August 17, 2025

“It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”
Psalm 119:71

In Psalm 119:68, we are told that God is good and does good. Here, the Psalmist sings that it is good he was afflicted that he may learn God’s will.

Through his afflictions, the Psalmist gains a deeper understanding of God’s law and His ways. This mirrors what the writer of Hebrews says about our Savior: “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

This perspective is counterintuitive. Worldly wisdom views affliction as negative and prompts prayers for changed circumstances.

Biblical wisdom, however, takes a different approach. Instead of praying for a change in circumstances, it seeks God’s changing us. For example, the Psalmist sings, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word (Psalm 119:67) and “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes (Psalm 119:71).

As Isaiah said, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD (Isaiah 55:8). We learn God’s ways through His Word, and we are transformed to be like Christ through the afflictions He brings.

The gospel promises not only that our sins are forgiven because of Christ but also that we will be transformed to become like Him. The Psalms teach us how to praise God as Christ did but also shows us how to pray like Christ.

The Psalmist reveals how God uses life’s afflictions for our good. He can do this because He is Almighty God, sovereign over all circumstances. He chooses to do this because He is our loving Heavenly Father, who cares deeply for us. Through every trial, God is shaping us to reflect His heart and walk in His truth, assuring us that His plans are for our ultimate good.