February 4. Five ways affliction helps us. Before I was afflicted, I went astray,

but now I keep your word, Psalm 119, verse 67. This verse shows that God sends affliction to help us

learn His Word. How does that work? How does affliction help us learn and obey the Word of God?

There are innumerable answers. As there are innumerable experiences of this great mercy,

but here are five. One, affliction takes away the glibness of life and makes us more serious so that

our mindset is more in tune with the seriousness of God's Word and mark this. There is not a single

glib page in the book of God. Two, affliction knocks worldly props out from under us and forces us

to rely more on God, which brings us more in tune with the aim of the Word. For the aim of the Word

is that we hope in God and trust Him. Whatever was written in former days was written for our

instruction that through the endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might

have hope, Romans 154. These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,

the Son of God, John 20, 31, 3. Affliction makes us search the Scriptures with greater desperation

for help rather than treating it as marginal to life. You will seek me and find me when you seek me

with all your heart, Jeremiah 29, 13, 4. Affliction brings us into the partnership of Christ's

sufferings so that we fellowship more closely with Him and see the world more readily through His

eyes. Paul's great heart longing was that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and

may share His sufferings becoming like Him in His death. Philippians 310. 5. Affliction mortifies

deceitful and distracting fleshly desires and so brings us into a more spiritual frame and makes

us receptive to the spiritual Word of God. Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,

arm yourselves with the same way of thinking for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from

sin, 1 Peter 4 1. Suffering has a great sin killing effect and the more pure we are, the more

clearly we see God, Matthew 5-8. May the Holy Spirit give us grace to not begrudge the pedagogy

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