The scriptures teach us that we should be thankful in all circumstances, and here is a great example. It is therefore appropriate that the author of Psalm 119 suffered a small affliction by not being acknowledged as the writer of this most elaborate and elegant Psalm, although the rabbis generally credited it to David.
During an affliction, it runs against the grain to admit that it is serving some positive purpose in life. Our first impulse is to complain and ask God to remove it. But as we grow in the Christian walk we come to realize that God allows these afflictions (or brings them) for our growth. The point of life as a Christian is to become more like Christ. We can therefore expect testing.
"... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Since these attributes are the fruit of the Christian life, we have none of these from God's point of view, when we first accept Christ as our Savior. We must be pruned regularly in order to develop into full maturity. Pruning is painful! But it is necessary for growth into maturity.
It's not only for the Christian, but the Lord often draws the unsaved to himself through circumstances of sorrow, pain and affliction. People will examine the more substantial issues of life at a time of trouble rather than at a time of ease.
Our faith becomes very strong as, time after time, we can see in retrospect how hard times yielded amazing spiritual fruit in our lives. This is nothing we can take credit for; even the measure of our faith is a gift from God. "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word ... This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me" (Psalm 119:67).
Particularly in these last days it is critical to understand that our level of responsibility in the next realm is directly impacted by how we handle testing in this realm.
It wouldn't be called testing if it was easy.
Royal Heir
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