Purpose in Affliction

This is probably one of the hardest things for us to imagine or understand. How can there be purpose in affliction? I am hurting so bad. How can something good come out of this?

Many times, I know I have asked the question and maybe you have as well: "Why is life so hard right now? Why does it feel like no matter what I do, something keeps pushing against me?" 

Well, if you have ever felt that way - overlooked, mistreated, delayed, rejected, abandoned, or like your prayers are hitting a wall, I’m glad you’re here. Let’s talk about it and see how our great God works behind the scenes to shape us through every storm.

Our main Scripture is taken from Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV): "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

The Apostle Paul tells us something powerful here, Family. It is that tribulation is not a dead end. It is a doorway. God uses our hardships to build something eternal in us — perseverance, character, and an unshakable hope that stands strong even when everything around us shakes.

Yesterday we spoke about shifting our perspective and I want to reemphasize that today as we talk about tribulation being God’s refining process.

I want to encourage us to pause for a moment when we are going through the tough times and see what we are going through as a training ground. What are we training for? To build our spiritual strength and become more mature in Christ. 

Remember we ended last year saying we would be growing in Christ in 2025!

So just like gold must pass through fire to be purified, our faith must pass through affliction to be refined. 

Let’s look at Joseph: Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned, he endured years of injustice. Yet when he finally stood before his brothers as a ruler in Egypt, he declared in Genesis 50:20 NKJV: "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

Family, we can see here that Joseph’s affliction wasn’t punishment. Maybe it felt like punishment to him. And maybe what we are going through causes us to ask why me, what have I done to deserve this? But we can learn from Joseph that his affliction was not punishment, but preparation for promotion and purpose. 

And we see this truth not just in the famous names of Scripture, but also in people we might not hear about as often:

Hagar - After being mistreated and cast out by Sarah, Hagar found herself alone in the wilderness. But God met her there and gave her a promise. She declared in Genesis 16:13 NKJV: "Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, 'Have I also here seen Him who sees me?'"

Her rejection led to a revelation — that God sees even those the world overlooks. Oh glory to God.

How many of us have heard of Jephthah? 

Jephthah was rejected by his family because of his background. Judges 11:1-2 NKJV: "Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out."

Yet later, they came looking for him because God had raised him up to be a deliverer. His early rejection prepared him for leadership.

Judges 11:5-6 (NKJV): "And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. Then they said to Jephthah, 'Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon.’"

And later we read in Judges 11:11 (NKJV): "Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah."

Remember Hannah? She had deep sorrow over not being able to bear a child. Her pain pushed her into purpose. 1 Samuel 1:10 NKJV: "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish."

And this pushed her into a depth of prayer that birthed not just a child, but Samuel — a prophet who would change a nation. 

We can also look at Micaiah. Micaiah stood for truth even when it cost him everything. Imprisoned for prophesying honestly to a wicked king, his faithfulness showed that sometimes affliction is the price of standing with God.

Here’s the timeline. In 1 Kings 22:8, Ahab says he hates Micaiah because he speaks the truth. In verse 14, Micaiah declares he will only say what God tells him, not what people want to hear. And in verses 26-27, after speaking the truth, Micaiah is thrown into prison for his prophecy.

And there is Onesimus, once a runaway slave. He found Christ through Paul and became useful for the Kingdom. His flight from trouble led to his freedom in Christ. 

Philemon 1:10-11 NKJV: "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me."

Each of these individuals could have given up in their affliction. They could have believed the lie that their suffering meant God had forgotten them. But instead, God used their storms to prepare them for something greater.

Paul reminds us we can glory in tribulation — not because we enjoy pain, but because we trust the outcome. Hallelujah. 

We trust that perseverance is being built. We trust that character is being strengthened. And we trust that hope — true, living hope — is being poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Hope that doesn’t disappoint.

That’s beautiful to me and I hope to you as well. 

I have been disappointed so many times by trusting in people and situations. And truth be told, I have disappinted some people too. But the point is, there will be no disappointment in heaven and we should practice down here to keep our word and these promises and covenants we make with one another and most importantly with God.

Family, ultimately, the world’s hope can fail, but the hope God builds through affliction is solid, anchored, and eternal.

Maybe today you feel like Hagar, unseen.
Maybe you feel like Jephthah, rejected.
Maybe you feel like Hannah, desperate.
Maybe you feel like Micaiah, isolated for standing in truth.
Maybe you feel like Onesimus, running from your past.
Maybe you feel like Joseph, forgotten and misunderstood.

Wherever we find ourselves, Family, know this: our affliction is not the end. It's part of God's preparation for our purpose.

So to our Declaration for Today:
"My afflictions are producing perseverance, character, and unshakable hope!"

Remember, nothing we’re going through is wasted. God is building something beautiful in you, in me, in us. Hallelujah. 

aub - 30Apr25 

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