Finding Purpose in Affliction: God's Transformative Work

Summary

Today, we gathered with grateful hearts, recognizing that every breath and every blessing is a gift from God’s grace and mercy. We paused to thank God for keeping us, for watching over us, and for giving us another opportunity to worship together. Even as we celebrated milestones—like baptisms, graduations, and answered prayers—we acknowledged that life is not without its hardships. Yet, it is precisely in those moments of affliction that God does some of His deepest work in us.

Drawing from Psalm 119:71, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees,” we explored the irony of affliction. While our natural instinct is to avoid pain and hardship, Scripture teaches us that affliction can be a blessing in disguise. It is often through suffering that we are awakened from spiritual complacency, driven back to God’s Word, and realigned with His purpose for our lives. When life is easy, we can drift into spiritual laziness, forgetting to seek God or give Him thanks. But when trials come, they have a way of shaking us awake, reminding us of our dependence on God, and drawing us closer to Him.

Affliction not only awakens us but also aligns us. Just as a loving parent disciplines a child to keep them from harm, God sometimes allows hardship to correct our course and bring us back to His truth. These seasons of suffering are not wasted; God uses them to refine our faith, deepen our trust, and produce lasting fruit in our lives. The very things the enemy intends for evil, God turns for our good, stretching our faith and expanding our testimony.

We were reminded that our setbacks may actually be setups for greater things. The scars we bear from our struggles become stories of God’s faithfulness, encouragements to others who are walking through their own valleys. Even Jesus Himself was afflicted for our sake, and through His suffering, we have hope and salvation. So, as we face affliction, we do not lose heart. Instead, we ask, “Lord, what are you teaching me?” and trust that He is building us up for His glory.

Key Takeaways

- Affliction Awakens Us
Pain and hardship have a unique way of shaking us out of spiritual complacency. When blessings no longer get our attention, crisis often does, driving us to our knees and back to God’s Word. Our greatest spiritual growth often happens in our worst seasons, as affliction wakes us up to our need for God and His sustaining grace. [01:04:32]

- Affliction Aligns Us
God uses trials not to punish, but to realign us with His will and purpose. Like a loving parent who disciplines for the child’s good, God allows hardship to correct our path and keep us from self-destruction. These moments of discipline are purposeful, drawing us back to the boundaries of His Word and the safety of His presence. [01:15:32]

- God Never Wastes Our Suffering
Every season of affliction is an opportunity for God to work something good in us. What the enemy means for evil, God uses for our growth, refining our faith and expanding our testimony. Our setbacks can become setups for new levels of faith, purpose, and blessing, as God advances us even in our pain. [01:24:59]

- The Fruit of Affliction
Though we naturally resist suffering, we often cherish the fruit it produces—stronger faith, deeper trust, and a testimony to share. The irony is that while we hate the process, we love the outcome, as God brings us through and equips us to encourage others. Our scars become evidence of God’s keeping power and faithfulness. [01:27:57]

- Christ’s Affliction, Our Hope
Jesus Himself endured the greatest affliction for our sake, showing us that suffering is not the end but the pathway to resurrection and victory. In our own afflictions, we are reminded that God is with us, holding us, and working all things for our good. The open invitation remains: come to Him, even in your suffering, and find hope, healing, and new life. [01:34:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:49] - Reflections on Blessings and Hardships
[15:44] - Baptism and Testimonies
[36:52] - Prayers and Announcements
[46:29] - Faith, Obedience, and New Devotional
[54:48] - Preparing Hearts for the Word
[56:18] - Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:71
[01:00:21] - The Irony of Affliction
[01:04:32] - Affliction Awakens Us
[01:15:32] - Affliction Aligns Us
[01:24:59] - God Never Wastes Suffering
[01:27:57] - The Fruit of Affliction
[01:34:33] - Christ’s Affliction, Our Hope
[01:41:51] - Invitation and Prayer
[01:47:25] - Offering and Communion
[02:00:50] - Baptism Certificate and Closing Remarks
[02:04:34] - Benediction and Dismissal

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Irony of Affliction

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### Bible Reading

Psalm 119:71 (ESV)
> "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Psalm 119:71, what was the purpose of the psalmist’s affliction?
2. In the sermon, what are some ways the pastor described that affliction “awakens” us spiritually? [[01:04:32]]
3. What does the pastor say happens when life is easy and comfortable for us spiritually? [[01:08:30]]
4. How does the sermon compare God’s discipline to that of a loving parent? [[01:17:08]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why might God allow affliction or hardship in the lives of believers, according to both the psalmist and the sermon? [[01:15:32]]
2. The pastor says, “crisis will get your attention when the blessings won’t.” What does this mean about our relationship with God during good times versus hard times? [[01:12:39]]
3. How does the idea that “God never wastes our suffering” challenge the way we usually think about pain and setbacks? [[01:24:59]]
4. The sermon mentions that our scars become stories of God’s faithfulness. How can personal suffering become a testimony for others? [[01:27:57]]

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### Application Questions

1. The psalmist says, “It was good for me to be afflicted.” Can you think of a time when a hardship in your life led you to grow closer to God or learn something important? What did you learn? [[01:04:32]]
2. The pastor talks about “spiritual laziness” that can happen when life is easy. Are there areas in your life where you’ve become spiritually lazy or complacent? What is one step you can take this week to wake up spiritually? [[01:08:30]]
3. When you face a setback or disappointment, is your first reaction to ask, “Lord, what are you teaching me?” Why or why not? How could you make this your habit? [[01:13:38]]
4. The sermon compares God’s discipline to a loving parent correcting a child. How do you usually respond to God’s correction or redirection? Is there a current situation where you sense God is trying to realign you? [[01:17:08]]
5. The pastor said, “What the enemy means for evil, God uses for our growth.” Is there a painful situation in your life right now that you can begin to see as an opportunity for growth or testimony? [[01:24:59]]
6. The sermon reminds us that Jesus Himself was afflicted for our sake. How does remembering Christ’s suffering give you hope in your own struggles? [[01:34:33]]
7. Think about someone you know who is going through a hard time. How could you use your own story of God’s faithfulness to encourage them this week? [[01:27:57]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for one another, especially for those currently experiencing affliction, asking God to use these seasons for growth, alignment, and deeper trust in Him.

Devotional

Day 1: The Irony of Affliction—Affliction Awakens Us

Affliction is something we often try to avoid, yet it has a unique way of waking us up spiritually. When life is comfortable, we can become spiritually lazy, forgetting to seek God or thank Him for His blessings. But when pain, disappointment, or crisis strikes, it shakes us from our complacency and drives us to our knees in prayer. These difficult moments become the very times when we are most open to hearing from God and learning from His Word. Instead of resenting our hardships, we can ask, “Lord, what are you trying to teach me through this?” and allow our struggles to draw us closer to Him. [01:02:16]

Psalm 119:71 (NIV)
“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”

Reflection: Think back to a recent hardship or disappointment—how did it change your prayer life or your attention to God’s Word?


Day 2: Affliction Aligns Us with God’s Will

Sometimes, affliction is God’s way of realigning our steps with His divine purpose. Just as a loving parent disciplines a child to keep them from harm, God allows trials to correct our course and bring us back to His decrees. These moments of discipline are not meant to destroy us but to guide us away from self-destruction and toward the life He desires for us. When we find ourselves off track, God’s loving correction through hardship can pull us back into alignment with His will, teaching us lessons that prosperity never could. [01:18:14]

Psalm 119:75 (NIV)
“I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you sense God using difficulty to redirect your steps? What might He be calling you to realign?


Day 3: God Never Wastes Our Suffering

Every trial and affliction we face is used by God for our good. Even when the enemy intends to harm us, God can turn it around for our benefit, refining our faith and building our testimony. The hardships that seem like setbacks are often setups for greater faith, deeper purpose, and new beginnings. When we trust that God is working all things together for our good, we can find hope and strength even in the midst of suffering, knowing that our pain is never wasted in His hands. [01:24:59]

Romans 8:28 (NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Reflection: What is one painful experience in your life that, looking back, God used to grow your faith or bless someone else?


Day 4: The Fruit of Affliction—A Testimony and Increased Faith

Though we may hate the process of affliction, we often love the fruit it produces. On the other side of suffering, we find that our faith has been strengthened and we have a testimony to share with others. The very struggles that once seemed unbearable become the stories that encourage others and glorify God. Our scars become reminders of God’s faithfulness, and our endurance through trials becomes a witness to His sustaining power. [01:29:06]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Reflection: Who in your life could be encouraged by hearing how God brought you through a difficult season? Will you share your testimony with them this week?


Day 5: Christ’s Affliction—Our Ultimate Example and Hope

The greatest example of the irony of affliction is found in Jesus Christ, who endured suffering and affliction for our salvation. His pain on the cross brought about the greatest good—the redemption of our souls. When we face our own seasons of suffering, we can look to Christ, knowing that He understands our pain and is with us through it all. His resurrection is proof that affliction is not the end, but the beginning of new life and hope for all who trust in Him. [01:34:33]

Hebrews 12:2-3 (ESV)
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Reflection: When you are tempted to lose heart in your suffering, how can remembering Christ’s affliction and victory give you strength to endure today?

Quotes

Sometimes the very thing that we see as pain is the very thing that shapes us. The thing that you thought was going to tear you down, that was tearing you apart, is the very thing that, if you think about it, strengthen you along your life journey. Pain is the thing that shapes us. But here's the idea. When the enemy meant to break you, God uses it to build you. [01:02:21] (37 seconds)  #PainShapesStrength Edit Clip

God never wastes our suffering. He uses them to his advantage. As a matter of fact, as we look at this verse, as we look at it, it said it was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Do you not know that your affliction will wake you up? Affliction awakens us. [01:04:13] (26 seconds)  #SufferingAwakensUs Edit Clip

Some of your greatest spiritual growth happened in your worst season. Afflictions shake you, but it also wakes you. The next time you hurt, the next time you're going through, next time you find yourself in a setback in life, you ought to stop and not fuss and not complain and be like the writer and say, It is good that I have to go through this affliction, and after you finish saying that, this is what you need to say, Lord, what you're trying to teach me? [01:13:39] (41 seconds)  #GrowthThroughAffliction Edit Clip

God loves us enough to let hardship redirect our hearts back to his word. And if you're constantly hearing these old prosperity type messages, these motivational speakers, you might be spiritually asleep. And God will allow some stuff to say, hey, let me get your attention. So in life, when you feel off track, don't resent that season. Because what God is doing, he's getting you back on track. He's working on you. [01:22:17] (40 seconds)  #HardshipRedirectsHearts Edit Clip

The very hardship you thought was going to bury you can give you a new birth, new levels of faith, new levels of purpose, new levels in life. Listen, Joseph put it like this in Genesis 15 and 20. He said, you meant it for evil. Oh, God. You meant it for evil against me. But God meant it for good. [01:25:31] (23 seconds)  #MeantForGood Edit Clip

Your setback might be your set up. God uses affliction to stretch your faith, to expand your testimony, and to position you, watch this, for greater. Don't let the season of suffering make you think you're stuck. Don't let when you are down and out, the bed of sickness, rough times, don't let those things make you feel like all hope is gone. Have a different thought process. [01:26:37] (44 seconds)  #SetbackToSetup Edit Clip

Because what we have to understand is God, even in your affliction, is advancing you. God in your affliction, he's elevating you. God in your affliction, what broke you today might just bless somebody tomorrow. Why? Because you'll have the scars to be able to tell the story. [01:27:21] (36 seconds)  #AfflictionAdvancesYou Edit Clip

We hate affliction. But we love the fruit. Hate the affliction. But we love the fruit. What's the fruit, preacher? Well, I came out on the other side, all right? But faith was increased. And now I have a testimony to tell somebody. If the Lord can do it for me. He sure enough can do it for you. [01:28:40] (35 seconds)  #LoveTheFruit Edit Clip