It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn Your statutes (CSB)

Can you say this too?

Sometimes we become so busy—occupied with secondary matters—that we do not take adequate time to study God’s Word. It is in such times that we are given opportunity by God to do so.  One way in which He does this is to afflict us with some illness that stops us in our busy tracks. If we will not slow down and take time to learn from Him, He gives us that time!

Earlier in the same Psalm, the writer mentions the effect of the affliction:

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word (v. 67).

Of course, one might fail to benefit from the affliction—indeed, he might only grouse and complain and, then, miss the whole point of it.  I know that it is not always easy when sick to do deep study—pain can make that difficult. But one can focus on one or two clear passages of Scripture and, upon his bed, think about how they apply to him.

However you do it—don’t miss out on the opportunity to meditate on the Word of God in your affliction. That is the point.  One of the words for meditation in Scripture means to so think about how to integrate God’s truth into your life that the conclusion of the meditation is to change your ways.

Sick? Injured? Afflicted in another way? Take advantage of the illness to turn to the Bible so that as you emerge from the affliction you also will be able to speak of changing your ways.

Books related to handling trouble:

1. How to Handle Trouble by Jay Adams
2. Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams
3. The Christian Counselor’s Manual by Jay Adams

Check out our online course, Counseling Problems taught by Donn Arms!

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

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The post When Affliction is Good appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Check out our online courses, including, Introduction to Nouthetic Counseling and  The Use of Scripture in Counseling, taught by Jay Adams!

Books related to counseling others:

1. Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams
2. The Christian Counselor’s Manual by Jay Adams
3. How to Help People Change by Jay Adams
4. Check out our Bookstore for all the best counseling books!

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For more biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
– Instagram: @noutheticstudies

The post Comfort in Affliction appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.