One would think that good people should not have to suffer; that God would honor their virtue with protection and ease, so where is God in all this? There are many answers but here is one to consider.
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out them all." Psalm 34:19.
MANY
This verse speaks in a matter of fact way and point-blank says the good person will have many problems and suffer much. There is no set minimum or maximum, we face many afflictions.
AFFLICTIONS
Afflictions are ongoing trials, they are the kind we cannot escape, they follow us and may go on for years.
LORD
Our God is the ruling authority who commands all things, none can resist him. He is able to deliver, there is no situation that is too big for him. It is not that God is not able to help- he is able and he is willing.
DELIVERS
The Almighty is not passive but he is active. We think our problems are so big, but God delights in showing us that he is bigger.
The word, "delivers," is present tense, the verse does not say that the Lord will someday deliver us from our trials but it says he is now delivering us. His deliverance may be a sudden event or it may be a gradual working, and it very likely will not be what we expect. Deliverance may not be external but internal- a change of character or of understanding. He may not deliver you out of the affliction but deliver you through the affliction.
In our minds, we know that God can open the sea and deliver from the lion's den or the fiery furnace, but when you experience deliverance it is a teacher that has a deeper significance. To experience God's deliverance is to know The Lord in a unique way. We cannot give testimony, or glory to God if we have no experience.
We must go through our afflictions with God if you do not know the Lord as your Savior see my other blog.
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out them all." Psalm 34:19.
MANY
This verse speaks in a matter of fact way and point-blank says the good person will have many problems and suffer much. There is no set minimum or maximum, we face many afflictions.
AFFLICTIONS
Afflictions are ongoing trials, they are the kind we cannot escape, they follow us and may go on for years.
LORD
Our God is the ruling authority who commands all things, none can resist him. He is able to deliver, there is no situation that is too big for him. It is not that God is not able to help- he is able and he is willing.
DELIVERS
The Almighty is not passive but he is active. We think our problems are so big, but God delights in showing us that he is bigger.
The word, "delivers," is present tense, the verse does not say that the Lord will someday deliver us from our trials but it says he is now delivering us. His deliverance may be a sudden event or it may be a gradual working, and it very likely will not be what we expect. Deliverance may not be external but internal- a change of character or of understanding. He may not deliver you out of the affliction but deliver you through the affliction.
In our minds, we know that God can open the sea and deliver from the lion's den or the fiery furnace, but when you experience deliverance it is a teacher that has a deeper significance. To experience God's deliverance is to know The Lord in a unique way. We cannot give testimony, or glory to God if we have no experience.
We must go through our afflictions with God if you do not know the Lord as your Savior see my other blog.
