Afflictions: August 5, 2011

AUGUST 5 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2011.

AFFLICTIONS

DEFINITION:

A depressed or painful state; misery; a cause of mental or bodily pain as sickness or calamity.

SCRIPTURE:

“My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me.” Job 30:27

“This is my comfort in my affliction, for your Word has given me life.” Psalms 119:50

“For our light affliction, which is for about a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” II Corinthians 4:17

“Oh Lord my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of affliction.” Jeremiah 16:19

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

One of life’s great concerns for us has been to see children, young people and adults who are suffering afflictions in their lives. All of us react when an affliction affects one of our family members, but do we show concern for those in far of areas of our world that may have even greater afflictions? The definition of the word “AFFLICTION” refers to the mental or body pain one may have in a sickness or a calamity.

When sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve, affliction entered as well. Our minds and our bodies are now subject to suffering and pain. Some suffer greater afflictions than others. It is heart wrenching to see children born with physical and mental challenges as well as people suffering with cancer and with other diseases. Just as sad is to see whole families living in poverty and who do not have food to eat. This is affliction as well. No matter if the affliction is large or small it is so easy for the victim to fall into despair and, as Job said, the “heart is in turmoil.”

As believers in Jesus we face affliction with a different attitude than those who do not know Him. As Christians we can look beyond our affliction in this life with the hope of a life without affliction when we are in heaven with our Lord. Our suffering in this life is temporary.

It is usually the case that when we are going through the tough times in life with our greatest afflictions that God does His greatest work through us. Afflictions should increase our reliance on the Lord. This gives us an opportunity to share with others the strength of our faith and allows God to demonstrate His power through us.

Recently we had a dear friend who was afflicted with lung cancer. She used this time of affliction to testify to others of her faith and trust in the Lord. What a blessing and encouragement she was to us and many others. She is now home with her Lord and Savior and free from all suffering and affliction.

In January of this year Dottie’s sister went to be with the Lord. She had been physically and mentally challenged all of her life. We know of no one who was more cheerful, showed more concern for others and was more generous. If she ever had had money she would have given it all away because she got so much joy out of giving. In her limited capacity she was a testimony of her faith in the Lord even through all the affliction she had to endure.

We have witnessed so many situations of affliction that it would be very easy for us to become immune to them as they come our way. But we continue to ask God daily to make us sensitive to those that are going through a time of affliction. Do you have that caring spirit and attitude? Almost daily a situation comes our way and we wish we could do more to help. We are limited, as you are, by our finances and even with enough time to respond. But one thing we can do is pray and be a friend to that person who is hurting.

It may be a relative or friend with cancer, a child without food, a man or woman that lost a job or a family that lost their house and is now homeless. The list can go on and on, but remember, we can pray, we can love, we can encourage and we can care.

When you are facing an affliction in your life, look for opportunities to let others see Christ in you. You will be surprised to see how much God will bless you and ease your affliction because you are thinking of others and not yourself.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 10:27.

“With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

PRAYER:

Help me today to have a heart that shows concern for those facing affliction in their lives. Help me to praise You throughout this day for the many blessings You have given me and my family. Give me strength to live this day looking for the one place where I can make an impact on another person’s life that is hurting and needs Your love.