In Psalm 119:71 the Psalmist declares: “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” It is a striking proclamation, and one which many experienced saints will heartily “amen.” Though we would never CHOOSE to endure the hardships we do, when we look back we can see that we have indeed grown in ways that we never would have without the affliction.

We learn more of God’s character; we see more of His hand: sustaining, providing, delivering, even carrying through the most difficult hours. Parts of His word come “alive” and become meaningful to us through the experience. But being the frail humans we are, we would never learn to know and trust and experience Him in those ways without the “benefit” of the trials. God knows this, and so He chooses for us what we never would for ourselves. Upon mature reflection, looking back upon our trials and how we have grown, we will be able to say like the Psalmist: “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.”