65 You have dealt well with Your servant,
O Lord, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good [z]discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
68 You are good and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
69 The arrogant [aa]have forged a lie against me;
With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.
70 Their heart is [ab]covered with fat,
But I delight in Your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
72 The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
I don’t like affliction, and I’m sure you don’t either. But the psalmist knew it was good for him, at least when he looked for God’s instruction in the middle of it all. In v. 67, he says “Before I was afflicted I went astray…” and later in v. 71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted…” So while we don’t like affliction, sometimes we need it to get us back on track.
When life is easy or going well, it can be tempting to get a little prideful. After all, we could think, “Wow, look how well things are going, I must be doing a really good job!” Watch out, before you get a big head, and need some affliction to bring you back to reality.
While that’s probably the easiest trap to fall into, there are any number of ways we can go astray. But much like bumpers we use for kids while they are bowling, God will use affliction to show us what not to do. He also uses it to sand down the rough edges of our character, things we might overlook, but things that don’t reflect God’s heart very well.
His testing, pruning, and refining aren’t as comfy and fun as bowling bumpers, but they are necessary. Just like a mirror won’t reflect very well if the glass is rough and unpolished, we won’t show our Saviors love until God polishes out those rough spots.
So, whether you’re going through a hard time right now, or one is looming on the horizon, don’t shy away. Take God’s hand, and walk through it to the other side, all the while watching and waiting for the lessons He will teach you. Then, you’ll shine all the brighter, not because you’re so amazing, but because He is. Though truthfully, He thinks pretty highly of you, but don’t go getting a big head about it!