Our older children were all under 11 or so at the tie, and we had a need as a family what I did from time to time was to let them know so they could pray and also see God meet as He chose to. So one day I told them we had a need and three of them sat on the couch opposite me as we were about to ask the LORD if it would please Him to meet the need. I don’t remember what I or anyone else prayed though the LORD does, but I do remember the prayer of our sweet daughter who prayed “LORD, Thank You for this trial…” It floored me the as it doe now, from someone so young but to have a Godly perspective on our trial…And many years before in another time, location we see the Psalmist too had a Godly perspective in his trial. Let’s consider…
Our definition of “good,” is usually that which is pleasing, beneficial, profitable, and pleasurable to us but never would we think that afflictions pain, or problems can be “good.” But yet the Psalmist said “It is good for me that I was afflicted that I may learn your statutes”-( Psalm 119:71). By the grace of God he saw the outcome of his afflictions was good, namely that he would pay attention, learn God’s statues, His Word, for in it He would learn of the God whose Word it is. At times afflictions can scatter us to the wind as it were but God works in us to draw us to Himself through His Word that we may learn of Him, His Will, and His ways and that is a “Good,” thing for it is profitable, beneficial to us! The Psalmist’s view can be also our view by the grace of God.
God purposes “good,” for us even through our painful afflictions!
The Psalmist developed a Divine perspective and his was a spiritually mature response to his afflictions. Afflictions In and of themselves are not good. But God’s goal in them is “good!”
We can like my little daughter thank God for this trial because we know He is good, does good, and will bring about good from it!
God bless
Aidan