The longer I live the more convinced I become that a key component of our spiritual growth is the suffering that we undergo and the way that we react to it. The Scripture is full of suffering. The Scripture is full of God’s help in suffering. Note Psalm 119:50,

“This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.”

The person that wrote that psalm had known difficulty and suffering. He even called it “affliction.” It was tough. He didn’t like it. He probably wished, from one perspective, that it had never happened. But it had indeed happened and he had felt afflicted.

What did he do in that situation? Apparently, he went to the word of God. “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.” I’m sure that he found some help in his friends and fellow-believers. I’m sure he found some help in good food and rest - retaining his physical stamina. But what is it that he mentions as that which gave him comfort? The word of God.

Perhaps you are struggling with an issue right now? Maybe the stress of life is threatening to bring you down? I know the feeling. Affliction afflicts! It isn’t pretty. It isn’t fun.

Perhaps you are like me. Sometimes when I am going through difficulty I feel unmotivated to get into the word of God. The very thing that will bring comfort is the very thing I do not hunger for. At times I can find myself praying, “Lord, help me read Your word.”

He gives that help. I pick up the Bible. I open it. I begin to read. And, God begins to speak to me. Comfort comes. And it is personal.

Did you notice in that verse how personal it all is? “My comfort;” “my affliction;” “Your word;” “revived me.” It is the psalmist and God. God is meeting with the psalmist personally.

He’ll meet with you personally too.

And maybe, just maybe, that is one of the reasons that suffering is in the world right now.