Afflictions Are Tools

And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
Romans 5:3‭-‬4

If afflictions carried no benefit then they would be harder to bear and a gross injustice. However, afflictions come to us all, at some time.

I was sent a very good illustration of this only yesterday. It was a story about a young wife who felt let down by her husband. She went to her grandmother and complained. The grandmother took her into the kitchen and put three pots on the stove. In one she put a whole carrot, the second an uncooked egg and the third coffee beans. She said nothing until the cooking was done. She said: "the carrot though firm before the heat became limp after the heat, the egg became hard inside and the coffee became a beautiful aroma". The grandmother asked the girl "what can you see?" The girl was confused and just said: " a cooked carrot and egg and a cup of coffee. But grandma what does this mean?" The grandmother replied: "in life you will have many hard knocks, they can make you limp, hard or fragrant. Which one will you choose?"

This is a good visual lesson for what Paul is talking about. Afflictions can make us or break us, what happens to us is our choice.

Tonight I watched a quiz show with my mother. One of the contestants had a daughter who went through weeks of radiation and heavy chemotherapy whilst studying for her year 12 final exam. She passed and went on to university and now has a good career. I am sure there were many times the young girl wanted to give up but the hospital staff supported and encouraged her.

Go to God with your afflictions, He will sustain you and mould you into a beautiful vessel for His glory. Amen!