Faithful in Affliction

 Life is rough.  There is never a doubt in anyone's mind about this truth.  Life is hard.  Sometimes, we get knocked down by circumstances completely beyond our control.  Sometimes, we get knocked down as a consequence of a bad choice.  But, no matter what knocks us down, God is faithful.  No matter how we suffer, God is faithful.  

Psalm 119:75 says, "I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me."  Even when the turmoil is a direct result of our own actions, God faithfully allows us to suffer in affliction to bring us back to Him.  It is the discipline of a good, good Father (Hebrews 12:10).  

When we are suffering because of circumstances out of control, He is also faithful.  Psalm 119:49-50 says, "Remember the word to Your servant, In which You have made me hope.  This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me."  We are revived by the Word of God.  That means that we need to know it, love it, study it, memorize it.  We need to be fully surrendered to the Father, no matter how we suffer, and constantly be spending time with Him in His Word.  

Life is rough.  It has been since the fall and it will be until Christ comes again to take us home.  But we have hope.  Living hope (1 Peter 1:3).  A God who is faithful in our affliction just like He is faithful in the good times.  

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