How can I profit by suffering? What is in it for me?ps119 s30e63

Is there anything good that can come of suffering? Our psalmist points us towards two unexpected benefits: 

1.Our growth.  Suffering can develop and change us for the better.

2. Our gratefulness. This is obviously a big-ask. Can we actually be grateful  for the suffering because of the fruit it can yield? 

If you are suffering, this one is for you. Subscribe and comment: 

https://youtu.be/4iE7RSwXppw

Transcript

 How can I profit by suffering? What is in it for me?ps119 s30e63

Yesterday we meditated on the “good stuff” of God

56  This blessing has fallen to me, 

that I have kept your precepts. 

Not everybody enjoys this intimate fellowship with the Lord. Everybody has trouble that is danger close. NOT everybody has a God who is SHADOW CLOSE. Not everyone stands in the SHADOW of the Almighty Ps 91. Not everyone gets the favor of being “shadow-close”.

When trouble is “danger-close” God is “Shadow-close

Today: what about the bad stuff. What about suffering?

Teth

65    You have dealt well with your servant, 

O Lord, according to your word. 

66    Teach me good judgment and knowledge, 

for I believe in your commandments. 

67    Before I was afflicted I went astray, 

but now I keep your word                                CHANGE. 

68    You are good and do good; 

teach me your statutes.                       

69    The insolent smear me with lies, 

but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; 

70    their heart is unfeeling like fat, 

but I delight in your law. 

71    It is good for me that I was afflicted, 

that I might learn your statutes.                      GOOD declare. GRATEFUL

72    The law of your mouth is better to me 

than thousands of gold and silver pieces. 

Is it true that the Lord allows affliction, that we can learn of Him, His statutes?

Is it true that the Lord deals kindly with His servants, teaching them good judgment and knowledge.

         WHEN does God teach us good judgment? When we have Bad judgment.

                  When we are afflicted, when we have gone astrayl

         WHEN does God teach us KNOWLEDGE? When we are knuckleheads.

What is it that you can say, I WAS AFFLICTED, and it was good that I was because the harvest of that affliction is the awareness of God’s law, which is to say the familiarity, the proximity, of God Himself. 

Let’s just say the truth: Affliction is hard. BUT…it can lead to something that is of more valuable…that I might learn of you.

What is the purpose of suffering?

         Glorifying Christ by Imitate Christ. Be a witness to others around you.

         Here: affliction, difficulty, , hardship, , trouble

=law, , , , 

Problem= direct me to precepts

Trouble=help me to touch the truth

Woes =walk me towards WORD

Pain= point to person

Conflict conduct me to character

You have plenty of hardship.  Have you PROFITED by it? Grown. 

There is a harvest that can be reaped as the fruit of suffering

It is good for me that I was afflicted that I may learn your statutes.

How can I profit by suffering? What is in it for me?

Don’t let your cancer go to waste. John Piper.

Don’t let your relational suffering be without fruit.

Don’t let the pains you have endured only result in scaring

Ask: could those traumas of the past be my teachers today

         Can the insults grow me in the instructions of God

         Can those labors lead me back to the laws of God

         Can my current affliction benefit my AWARENESS of my relationship

Then: Not only let the ordeals lead to the only One

Let me be greatful for the trouble

Move me to praise in the pain

Depend more in the distress

Declare Him in what seems the damage

Sing of Him in the suffering.

Identifies difficulty as being an instructor

Gratefulness for the growth

Some of you listeners have suffered more than me. 

I thank you for your efforts.  I see them. I grieve with your losses and pains. Perhaps too, I can celebrate your growth for your faithfulness.