Finding Growth and Strength Through Affliction

Devotional

Day 1: Affliction as a Pathway to Understanding

Affliction is not merely a period of suffering but a divine opportunity to learn God's statutes more deeply. It is through trials that we are drawn closer to God, allowing His word to transform us. Instead of asking "Why me?" we should seek God's purpose with "What now, Lord?" [02:29]

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you shift your perspective from "Why me?" to "What now, Lord?" and seek God's purpose in this situation today?

Day 2: The Bible as a Source of Transformation

The Bible is not merely informational but transformational. It serves as a source of regeneration, illumination, and sanctification. In our darkest times, the scriptures become a lifeline, offering comfort, guidance, and strength. [12:16]

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you need transformation. How can you intentionally use scripture to guide and encourage you in this area today?

Day 3: Trusting in God's Presence

In times of distress, our greatest need is not the support of others but the presence and voice of God. When we look to Him, we are never disappointed. He provides the strength and courage we need to endure, and His word becomes a source of life and joy. [13:35]

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence during a difficult situation. How can you seek His presence more intentionally in your current circumstances?

Day 4: Journaling and Meditation as Spiritual Practices

Journaling and meditating on scripture during times of affliction can bring profound comfort and assurance. Verses from the Bible become personal, offering strength, hope, and peace. This practice helps us to trust God more deeply and find that He is our rock, fortress, and deliverer. [10:38]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: Set aside time today to journal about a scripture that speaks to you. How can this practice help you to deepen your trust in God and find peace in your current situation?

Day 5: Embracing Affliction for Growth

Embracing our afflictions as opportunities to learn and grow in our faith allows us to trust that God is using them for our good and His glory. By turning to God's word, we find that it becomes a source of life and joy, helping us to navigate through life's trials with courage and hope. [27:58]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a recent trial you have faced. How can you embrace this experience as an opportunity for growth and trust that God is using it for your good and His glory?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we reflected on the profound truth found in Psalm 119:71, "It was good that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." This verse serves as a reminder that God often uses our trials and afflictions to deepen our understanding of His word and draw us closer to Him. Affliction is not merely a period of suffering but an opportunity for spiritual growth and transformation. Through personal experiences of hardship, we can either question God with "Why me?" or seek His purpose with "What now, Lord?"

The Bible is not just a source of information but a means of regeneration, transformation, and sanctification. It is through the scriptures that God speaks to us, especially during our darkest times. The Bible becomes a lifeline, a source of comfort, and a guide when we feel lost. It is in these moments of distress that we are encouraged to turn to God's word, allowing it to be a fountain of life and strength.

During my own season of affliction, I found solace in journaling and meditating on scripture. Verses from Proverbs and Psalms became lifelines, offering strength, hope, and peace. The Bible's promises became personal, providing comfort and assurance that God is with us, even in our most challenging times. It is through these experiences that we learn to trust God more deeply, finding that He is our rock, fortress, and deliverer.

As we navigate through life's trials, we are reminded that our greatest need is not the support of others, but the presence and voice of God. When we look to Him, we are never disappointed. He provides the strength and courage we need to endure, and His word becomes a source of life and joy. Let us embrace our afflictions as opportunities to learn and grow in our faith, trusting that God is using them for our good and His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Affliction as a Teacher: Affliction is not just a period of suffering but a divine opportunity to learn God's statutes more deeply. It is through trials that we are drawn closer to God, allowing His word to transform us. Instead of asking "Why me?" we should seek God's purpose with "What now, Lord?" [02:29]
2. The Bible as a Lifeline: The Bible is not merely informational but transformational. It serves as a source of regeneration, illumination, and sanctification. In our darkest times, the scriptures become a lifeline, offering comfort, guidance, and strength. [12:16]
3. Trusting God in Trials: In times of distress, our greatest need is not the support of others but the presence and voice of God. When we look to Him, we are never disappointed. He provides the strength and courage we need to endure, and His word becomes a source of life and joy. [13:35]
4. Journaling and Meditation: Journaling and meditating on scripture during times of affliction can bring profound comfort and assurance. Verses from the Bible become personal, offering strength, hope, and peace. This practice helps us to trust God more deeply and find that He is our rock, fortress, and deliverer. [10:38]
5. Embracing Affliction: Embracing our afflictions as opportunities to learn and grow in our faith allows us to trust that God is using them for our good and His glory. By turning to God's word, we find that it becomes a source of life and joy, helping us to navigate through life's trials with courage and hope. [27:58]
** [27:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Opening Prayer
[01:04] - Introduction and Context
[02:04] - Psalm 119:71 Reflection
[03:25] - The Bible as God's Voice
[05:06] - God Speaks in Trials
[06:01] - Personal Affliction Testimony
[08:18] - Journaling Through Trials
[10:22] - The Gift of a Reading Robot
[12:00] - The Bible's Transformative Power
[14:32] - Life-Giving Verses
[19:04] - Trusting God in Uncertainty
[21:07] - Strength Through Community
[23:53] - Trust and Blessing
[27:19] - Embracing Affliction
[29:59] - Final Reflections and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Psalm 119:71 - "It was good that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."
Proverbs 16:15 - "In the light of the king's face is life."
Psalm 18:2 - "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer."

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Observation Questions:

What does Psalm 119:71 suggest about the relationship between affliction and learning God's statutes? How does this verse frame the concept of suffering? [02:04]
In the sermon, the pastor mentioned journaling and meditating on scripture during times of affliction. What specific practices did he describe, and how did they help him? [08:18]
How does the pastor describe the role of the Bible during his personal trials? What specific examples did he give of verses that became lifelines for him? [10:38]
What are some of the ways the pastor experienced God's presence and voice during his time of affliction, according to the sermon? [13:35]

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Interpretation Questions:

How might Psalm 119:71 challenge the common perception of affliction as purely negative? What does it mean to view affliction as a teacher? [02:29]
The pastor emphasized the Bible as a source of life and joy during trials. How does this perspective align with the idea of the Bible being transformational rather than just informational? [12:16]
In what ways does the pastor suggest that trusting God during trials can lead to spiritual growth and transformation? How does this trust manifest in practical terms? [13:35]
How does the pastor's experience with journaling and meditation illustrate the personal nature of scripture during times of distress? What role did these practices play in his spiritual journey? [10:38]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent trial or period of affliction in your life. How did you respond to it? Did you find yourself asking "Why me?" or "What now, Lord?" How might shifting your perspective change your experience? [06:37]
The pastor found comfort in specific Bible verses during his affliction. Identify a verse that has been meaningful to you in difficult times. How can you incorporate it into your daily routine for encouragement? [10:38]
Journaling was a significant practice for the pastor during his trials. Have you ever tried journaling your thoughts and prayers? If not, how might starting this practice help you process your experiences and connect with God? [08:18]
The sermon emphasized the importance of seeking God's presence and voice over relying solely on human support. How can you prioritize listening to God in your daily life, especially during challenging times? [13:35]
Consider the idea of the Bible as a lifeline during dark times. How can you make scripture a more integral part of your life, so it becomes a source of strength and guidance when you need it most? [12:16]
The pastor mentioned that God can use affliction for our good and His glory. How can you embrace this perspective in your current or future challenges? What steps can you take to trust in God's purpose for your life? [27:58]
Reflect on the pastor's statement that our greatest need is the presence and voice of God. What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence in your life? [13:35]

Sermon Clips

"Affliction learning God's statutes God joins those together so I want you to note this when you come into a sign a time of hardship stress pain grief Affliction God's purpose is that you would learn more deeply his his statutes that's the purpose primary purpose there are secondary purposes but that's certainly um one." [00:02:54]

"You can either when a trial starts you can either say why me or you can say what now Lord what do you have now what do you want to do in me now what do you have for me for this season be it eight days be it 80 be it longer we have these deep unexpected seasons that come when God turns our whole world upside down." [00:06:32]

"God enable me to realize I'm with him here on the bed walking around the house not sitting down but here I am I'm going to get in this into his word consistently more during this season so what I did was was one of my daughters on Father's Day gave me a journal she had bought it not knowing that I was going to be using it in this time." [00:08:11]

"The Bible is not just for our information it is information isn't it it's definitely information but if we think that's the end of our journey in our Bible reading we are sadly mistaken the Bible is not just for information it is for regeneration by that I mean not just initial regeneration but the reproducing of life in us continually by the Holy Spirit." [00:11:58]

"The greatest need we have is God himself speaking words of Life To Us in the Bible and your circumstances or your feelings have nothing to do with it in getting the voice of Christ to you in your Affliction so here's the things one morning I was reading Proverbs 16 and this verse came alive in the light of the king's face is life." [00:14:09]

"Psalm 27 wait on the Lord be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart and I said okay Lord I'm going to wait I don't have Direction yet I don't have Clarity x-rays MRIs ultrasounds all kinds of tests no news yet wait on the Lord that morning that Psalm came alive it was just the right morning for it wait on the Lord be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart and he did." [00:19:47]

"Psalm 31 deliver me speedily nothing wrong with praying that be my rock of Refuge deliver me speedily and then later in Psalm 31 this one was so wonderful and I grabbed the journal and I wrote it down how great is your goodness which you have laid up for those who fear you great goodness how great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who fear you." [00:21:29]

"Christ is that and to pray that to him and to feel him near was sweet communion later in the psalm 18 it says he is a shield to all who trust in him and I said Lord I'm trusting you you know I am I'm weak but you're strong I'm needy but you're the you're the one who meets every need we have Lord you are my shield and I'm trusting in you." [00:18:27]

"Psalm 34 blessed is the one who trusts in you it's hard to trust the Lord in Seasons where you can't do anything else you can't work you you can't have your normal life and you're reduced to Christ and your spouse and you have to trust him blessed is the one who has to do that." [00:24:02]

"God has a river from his presence by the spirit and it's it's a river of pleasure pleasure in Christ satisfaction in him joy and contentment and sweetness you give them drink from the river of your pleasures for with you is the Fountain of Life the Lord Jesus Christ is the Fountain of Life and this word is the conduit it's the channel it's the means it's the pipeline to us to receive everything we need for the hardest times in life." [00:24:48]

"Brethren I don't know God knows what seasons of Sorrow you have in your future they are there and you you and I are heading toward them be it 80 Days be it like some saints we know that are going on 30 years of deepest Affliction much worse much in inconceivably worse in my 80 days but I tell you what if we don't learn in our dark times to make God's word our primary refuge and we yield to his Providence and rather than saying why me we say what now Lord." [00:27:19]

"The words of our father for The Afflicted they are the pillow for our head the medicine for our pain the light for our Darkness the comfort for our sorrow the lifting up of our head in our heart the light for our path and the revealer of Christ to our needy Soul Christ has become since May 18th more precious more real and more wonderful and I'm dreading times of ease and being painfree but I've I've asked the Lord Lord don't let it stop I want this with you in sickness or in health in good times or in hard times." [00:28:43]

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Finding Growth and Strength Through Affliction

Devotional

Day 1: Affliction as a Pathway to Understanding

Day 2: The Bible as a Source of Transformation

Day 3: Trusting in God's Presence

Day 4: Journaling and Meditation as Spiritual Practices

Day 5: Embracing Affliction for Growth

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Finding Growth and Strength Through Affliction

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