The blessings of affliction

Isaiah 48:10 says, “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Maintaining righteousness was a constant struggle for the Israelites. From a very early time in their history, they loved to worship idols — in opposition to the will of God (Exodus 20:3-6). For this rebellion, God would bring a calamity on them for their sin.

God could have cut the people off like Sodom and Gomorrah, or He could allow them to suffer for a while to bring them back into fellowship with Him. In captivity, they got to think about their sins. When they suffered, they repented and turned back to God. In short, the furnace of affliction made them better. God is not to blame for the suffering in the world, though. The ultimate cause of suffering is Satan and his impact in the world. However, no affliction is completely bad.

When we experience the furnace, it can make us better — but how? First, affliction allows you to get to know yourself — it reveals the real you. Peter thought he was strong and would never turn away from the Lord, even exclaiming in Luke 22:39, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” But he found out he was fallible like everyone else (Matthew 26:69-75). He learned the principle taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12. Second, affliction allows you to relate to others. Jesus had compassion for others (John 11:35; Matthew 9:35), and this made a real difference in how He could help them. Hebrews 2:17-18 says, “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Third, affliction allows you to put life into perspective. No suffering is enjoyable, but it helps us to appreciate the brevity of life and the certainty of judgment (Hebrews 9:27; James 4:14). It also helps your faith grow. When David was fleeing from Saul in the wilderness, he wrote, “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast” (Psalms 57:1). These beautiful words show that through suffering we can feel closer to God in a way not possible in the absence of suffering.

Do not let suffering keep you down. Peter wrote, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Kyle Campbell