Out of Them All

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 

but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Psalm 34:19

An affliction is defined as something that causes pain or suffering.  It's a simple, biblical truth that pain and suffering is the by-product of sin.  The righteous, those who have had their identities exchanged with that of Jesus Christ, are said to undergo many afflictions.  Does that mean the unrighteous don't suffer?  We know of course that everyone suffers.  Sin affects everyone and everything.  Pain and suffering comes in all different shapes and sizes.  It's intensity varies.  It's duration varies.  It's cause varies.  It can come in the form of a rebellious child, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, a thoughtless word or a whole volcanic eruption of reviling hatred.  Illness causes pain and suffering and wars bring pain and suffering.  Our own foolishness and sin brings pain and suffering, upon ourselves.  "Fools, because of their rebellious way, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted."  Psalm 107:17  Our sin also creates pain and suffering for others.

The second part of the verse gives the child of God great hope.  The Lord delivers the righteous out of all their afflictions.  There is an end to our pain and suffering, temporarily - before the next trial arrives.  And yes, sometimes we undergo multiple waves at a time before we experience deliverance.  There will be deliverance, permanently - all pain and suffering will end, forever, for the righteous.  If He wanted to, the Lord could end our pain and suffering as soon as He gifts us with faith.  But His plan doesn't work that way.  He didn't design life so that once we become His child, all pain and suffering ends.  At our rebirth, the sanctification process begins - the forming of Christ in us.  Affliction is one of the Lord's tools for our sanctification.  Affliction drives us to the Word and it is the truth of God that transforms us into Christlikeness.

 Psalm 119:71- "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes."


"Sanctify them in the truth.  Your word is truth."  John 17:17

Pain and suffering always passes through the loving, sovereign hand of God before it arrives at our doorstep.  "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things."  Romans 11:36  The Lord is in charge of each trial, each encounter with pain and suffering that we undergo.  He has enclosed Himself behind us and before us, and His hand is laid upon us.  He determines the intensity and He determines the duration.  When His work in that particular trial has been accomplished, He delivers us out of it until the next one.  Affliction is not a way we would choose, but His ways are not our ways.  He is with us through each trial, and then He brings us out.  He is forming Christ in us as He leads us through the flames of His refining fires.  How we act and react with the affliction we experience now, and after we come out of it, should be different than how we acted and reacted five years ago.  And in five more years, how we respond to affliction should be different than how we respond today.  Are we quick to recognize that what someone meant for evil, God meant for our good?  If not, there's more work to be done.  Are we quick to rejoice in the Lord, being thankful that He is revealing to us areas where we still need the burrs of self and idolatry shaved off so He is magnified in our lives?  If not, there's more work to be done.  Yes, there's always more work to be done.


"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:6

Psalm 119:75 - "I know, O LORD, that your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me."  


Sometimes we are not aware of what the Lord is accomplishing when we are undergoing pain and suffering.  This is the time to just trust - He is purposeful, He is sovereign, He is our loving Heavenly Father - who is causing all things to work together for our good, and for the other members of our family in the body of Christ.