Built on Affliction

The following is from my book, Why Me? Available on Amazon.

Lord, I don’t understand; I am living my life for You, doing everything according to Your Word, and still, I can’t seem to catch a break! It feels like I get another bomb dropped on me every time I think it can’t get any worse. Do you know that old saying, “if it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any at all”? Well, that sums up my life right now. The school called today and suspended my son for fighting again; this is the fourth time since August; I don’t know what to do. After I got off the phone, I headed to work, and the muffler fell off the car right in the middle of the highway.

Today is my last day because the company is downsizing. My family will no longer have health insurance after this week, and my wife needs surgery for a potentially severe condition. Lastly, the bank called because we hadn’t paid our mortgage in three months. We don’t have enough money to pay our bills; we barely have enough to buy groceries, and yes, I am tithing faithfully. How much more can I take; how much more, Lord; what am I doing wrong?

Do these opening paragraphs sound like something you might have written in your prayer journal? The answer may be that you are not doing anything wrong, but rather that God is building you through affliction. Affliction means suffering, a trial, or tribulation, and every Christian, without discrimination, will be afflicted at some point in their walk with the Lord.

There is no storm in your life that Jesus hasn’t been through; no temptation He hasn’t faced; no trial He hasn’t endured. He led you to it; let him bring you through it. No suffering, problem, or tribulation catches God off guard! God knew you before you were formed in the womb and knew that you would someday come to this point in your life. Jesus loves you so much that He became like you to reconcile and redeem you from sin. And because He did that, you can become like Him.

Joseph (son, slave, prisoner, prime minister)

The scripture gives us plenty of examples of people afflicted in biblical times. Let’s start with Joseph. He was one of twelve sons born to Jacob, and his brothers hated and envied him and plotted to kill him. Reuben, the oldest, whose name means affliction, intervened and instead threw Joseph into a well, hoping to come back for him later. Instead, the other brothers, led by Judah, sold him into slavery for twenty pieces of silver.

Joseph went from being the favorite child of Jacob to being hated and envied by his brothers, to being a slave, to being imprisoned for something he didn’t do. Joseph is now enslaved by Potiphar in Egypt when Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses him of rape. Potiphar charges and convicts Joseph, having him put in prison. At first glance, one may think God was not with Joseph or that God’s favor in Joseph’s life was over. But, at two crucial junctures in Joseph’s life, the Bible is clear that God, and His blessing, was still with him. God was with Joseph in his pit and will be with you in yours. He will never leave you or forsake you.

After twelve years of slavery and imprisonment, Joseph is called out of prison by Pharaoh to interpret a dream. God gave Joseph this special gift of interpreting dreams, and in minutes, Joseph went from prisoner to prime minister as Pharaoh was so pleased with Joseph that he made him second in command! Joseph married Aseneth, and they had two children whose names have meaning, carrying significance to Joseph’s understanding of the purpose of his affliction. His first son’s name, Manasseh, means “God has made me forget all my toil.” His second son’s name, Ephraim, means “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Amid Joseph’s suffering, God helped him forget the bad and made him fruitful. Whatever it may be that you are facing, God will turn it into good. God will use all things for good for those who love Him and live for Him accordingly! After his father’s death, Joseph’s words to his brothers prove that he understood the purpose of affliction: to save his family from the famine (Genesis 50:20).

Amid Joseph’s suffering, God helped him forget the bad and made him fruitful. Whatever it may be that you are facing, God will turn it into good. God will use all things for good for those who love Him and live for Him accordingly! After his father’s death, Joseph’s words reveal he understood the purpose of affliction (Genesis 50:20).

Have you ever considered that the pain you are suffering will help someone else overcome a crisis in their life? Have you ever thought that maybe it’s not about you but rather a greater purpose or a higher calling? Our self-centered society seems to believe that everything revolves around them. This selfish nature is contrary to God’s character and the steadfast Christian. Joseph concluded that his affliction was not about him at all but about saving his family, which included a brother named Judah. As you may know, Jesus Christ comes from the lineage of Judah.

Joseph did not know the end from the beginning when he was in prison and had no idea he would be the prime minister of Egypt someday. However, Joseph never gave up on God or his dream; neither should you! Today, we look back at Joseph as a hero who has set an example for us to follow when we are afflicted. However, do you think he felt like a hero while being sold into slavery? He probably thought his trial regarding Potiphar’s wife was unfair. But these we should surmise because the Bible does not indicate that Joseph gave place to any of these emotions. He undoubtedly had them and the thoughts with them, but he never voiced them.

Job (double for your trouble)

Like Joseph, Job can relate to receiving affliction undeservingly. Although he was faithful to God, his world changed as he lost his family and finances and suffered physically and emotionally. If you read the account of Job in the Bible, you will discover that God thought so much of Job that He allowed Satan to attempt to discourage him from obediently following God. The devil attacked twice and miserably failed as Job maintained his integrity. Job’s friends tried to convince him that he had sinned, and his wife told him to curse God and die. Yet, despite these emotional hardships, Job pressed on. After a personal conversation with God and repentance, God restored double to Job.

Satan will tempt and attack you, but he can’t do anything unless God allows him! Satan is powerless over a believer! God will give you a way out of any situation and always be by your side. If life feels unfair, maybe God trusts you to prove Him right as Job did. There is much to be said about trusting God, but to realize that God trusts us, believing that we will remain faithful, should encourage us to persevere to the end.

Three Hebrews (but if not)

Another example of affliction is in Daniel 3. Here we see the story of three young men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar had set up a statue of gold in the image of the false Babylonian gods for all to bow down and worship. These three refused to bow to anyone or anything but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They knew the penalty for this was death by being thrown into a blazing furnace, but they still would not bow.

Despite their circumstances and impending doom in the furnace, they tell the king that they don’t need to think twice about their decision. While the other Hebrew captives were bowing around them, these three stood out for God because they stood up for Him. Have you ever felt like you get targeted when you stand up for God? Well, it’s not just you. Everyone that stands up for Him stands out for Him and will be targeted by the enemies of God every time. These three don’t crumble, complain, or murmur; they express complete faith in the One True God they serve and love. They weighed the temporal burn of the furnace against the eternal burn of hell, realizing that bowing would violate God’s Law, putting them outside of His favor.

The next time you’re up against a difficult situation, weigh the outcome against eternity. You might have to go through a fiery furnace, but if bowing to the enemy causes you to fail God, is it worth it? I don’t think so. Stay standing! Lock your knees and refuse to bow! You’ll be glad you did because God walks in the fire with those that refuse to bend.

Nebuchadnezzar was so angry with the three that he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. The three were bound and thrown into the fire. It was so hot that the flames consumed the soldiers who threw them in, but this is not the end of the story. As the king watched the events unfold, he witnessed the three thrown into the fire bound; yet, as he considered the fire, he saw them walking around unbound, with a fourth person walking with them. The king called them out of the fire when he witnessed this. Amazingly, no hair on their heads was singed, their bodies remained unhurt, and their clothes did not smell smoke. God was the fourth person in the fire with them. God delivered them from their affliction. Not only did he save them, but He also walked through it with them. The God that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego served is the same God we serve today. What He did for them, He will do for you. After they came out of the fiery furnace, the king promoted them.

Affliction precedes promotion! Sometimes we read these Bible stories so much that we immediately jump to the end of the story. But remember, when these events happened, the persons involved did not know the outcome, like you don’t know yours. They chose to endure their adversity without knowing the reward because of their deep faith in God. The fact is that you must remain faithful: God is building you through your affliction.

The three Hebrew boys exhibited But-If-Not-By-Faith. Notice these words in Daniel. 3:17, these courageous young men proclaim that “if it is so,” God can deliver them. They didn’t say He would deliver them from the fiery furnace; they just knew He was able to do so. They also believed that God would deliver them from the king’s hand. They knew if they perished in the furnace, God would still have saved them from the hand of the king, and they would die standing against his tyranny. That’s But-If-Not-By-Faith. It lets God and the world know whether you’re delivered or whether you perish; you will never serve false gods.

Moses chose affliction

Moses had a choice; deal with affliction or enjoy the pleasure of sin, and he chose to confront his pain with courage (Hebrews 11:23-27). As Moses had a choice, so do you: you may endure the affliction with God leading and guiding you, or you can blame God for it and run from Him.

Those who hear the Word and do not fully digest its depth become offended when afflictions arise. Afflictions are not meant to offend, nor are they a message from God telling you that He does not love you. It’s not about you! If you’re afflicted, it is for the Word’s sake, and He has orchestrated this affliction in your life for a higher purpose. Your distress is working to achieve glory for God Almighty! Afflictions refine you, build you, and help you mature as Christians. These things glorify God, and He deserves praise! He is worthy of all the glory and honor and praise. Glorify and magnify His name in and through your affliction!

Paul tells Timothy to “watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). To fulfill a ministry or purpose means you are maturing in the Lord, becoming a daily disciple. Endure afflictions: they are a part of life. You cannot help others if you haven’t first endured. You cannot lead where you have not been. Remember, in the grand scheme of things; it’s not about you; it’s about glorifying Him. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Refining is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. It can be painful and burdensome, but God will carry the burden for you. God refines and tests us in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10). The result of being refined is that we might become more like God (Zechariah 13:9). You can call on God, and He will answer, be sure of that. It may not be tonight, it may not be tomorrow, and it may not be the answer you were looking for, but God always answers and is always right on time; His time!

Exodus 1:12 explains that although the Israelites were afflicted, they multiplied and grew. You, too, will grow in your afflictions. Psalm 34:19 states, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” That which God has led you to, He will guide you through and deliver you from when the lesson is complete. Believe it: He is right beside you every step of the way!

Some of you may remember sitting on a parent’s lap when you were young and the comfort and security from that position. Position yourself on your heavenly Father’s lap. Let him embrace you and provide you with the comfort and safety only He can give. It will surpass all understanding giving you unprecedented peace. It would be best if you got in the proper position.

When afflictions arise, you are passing through the valley of weeping. This valley is a place everyone will pass through at some point. David explains in Psalm 84:5-7 precisely what to do when you are in that valley. The valley of weeping is not a place of permanent residency; you are not going to live there; you are simply passing through.

Refreshing springs are in the valleys. When you think of a valley in your carnal mind, you think of a place of despair and depression. This lens is the wrong perspective to see your valley through. If you look at your valley this way, it’s time for an eye exam from the Great Physician. The young servant looked out from the balcony of their home and saw the armies surrounding them and relayed the bad news to Elisha. Elisha answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Then he prayed for the young man’s eyes to be opened. Through God’s perspective, change the lens and see your valley, trial, affliction, or suffering the way God sees it.

Wells provide sustenance for years to come, not just for the person who dug the well. If you dig a well in your valley, you will be refreshed and provide nourishment for others. Refresh and nourish someone else because of the well you have dug. Just because you don’t see anything happening doesn’t mean God isn’t working.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). After you have wept and dug your well, joy comes! “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). Now you have turned your weeping into wells of joy. Your sad situation has become the salvation for you and those that suffer similar trials.

“Just because you don’t see anything happening doesn’t mean God isn’t working.”

Joseph named his second son Ephraim saying, “God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52). You, too, can become fruitful in your affliction. The valley is temporary, but God’s joy is everlasting, and no one can take God’s joy from you.

J.T. Pugh said, “Only in the burial places of life can resurrections occur.” Your pain is causing the death of self, which makes way for new construction to begin. This truth is how God builds us through affliction. The very foundation upon which God builds His church — the apostles and prophets — is one of suffering. Hebrews chapter eleven chronicles the terror that came upon the heroes of faith and tells us that the world is unworthy of such individuals due to their unwavering faith in God. Have faith in God! God is building you through your trial, and the Master Architect knows what He’s doing; after all, He designed the blueprints.

Prayer

Lord, please help me understand what you are doing in my life through the affliction I’m presently going through. Please help me trust you wholeheartedly, allowing you to mold me according to your will. As you prayed, I, too, pray for your desires, not mine. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Group discussion

1. Explain how your life is similar to Joseph’s?

2. Have you lost everything, or do you know a loved one who has lost everything, as Job did? Explain.

3. Like the three Hebrew boys, discuss how you stood for something that cost you.

4. Share how you can change your perspective about affliction and bring glory to God.