The Grace of Affliction
How should we think about afflictions? How do we react and respond to besetting trials? Is there a graciousness from God amidst something like the coronavirus crisis?
In Psalm 119, the psalmist sees that the gracious hand of the Lord is upon him during times of affliction. He says:
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept your word.” - Psalm 119:67
His affliction pointed him Godward.
On the other hand, in times of ease, prosperity, and well-being, we can be tempted to forget God’s word. We can deny our dependence on God. We often do what is right in our own eyes.
You might say as the psalmist does, we go astray.
In the normal course of life we are prone to wander. We can be calloused toward our sin and unaware of our straying. Unfortunately, we often need something outside of us to shake us from our stupor.
Enter affliction.
Understanding Affliction
“[Affliction] is a result of the fall. Yet in the providence of God, afflictions and trials—if they point out our sin and make us find shelter in Christ—work for our good.”
An affliction (such as the coronavirus), understood by itself, is a corruption proceeding from sin (Rom. 8:20-21). It is a result of the fall. Yet in the providence of God, afflictions and trials—if they point out our sin and make us find shelter in Christ—work for our good. God stands behind all history, directing it for his purposes (cf. Is. 45:7; Rom. 8:28). Puritan theologian, John Owen, at one point regards affliction this way. He says:
“Great afflictions work sometimes not from their own nature, immediately and directly, but from the gracious purpose and intention of him that sends them. He insinuates into the dispensation of them that of grace and power, of love and kindness, which shall effectually take off the heart and mind from sin.”†
There is great encouragement for God’s people in this understanding of affliction. As the psalmist understood in Psalm 119, affliction that drove him to an apprehension of and obedience to God’s word was a very gracious thing. Affliction that exposes our sin and straying could be called a “severe mercy.” A gracious judgment.
Consider the present crisis.
Whether your life has been drastically affected by the coronavirus or only marginally impacted, consider asking yourself what gracious purpose and intention God has for you in these afflicted times. Might it be that God is exposing sinful habits or heart attitudes in you that you were otherwise oblivious to?
Responding to Affliction
Have these times revealed selfishness in you that you were otherwise unaware of? Have they revealed hidden addictions and dependencies? Are you worried, anxious, or clutching at life? Are you honoring the Lord by making the best use of your time? If this affliction has revealed any straying or sin in your personal life, consider it a gracious thing from the Lord. Repent of your sin and turn to Christ in faith and obedience. He is your only shelter.
“If this affliction has revealed any straying or sin in your personal life, consider it a gracious thing from the Lord. Repent of your sin and turn to Christ in faith and obedience. He is your only shelter.”
As families, has close proximity to one another revealed undealt with relational sin that needs to be reconciled? Does the aroma of your home smell more like a heap of dirty laundry or more like fresh baked bread (i.e., the aroma of Christ)? Husbands, are you gladly leading and loving your wife and household in sacrificial ways? Wives, are you submitting to and respecting your husband? Children, are you obeying and honoring your parents? If this affliction has revealed dysfunction or straying or sin in your home, consider it a gracious thing from the Lord. Repent of your sin and turn to Jesus in faith and obedience. He is your only shelter.
As you think about our nation, consider the ways we have allowed our affluence and well-being to lead us astray. We are a nation that celebrates things that are an abomination to the Lord (e.g. sodomy, promiscuity, dishonesty, and pride, to name a few). We are a nation that has allowed the murder of 50 million babies in less than 50 years. Might this affliction from the Lord be something that reveals and exposes sin and straying in our land? Pray that this affliction would bring our nation to its knees in humble submission to “the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Tim. 1:17). Pray that God would use this affliction to bring multitudes of people to repentance, faith, and obedience to the King over all. He is our only shelter.
When affliction confronts us with our sin, let us be a people who can say with the psalmist:
“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” - Psalm 119:71-72
When affliction makes us worry and despair, let us be a people who can say with the Apostle Paul:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:35-39
When affliction doesn’t make sense to us, let us be a people who can say with Spurgeon:
“I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages.”
Let us be a people who can see the grace of affliction.