The Light Affliction of God’s People

The apostle Paul here speaks concerning the sufferings and affliction in human life. In this world there is an enormous amount of pain and suffering. We come into the world weeping, and often with a sorrowful heart we leave this world.

From the cradle to the grave disappointment and affliction is our lot. Every person bears the fruit of our fall in Adam. That is the cause that this world is a vale of tears. Sin is always followed by suffering and misery.

The Lord takes notice of the actions of the sons of men. “God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” We often see instances in life where God punishes sin in a very plain and clear manner.

There is much to be said regarding the sufferings of mankind. The history of humanity is full of blood and tears. Wars have destroyed the happiness of many nations; contagious diseases have claimed thousands of victims. If we were to sum up all the sufferings endured, and still being endured, we would be very surprised.

The apostle speaks not about suffering humanity, but he speaks here about the tribulation of God’s people. In the world God’s children experience many afflictions. Paul has experienced this personally in a large measure. He suffered much for the name and cause of Christ. The Jews persecuted him everywhere because he preached the gospel of Jesus. The apostle labored night and day to proclaim the message of God’s grace to lost sinners, and this was a thorn in the eyes of self-righteous Jews and wicked heathens.

Paul speaks here about the light affliction of God’s favorites. But you will say, “Is the affliction of God’s people light?” Notice how God’s children must suffer. They must fight against the world, Satan, and their own sinful flesh. They are surrounded by thousands of enemies. They are opposed by Satan and are despised and persecuted by the world. And yet their afflictions are light when we compare it to the eternal glory which they shall one day inherit. Their afflictions pass away and they shall soon receive the crown of life from a faithful God. The children of the Lord experience natural afflictions, common to all men, and also afflictions known only to God’s people. The Lord sends His favorites afflictions, in His wisdom and love. The natural man receives afflictions also because the Lord wishes to punish his sins. The Lord chastises His people out of love that they may be sanctified thereby. God’s people very often need the chastening hand of the Lord that they may practice godliness.

It is a great blessing when the Lord has bestowed grace upon us, but we remain sinful creatures. Our old nature never will abide in the way of God’s commandments. In the life of God’s children there is a constant strife between flesh and spirit.

What does a child of the Lord do when all is prosperous and there are no dark clouds overhead? Well, they often forget God and His great blessings given to them. We by nature rest in our own strength; we soon have such high thoughts of ourselves.

Do you know how the Lord keeps His people poor and humble? He sends them troubles and cares that they may need Him continually. Thereby He teaches them to look away from self and other creatures. The Lord exercises His people in the way of affliction, that they may put their trust entirely in Him. Therefore affliction is so profitable for them.

The affliction can be of various kinds. Domestic circumstances and family troubles can be a fountain of tribulations. How many of God’s children have affliction in their families! What trouble David endured from his own children! Our earthly happiness is closely connected with our partner in life and our children. When they are against us, it is a continual source of sorrow. It is a blessing of the Lord when we can speak about God and His blessed Word to our loved ones.

Do you know what is one of the greatest afflictions of God’s children? The hiding of His friendly countenance. The Lord’s people also experience spiritual darkness. Oh, what fear then fills their heart!

To lack good health is a heavy burden. It is a great cross when our children do not desire the ways of the Lord. But what is worse is when the Lord leads our soul into adversity, and we cannot pour out our hearts before Him.

It can happen that we come into such a great struggle that we wonder whether the Lord has ever done anything for us. Darkness and gloom overtake us in such a great measure that we say: “The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.”

When the Lord grants us discovering light and we realize that God’s holy justice must be satisfied, then we experience that the waves and the billows of God’s wrath go over our head. Our souls are brought into the bands of death and into the anguish of hell. But in God’s own time, the soul receives light and is given to feel that the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

Paul possessed a sharp thorn in theßesh and thousands of disappointments. And still he writes about “light afflictions.”

The Lord’s people often experience afflictions. Satan tries in various ways to alarm and to frighten them. Sometimes he uses the world and at other times the Pharisees. It also can be that Satan comes as an angel of light to deceive God’s people.

The apostle Paul counts the affliction of God’s children light. Was Paul then a man who encountered very little disappointment? Just the opposite — he received many crosses from the Lord. Paul possessed a sharp thorn in the flesh and thousands of disappointments. And still he writes about “light afflictions.” We must rightly view this Word of the Lord. What the apostle says here is certainly true, and God’s people are taught this personally by His Spirit. Let us take note of ourselves and of our guilt before God. What have we deserved? Is the Lord obligated to grant us blessings? How did we live before our conversion and how did we walk after the Lord bestowed mercy upon us? Was our life always in tender godliness? Have we glorified the Lord day and night for His great grace? “No,” you will answer, “I have forgotten God and forsaken the Lord many times. Often I was as a wandering sheep who constantly strayed from his shepherd.” What backsliding there is in our lives, what pride, self-righteousness and sin live in the heart at times! The Lord has sent affliction, but it was a light affliction. Yes, you say, I have deserved it thousands of times over.

The Lord sends His children but a “light affliction” when we consider what the wicked will suffer in eternal destruction. When God’s people die, all their suffering is over and eternal joy begins.

Think for a moment of the suffering of Christ. His head was crowned with thorns and His body was nailed to the shameful cross, to the cursed tree of Calvary. Who can even in a small measure understand the deep soul’s suffering of Christ? That was affliction; that was suffering. Christ has suffered for His people and now they must follow in His footsteps.

The Lord’s children are not required to nor can they pay for their sins, but through affliction they must be sanctified. The affliction can be so trying, so heavy, but it soon passes by. What is temporary life in comparison with the great eternity?

Through tribulation, through suffering, God’s children are taught and are drawn closer to the Lord. Affliction works patience in their souls, through God’s gracious leadings. By God’s grace, the deepest affliction is accompanied by His greatest support. The path of life for His chosen ones is never so dark but that He permits a ray of light to fall thereon. The Lord grants the travelers to the new Jerusalem blessings out of His sanctuary. Then once again they travel their path with gladness, looking to the great cross-bearer Jesus Christ.

The light affliction bears a glorious fruit; it worketh in the heart of God’s children a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. That is the reward of grace which the Lord gives unto His children. They shall one day be taken up into eternal glory to eternally love and praise the Lord.

The affliction in itself has no value, but when God blesses it to our soul it produces in us peaceable fruits of righteousness. It is God who sends affliction in the lives of His children and uses it to His glorious end.

God’s way with His people is always best and for their good. Affliction through God’s blessing takes away the worldly conformity of our soul and points our heart heavenward. Eternity will be necessary to adore God for His love, also in the way of affliction.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction
He addeth His mercy.
To multiplied trials
He has multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance
And our strength is failed ere the day is half done,
When we have reached the end of our hoarded resources,
The Father’s full giving is only begun.
His love knows no limit.
His grace has no measure.
His power has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth
and giveth
and giveth again.

—Anonymous

Rev. G. Zijderveld (1910-1992) served as pastor in the NRC and Free Reformed denominations for forty years. He passed away May 5, 1992. This meditation is reprinted from a 1975 Banner of Truth.

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