Life is a long road that has many ups and downs. Sometimes we walk on the mountaintops of life. Our finances, family, jobs, and future seem hopeful with no storm clouds on the horizon. Fortunately, this is not always the case. Why would I say fortunately? I say it because we need God and affliction can be a blessing. Often, when everything is going as we desire, we don’t realize we need God. It’s the dark valleys of affliction that show us how much we need God’s light in our life. Even on the mountaintops, we need His presence. It’s just easier to forget and neglect the daily worship of Him when we can easily deal with anything that might come our way.
James 5:13 – “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.”
To be afflicted is to be suffering grief or distress in some sort of way. It’s associated with pain in your body or mind. The instruction is to pray when we are in pain. The lost man will become angry and aggressive when he is afflicted, but we, as Christians, are to turn to God. We pray to God the Father who can save us, in the name of Christ, under the influence of the Spirit, believing in God’s Holy Word.
The very nature of prayer is an act of humility. It’s telling God we need Him and we are not able to help ourselves. That is the opportunity found in affliction. It’s the opportunity to really see our need and His help. It’s the opportunity to grow closer to God and to see His mercy and grace displayed. God loves the humble, and the prayer of the afflicted draws us closer to Him.
James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Spurgeon said, “I am afraid that all the grace that I have got of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours, might almost lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows, and pains, and griefs, is altogether incalculable … Affliction is the best bit of furniture in my house. It is the best book in a minister’s library.”
When you are afflicted, pray and draw closer to God.
(By Josh Wilcox)
