READ: Psalm 119 (Focus vs. 65-72)
MEMORY VERSE
“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” Psalm 119:71
BACKGROUND
The brain is remarkably small, but stress can make it even smaller. Recent research has revealed that cumulative stress can shrink the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for managing emotions, impulses, and social interactions.
This shrinkage is linked to anxiety and depression, highlighting the toll that a lifetime of stress can take. But there’s good news—the brain’s plasticity allows it to heal through intentional practices like exercise, meditation, and meaningful relationships.
The psalmist in Psalm 119 understood this idea of growth and healing after facing stress and hardship: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (v. 71).
Affliction, though painful, became the psalmist’s teacher—taking us from being “astray” from God to choosing to “obey [His] word” (v. 67). The psalmist expresses gratitude for his bitter medicine and God’s goodness (v. 68).
While he understood that affliction and suffering could diminish him, he trusted God to use those experiences to refine and restore him (v. 66).
Like our brains, our spirits are capable of being stretched.
God uses this stretching to cause growth and renewal. Through Scripture, prayer, and a Spirit-inspired perspective, He can reverse the effects of our hardships. He can use our afflictions for our spiritual growth, transforming pain into purpose.
Marvin Williams
INSIGHT
Psalm 119 is an extended song/poem about the beauty of the law even in hard times. In today’s text (vv. 65-72), the psalmist uses a variety of terms to describe the law, including “word,” “commands,” “decrees,” “precepts,” and “law.”
These ideas are intensely personal for him, for he speaks from his experiences of pain. He uses terms like “afflicted” (vv. 67, 71) and “smeared . . . with lies” (v. 69) to cry out to God‚ grateful for all he’d learned from those seasons of struggle.
In spite of his afflictions and mistreatment, however, he concludes in verse 68, “You are good, and what you do is good.” In a broken world filled with hatred and pain, we too can rest in the never-failing goodness of God.
He uses all things, even our trials, for our spiritual growth and to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus.
APPLICATION
How has God helped you grow in faith through suffering? How have you embraced gratitude?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“In a broken world filled with hatred and pain, we too can rest in the never-failing goodness of God. He uses all things, even our trials, for our spiritual growth and to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus.”
PR’s TAKE
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken.” Psalm 34:19-20 nlt
”And we know that for those who love God ALL things work together For good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
PRAYER
“Loving God, thank You for teaching me through my trials.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“THROUGH IT ALL…”Andrae Crouch
I’ve had many tears and sorrow
I’ve had questions for tomorrow
There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong
But in every situation
God gave me blessed consolation
That my trials come to only make me strong
I’ve been a lot of places
And I’ve seen millions of of faces
But there were times that I felt so all alone
But in my lonely hour
Yet those precious lonely hours
Jesus lets me know that I was His own
That’s the reason I say that
Through it all
Through it all
Oh, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Let me tell ya that
Through it all
Oh, through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His word
So I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
And I thank Him for the storms He’s brought me through
For if I’d never had a problem
I’d never know God could solve them
I’d never know what faith in His word could do
That’s the reason I say that
Through it all
Oh, through it all
Oh, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Oh let me tell you
Through it all
Oh, through it all
Oh, I’ve learned to depend upon His word
Oh, let me tell you right now that
Through it all
Sometimes through the fire
Through it all
My, my, my Lord
Oh, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus (oh, I’ve learned)
I’ve learned to trust in God (and I can trust in God)
That through it all
Through it all
Oh, Lord, Lord
I’ve learned to depend upon His word
Oh, through my sickness and pain
I’ve learned to depend upon His word
Oh, through sorrow and shame
I’ve learned to depend upon His word
Through it ALL…
