Affliction Anchors God’s People to God’s Promises

Psalm 119:49-80

Affliction Anchors God’s People to God’s Promises

Introduction

Some of you are in a storm right now. Some of you came in smiling on the outside… but barely holding it together underneath. And some of you -if you’re honest - are just waiting for the next storm to hit.

Affliction is not an if- it’s a when. And when it comes, it doesn’t politely knock… it breaks the door down.

But for many of us, the storm isn’t always on the outside.

Sometimes the storm is inside of our own chest.

Some of us are carrying quiet rage - the kind that shows up in short tempers, passive distance, or outbursts that leave our families limping.

Some are silently angry at God… bitter toward a spouse… or locked into the lie that if I just stay mad enough, maybe something will finally change.

Others are clinging to the ways of the world:

React instead of repent.

Defend instead of surrender.

Blow up instead of breaking down in humility.

Here’s the question we’re asking today:

What holds you steady when life gets heavy?

Because something always will.

Some people anchor themselves in control. Others anchor themselves in people, approval, success, substances or some other escape.

But when the pressure of affliction - whether external or internal - shows up, those anchors will fail.

Psalm 119:49–80 is a lifeline. It’s written for people in the middle of it - not on the other side. Not from the comfort of palace - but from the pressure cooker of real life.

This is the honest cry of someone who is afflicted, opposed, misunderstood, and worn out… but who has learned to cling to the Word of God.

Here’s where we’re going:

We’re going to walk through this portion of Scripture and see four ways God’s Word anchors us in affliction:

God’s Word becomes our comfort

God’s Word anchors our obedience

God’s Word trains our hearts

God’s Word leads us to mercy and hope

But we’re not just going to simply take look at the text - we’re going to trace the anchor line. And when we follow it all the way to the end, we’re going to find something solid - something… or perhaps Someone… that will hold fast when everything else fails.

So, here’s the message that’s going to thread through everything we say today: Affliction isn’t meant to destroy you - it’s meant to anchor you. And God has given you something stronger than the storm to hold onto: His promises.

I. In Affliction, God’s Word Becomes Our Comfort

Psalm 119:49–56 (Zayin)

“Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”

(Psalm 119:49–50, ESV)

If you’re walking through affliction - here’s the first thing this passage shows us:

God’s promises breathe life into places where affliction tries to drain it.

“This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”

The psalmist isn’t waiting for the pain to pass before he finds peace. He’s not looking for a shortcut out of the struggle.

Often times when we’re in the storm our prayer is “Lord let this cup pass from me. But we never make it to, “Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done. This psalmist is a “Nevertheless” type of believer.

He says: “Your promise gives me life.”

That’s the kind of comfort that doesn’t deny the pain - it outlasts it.

“The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.”

(Psalm 119:51–52, ESV)

He’s being mocked - belittled - Can any of us identify with him this morning?

But-He’s holding fast. He draws comfort from the old truths of God's Word (v. 52).

You and I don’t need some new revelation when we’re under pressure. We need this ageless truth.

“Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law.”

(Psalm 119:53–55, ESV)

This isn’t a man writing in the middle of the day.

This is a man lying awake in the dark - talking to God. Any of you ever been there?

He’s not brooding or bitter. He’s not rehearsing the argument.

He’s not indulging in his rage or fueling in his resentment.

He remembers God’s name and keeps God’s Word.

That’s the shift. That’s the pattern. That’s the anchor.

Let’s be honest - some of us don’t need new comfort; we need new patterns.

We’ve been rehearsing worldly scripts in the middle of the night:

            •           “They don’t respect me.”

            •           “I’ll never change.”

            •           “I deserve better.”

            •           “If I just blow up, maybe they’ll finally listen.”

            •           “I’ll just keep numbing it. That’s what works.”

But the psalmist shows us a better way.

He remembers God’s name.

He keeps God’s law.

And he finds God’s comfort.

“This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.”

(Psalm 119:56, ESV)

God’s Word is not only informative - it’s restorative.

It revives the weary.

It steadies the overwhelmed.

It comforts the afflicted.

Let’s bring this first section home:

God’s Word is not only where you go for relief - it’s where you go for retraining.

It untangles the lies we’ve clung to and replaces them with wisdom from above.

It doesn’t just soothe the heart - it shapes the heart.

So whether you’re wrestling with grief, fear, or even unresolved anger:

The Word of God will not fail you.

When life hurts…

When the world lies…

When rage rises…

God’s promises are your anchor.

II. In Affliction, God’s Word Anchors Our Obedience

Psalm 119:57–64 (Heth)

“The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.”

(Psalm 119:57, ESV)

So, we’ve seen that God’s Word is where the psalmist finds comfort in affliction.

But he doesn’t stop at comfort - he keeps moving forward in obedience.

Here’s the second anchor:

God’s Word doesn’t just calm us - it commands us.

And in affliction, obedience can feel like a battle.

The section begins with this bold declaration:

“The LORD is my portion.” (v57)

That’s inheritance language.

That’s covenant talk.

That’s someone saying, “I’ve chosen God - not just as a belief, but as my everything.”

And if the LORD is your portion - your reward, your treasure - then His Word becomes your path.

But don’t miss the next line:

“I promise to keep your words.” (v57)

This isn’t passive comfort - this is a posture of resolve.

In the middle of affliction, the psalmist is doubling down on obedience.

He’s not negotiating with the world. He’s clinging to what God has said.

Now that may sound simple… until life gets hard.

How many of you know that it’s hard to do what’s right when we’ve been wronged?

You ever tried to focus on serving your spouse when they’re being unloving or disrespectful? Is it hard for anyone else to submit to God’s rule over your life in the midst of a fiery trial?

Let’s be real - obedience is easy when we’re comfortable.

But when you’re misunderstood… when your marriage is on edge…

When you’re angry and tired and tempted to retaliate -

Obedience starts to feel like weakness.

But it’s not weakness - it’s warfare.

“I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;”

(Psalm 119:58–59, ESV)

Look at verse 60:

“I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.”

(Psalm 119:60, ESV)

That’s urgency.

No procrastinating.

No “I’ll get around to it.”

He says, “I’m running toward obedience.”

Now here’s the tension:

“Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.”

(Psalm 119:61, ESV)

He’s surrounded.

Maybe slandered.

Maybe tempted to return fire with fire.

But instead - he stays tethered to the Word.

Affliction doesn’t make him retreat from obedience - it reveals the urgency of it.

Let me say it straight for some of us this morning:

If you’re in a difficult marriage, the temptation is to justify disobedience.

To say, “They don’t deserve my gentleness,” or “If they’re cold, I’ll be colder.”

But that’s the world’s wisdom, not God’s.

The Word doesn’t give us an out when things get hard - it gives us a path when things fall apart.

“At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.”

(Psalm 119:62, ESV)

Again - we’re back in the night hours.

Not bitterness. Not blame. Not binge-watching.

Praise.

Why?

Because he trusts and believes that God’s rules are still right - even when life feels wrong.

And might I add even when life hurts - I mean when things get really- really tough, the love and grace and mercy he has received and the goodness of God is so overwhelming that when from the outside looking in he should be crumbling, or seething or plotting revenge, he instead is giving praise to God even in the midnight hours.

Some of us need to try that.

End the call and start Praising.

Stop scrolling and start Praising.

Stop complaining and start Praising.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

(Colossians 3:15–17, ESV)

My prayer for you this morning is that this word is planted so deeply in your heart, and the holy spirit of our living God dwells with you so richly that the trials of this life and not even the gates of Hell will be able to shake out your praise.

Verse 63 adds this final layer:

“I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!”

(Psalm 119:63–64, ESV)

Obedience shapes community.

If the world is shaping your obedience, the world will shape your relationships.

But when the Word shapes your obedience - you’ll find yourself surrounded by people who walk with God, even when it costs them.

Let’s anchor this point before we move on:

· Obedience in affliction is not convenient - it’s courageous.

· Affliction tempts us to delay, deflect, or disobey - but God’s Word calls us to draw near, not pull away.

· When everything feels unstable, obedience becomes your act of defiance against the chaos.

And the good news? You’re not walking alone.

God’s people - imperfect but faithful - are walking this road too.

You’re not the only one choosing to obey when it’s hard.

You ‘ll find that have a host of sisters and brothers in arms who are fighting the same good fight of faith that you are, and who are here to love, support, uplift, encourage and as our sister Mellissa says, help one another get by until He calls us home.

III. In Affliction, God’s Word Trains Our Hearts

Psalm 119:65–72 (Teth)

“You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”

(Psalm 119:65–71, ESV)

By this point, we’ve seen that in affliction, the psalmist is comforted…

Then he’s committed to obey…

But now - now he goes deeper:

He starts to recognize that affliction itself has become a teacher.

Let that sink in:

“It is good for me that I was afflicted…” (v71)

Who says that unless something has radically changed in their heart?

Only someone who’s been through the fire and discovered that God uses it.

Only someone who doesn’t just want relief - but wants to be refined.

Verse 67 gives us the backstory:

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.”

Before the pain… before the storm… before the struggle - he wandered.

But affliction brought him back.

Affliction didn’t ruin him - it rescuedhim.

Now let me pause and say this clearly:

Affliction doesn’t mean God is angry with you.

It may mean He loves you too much to let you keep drifting away.

He may be pulling you out of self-reliance.

He may be shaking loose the pride you didn’t even see.

He may be exposing idols that were costing you more than you knew.

Verse 68 says:

“You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.”

Did you catch that?

The psalmist doesn’t define God’s goodness by his comfort -

He defines God’s goodness by God’s character.

This is someone saying,

“God, I’ve seen enough to trust You - even when it hurts.”

“Don’t stop teaching me - even if it means more pressure.”

That’s not a weak faith.

That’s a faith that has been forged in the fires of life.

Now let me speak to your heart:

Some of us are angry because life didn’t turn out the way we expected.

Some of us are bitter because the people we loved didn’t meet our needs.

Some of us are cynical because the pain feels never-ending.

But hear this:

“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” (v71)

God used the Psalmist’s affliction to teach him something. And God is using your affliction to grow you in wisdom.

God is not punishing you - He is purifying you.

He is shaping you into someone who can carry what He’s called you to carry.

Don’t waste your suffering.

Don’t numb it.

Don’t rage through it.

Let it train you.

Let it refine you.

Then the section ends with this:

“The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

(Psalm 119:72, ESV)

Now that hits different when you’ve been afflicted.

You can only say that after you’ve been through the fire and found the Word still standing.

Here’s the third anchor:

Affliction is not just something to survive through - it’s something God uses to sanctify.

The Word doesn’t just inform your head - it trains your heart.

IV. In Affliction, God’s Word Leads Us to Mercy and Hope

Psalm 119:73–80 (Yodh)

Up to this point, we’ve seen the Word comfort the afflicted…

We’ve seen it command the obedient…

We’ve seen it train the heart…

And now, in this final section, we see the Word lead us to a posture of mercy and hope.

Verse 73 begins with a confession:

“Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.”

(Psalm 119:73, ESV)

This is someone acknowledging:

“I didn’t make myself. I don’t know best. God, I need you to teach me how to live. I need you to teach me what to say in this moment. I need you to show me how to react in Love.”

That’s humility.

And affliction has a way of bringing us there.

Then look at this awesome verse in 74:

“Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.”

(Psalm 119:74, ESV)

Did you catch that?

This is no longer just personal.

Now it’s witness. Now he going to testify. You can’t just keep this faith to yourself.

He says:

“When others see that I’m still hoping in God’s Word - even in affliction - they’ll be encouraged.”

That means your endurance isn’t just about you.

Your hope becomes fuel for someone else’s faith.

Somebody’s watching how you respond to pain.

Somebody’s listening to how you talk about your marriage and your spouse.

Somebody’s noticing whether you choose grace… or rage.

And when they see that you’re still anchored…

Still trusting…

Still delighting in the Word of the Lord…

They rejoice.

Not because you’re impressive - but because your God is faithful.

“I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.”

(Psalm 119:75–77, ESV)

Did you catch the cry in verse 77:

“Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.”

He doesn’t ask for revenge.

He doesn’t ask for escape.

He asks for mercy.

He knows he doesn’t deserve to be sustained - yet he’s clinging to the hope that God will do it anyway.

This section concludes with this prayer:

“Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!”

(Psalm 119:78–80, ESV)

Here’s what I love about that:

The psalmist isn’t just asking for changed circumstances.

He’s asking for a changed heart.

He’s saying,

“God, don’t just fix what’s around me - fix what’s in me.”

“Shape my heart so that I reflect Your truth, no matter what happens.”

When I was growing up there was a hymn that we used to sing that goes like this:

“It’s not my father, not my mother; not my sister or my brother; not the stranger nor my neighbor -but its ME oh Lord, standing in the need of Prayer.”

When you are reading this word and you are praying to be conformed to it, you realize that the war is not with your spouse, your in-laws, the other political party, the job that your frustrated with, the kids that won’t listen or whoever it is that you see as the barrier between you and a sanctified life.

My greatest war is not with my enemy. My greatest war is with the inner-me.

We need our own mind renewed. We need our own hearts cleaned. We need our own selves to be humbled.

“It’s not my father, not my mother; not my sister or my brother; not the stranger nor my neighbor -but its Youstanding in the need of Prayer.”

So here’s the final anchor:

In affliction, the Word leads us - not to pride, not to rage, not to bitterness…

But the word leads us to mercy, humility, and a living hope.

The world says:

“You’ve got to be strong.”

“You got to put your foot down”

“You cant let people run all over you”

The Word says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

“The meek shall inherit the earth”

“Christ’s Strength is perfected in your weakness”

The world says:

“You better look out for you.”

“You deserve you put yourself first”

The Word says:

“Let your heart be blameless before the Lord.”

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition”

“In humility count others as more significant than yourself”

“Look to the interest of others and not to your own”

If affliction has driven you to the end of yourself - That’s not the end of the story.

That’s the beginning of hope.

Christ, the Anchor in Our Affliction

We’ve walked through affliction with the psalmist.

We’ve heard his cry for comfort… his resolve to obey…

his confession that suffering trained him…

his humble hope for mercy.

But here’s the question we’ve got to ask:

How can someone really live like this?

How can anyone be this steady in the storm?

Where do you find this kind of confidence?

This kind of comfort?

This kind of clarity in affliction?

You can try to muster it up.

You can try to grit your way through it.

But you and I both know - we’re not strong enough for that.

There’s only one way to live this way:

You have to be anchored in something deeper than the affliction itself.

And the deeper anchor is not a principle.

It’s not a motivational quote.

It’s not even a Bible verse taped to your mirror.

The anchor… is a Person.

The Word that comforts us in affliction…

The Word that commands our obedience…

The Word that trains our hearts…

The Word that leads us to mercy and hope…

That Word became flesh.

And He walked into affliction with no rescue line.

He was mocked by the arrogant.

Surrounded by the wicked.

Rejected by His own.

Pierced for our transgressions.

Crushed for our iniquities.

Jesus Christ is the true and better Psalm 119 sufferer -

but unlike us, He suffered without sin.

He obeyed perfectly.

He delighted in God’s Word at all times.

He endured the wrath of God so we could receive the mercy of God.

He’s the one who didn’t just quote the promises - He fulfilled them.

He didn’t just ask for a blameless heart - He had one.

And through His death and resurrection, He offers His righteousness to us.

So, hear this:

When affliction comes…

When life hits you sideways…

When anger rises in your soul…

When bitterness creeps in…

When the lies of the world whisper louder than the truth of God’s Word…

Don’t just run to a verse - run to the One the verse reveals.

Don’t just open your Bible - open your heart to the Savior it points to.

Jesus Christ is your anchor.

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul…” (Hebrews 6:19)

Invitation to Respond

This is not a pep talk.

I’m not here to pretend that life isn’t heavy.

But I am here to tell you this:

There is mercy for those who’ve been angry.

There is strength for those who feel weak.

There is truth for those who’ve been clinging to lies.

There is hope for those who are exhausted.

“Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.” (Psalm 119:77)

And in Christ, mercy has come.

He is the life you’re looking for.

So today - don’t just listen to the Word.

Surrender to the Word made flesh.

When you are afflicted

In the midst of the storms of life

Anchor yourself in Christ.

And you will not drift.