Psalm 34:18-19
Thoughts from Pastor Stuart
Dive Deeper
Behind the Scenes
One of the more common misconceptions new believers have is that once you choose to follow Jesus, life should just get better, easier, and have less problems. We love the verses that talk about the victories we have in Christ but often fail to read them in context. This is one of those passages. If we aren’t careful, we can easily fixate on the ending of this passage and miss the context all together.
So, today I want us to take a look at some important details about this passage. First, I think it’s important to note that it doesn’t say “there might be afflictions for the righteous.” Instead, it states that when we choose a life of righteousness, there will be many afflictions. It’s not a matter of “if”, it’s a matter of “when.”
And it also doesn’t say that the Lord stops the afflictions. It says that He delivers us out of them. But for Him to deliver us out of something, it stands to reason that we would have to be in something first. For us to need delivering, there has to be something to deliver us from.
Make it Real
Here is the harsh truth. We are a fallen and broken people living in a fallen and broken world. We are affected by sin, both inside and outside of ourselves, every day. And choosing to live righteously creates a strain whether we like it or not. We will feel the strain, or the affliction, of sin in any area that we choose to follow Christ.
The lie that the enemy wants you to believe is that afflictions mean you’re far from God. But the reality is that statement is not always true. Yes, when we are walking in sin and rebellion to God, we will encounter afflictions and struggles. That is just a natural consequence of sin.
But when we are choosing righteousness, we will also experience affliction because we are living in contrast to the sinful world around us. But we can rest assured that in the middle of those afflictions, Jesus is nearby! He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He promises to walk through every struggle, affliction, trial, and obstacle with us.
So, the reality is that you experience affliction either way. I’ve heard the saying, “choose your hard,” and that is true in our spiritual walk as much as our physical one. Living in righteousness is often hard. But living in sin is also hard. Choosing to walk in opposition to the brokenness around us is hard. But being a part of the brokenness is also hard. So, choose your hard.
The difficulties that you will face as a believer are real and can be very overwhelming. But the promise we get to hold on to in the midst of the struggles is that God is near to you in those struggles, and He is working in the middle of them. He is using them to grow you, perfect you, and strengthen you. Unlike the struggles you will face apart from Him, the struggles of the righteous always lead to something better.
So today, choose your hard. Choose righteousness. Choose Jesus.
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Publishing Team Lead
End in Prayer
Hey God,
Thank You for being enough when the world around me is hard. Thank You for walking with me in the midst of the difficulties. Today, I choose You, even when it’s difficult or when choosing You means I face difficulties. I trust that You have me in Your hand. Help me to see any areas where my sin is causing the issues. Thank You for always being faithful to me!
Amen!