,
While I am starving here.
I’ll go, and tell him all I’ve done,
And fall before his face
Unworthy to be called his son,
I’ll seek a servant’s place.
His father saw him coming back,
He saw, and ran, and smiled;
And threw his arms around the neck
Of his rebellious child.
Father, I’ve sinned—but O forgive!
I’ve heard enough,
he said,
“Rejoice my house, my son’s alive,
For whom I mourned as dead.
Now let the fatted calf be slain,
And spread the news around;
My son was dead, but lives again,
Was lost, but now is found.
’Tis thus the Lord His love reveals,
To call poor sinners home;
More than a father’s love He feels,
And welcomes all that come.
You can hear this song sung (
here)
Another verse we must include on this point is this:
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen."
(II Cor. 4: 17-18 nkjv)
My Christian brothers and sisters, persevere through your afflictions, believing that your wise Father in heaven has it all in control and he has promised not to put on you more than you can handle. (See I Cor. 10: 13) See your afflictions and sufferings as part of your education, intended to make you wise and to purify you by removing all the dross in you. It is a means of your glorification too. For Christ, as well as for the elect, glory follows suffering. (See I Peter 1: 11) May we all become mature children of our Father and say with David, the man after God's own heart, "it is good for me that I have been afflicted."
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