Afflictions: Do Not Let Them Take You By Surprise

Affliction (wanting what we do not have or having what we do not want) often reveals the unknown corruptions lying deep within our hearts making them boil up and surface - as wild waves produce much foam in storms. All kinds of things surface when troubles arrive - murmuring, distrust, impatience, unbelief, anger. I suppose we expect better treatment than the Lord Jesus Himself received even though He has warned us in His Word that this life will not be without its trials and tribulations. There are many reasons God has for the use of His choicest tool to grow His saints but predominantly the furnace causes the “dross” to surface and we get a clear view of the corruption still remaining within our own hearts. What comes out when we are pricked? The chaff that needs blowing away, so to speak. We discover much self-love within us as well as pride, distrust and confidence in our own flesh bubbling up to the surface. Not to mention anger, rage and filthy language. It can also be used to demonstrate how guilty our own hearts can be – right in full view of God and everyone else in our spheres. We need the Lord. We all need the Lord.
Times of suffering often brings sin to surface – helping us to search our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, emptying us of us and flying to the feet of the One Who is in control of all things for His righteousness and strength. It demonstrates that we are not in ultimate control – we never have been. He will cause us to stand because He is faithful and able to cause us to stand. He lets us see what is crooked that He might straighten or weak that He might strengthen or what lacks that He might supply. Affliction also teaches us to pray fervently, frequently and passionately – seeking to rest our weary heads between His all sufficient shoulders. It is sad, is it not, that in our peace and tranquility we rarely turn to the Father in prayer and thanksgiving with supplications – trifling with prayer as if it were a mere add on nicety.   
God is not immune to our pain and suffering – Scripture shows Jesus wept with us and He continues to do so. He knows and feels what we are walking through because He did too. We can trust Him as suffering was His story as well. Remember also, we cannot expect constant peace or perpetual joy when we are running to the wrong fountains to have our thirst quenched.