Being Grateful Through Affliction

Being Thankful at Thanksgiving:

Being Grateful Through Affliction

Psalm 119:65-72

Psalm 119:65–72 (NLT)

65 You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised.

66 I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.

67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

68 You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees.

69 Arrogant people smear me with lies, but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.

70 Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions.

71 My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

72 Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.

INTRODUCTION:

At Thanksgiving, we typically express gratitude for God's blessings. But did you ever consider thanking Him for something that doesn't seem like a blessing—such as a trying circumstance you want Him to remove or change?

A grateful heart is most precious to God when, humanly speaking, our situations don't warrant giving thanks.

By making four foundational decisions, we can begin to see the value of our adversities and respond with appreciation.

How can we develop an attitude of gratitude in times of affliction and trouble?

I- RESOLVE TO BELIEVE AND TRUST IN GOD. (Psalm 119:65-66)

Psalm 119:65–66 (NLT)

65 You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised.

66 I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.

A- Resolve to believe God is trustworthy and good.

(Psalm 119:65)

Psalm 119:65 (NLT)

65 You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised.

B- Resolve to to believe God’s Word and seek to learn what it says.

(Psalm 119:66)

Psalm 119:66 (NLT)

66 I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.

(Psalm 119:105)

Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

II- RECEIVE THE SITUATION AS COMING FROM GOD. (Psalm 119:67-68)

Psalm 119:67–68 (NLT)

67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

68 You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees.

A- Recognize that affliction and pain are not necessarily negative.

(Psalm 119:67)

Psalm 119:67 (NLT)

67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

B- Recognize that affliction is often the way that we learn the most valuable lessons that God can teach us.

(Psalm 119:68)

Psalm 119:68 (NLT)

68 You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees.

III- RELINQUISH CONTROL TO GOD IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE. (Psalm 119:69-70)

Psalm 119:69–70 (NLT)

69 Arrogant people smear me with lies, but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.

70 Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions.

A- Reject the urge to manipulate your circumstances.

1- While we may have the urge to attempt to manipulate our own circumstances because of maliciousness or ineptness of people around us, we must choose to relinquish control or our circumstances to God.

B- Choose to obey God enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.

1- The best way to demonstrate faith in God is to continue to obey His Word in the midst of affliction.

IV- REQUEST STRENGTH FROM GOD FOR THE SITUATION. (Psalm 119:71-72)

Psalm 119:71–72 (NLT)

71 My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

72 Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.

A- Confess to the Lord that you recognize and accept His instructions in your situation.

1- Recognizing the value of the lessons God teaches us during our afflictions enables us to be able to give thanks in and for them.

2- As we understand the value of the lessons we are learning and will learn in affliction enables us to approach and endure these hardships with joy and expectation.

(Romans 5:3-5)

Romans 5:3–5 (NLT)

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

B- Ask God for His strength to sustain you and enable your obedience.

(Psalm 119:76-77)

Psalm 119:76–77 (NLT)

76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.

77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.

1- We need to actively seek God’s presence and mercies to provide strength during our afflictions.

One of the greatest assets we can possess during affliction is not removal from the circumstance, but a conscious awareness that God is present with us and that He is using everything for our good— to help us become more like Jesus!

(2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (NLT)

17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

CONCLUSION:

Hymn Lyrics to “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

1 O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free.

2

Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; O’er us sin no more hath dominion For more than conqu’rors we are!

3

His Word shall not fail you, He promised; Believe Him and all will be well; Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,  

 In the light of His glory and grace.