Training

See hard times as God’s training school

Psalm 119:65-72

Suffering is never good in itself, but God is able to use it for good (Romans 8:28). Sometimes God uses our suffering to train us. Just as a gardener prunes the vine (John 15:2), parents discipline their children (Hebrews 12:10) and a metal worker refines silver and gold in the fire (1 Peter 1:6–7).

The psalmist writes, ‘Train me in good common sense... Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place, but now I’m in step with your Word... train me in your goodness’ (Psalm 119:66–68, MSG). When you are going through hard times don’t allow that to make you doubt God’s goodness. Instead, see it as God’s training school.

Unfair criticism is hard to receive. The psalmist writes, ‘The godless spread lies about me, but I focus my attention on what you are saying’ (v.69, MSG). Attack may come from those whose ‘hearts are callous and unfeeling’. Yet, in the midst of this, you, too, can find ‘delight’ in God’s words (v.70).

He is able to see that God has actually used his troubles, affliction and suffering: ‘My troubles turned out all for the best – they forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine’ (v.71–72, MSG).