Some of life’s greatest lessons are learned in moments of affliction. Those times are not easy to accept, nor are they easy to experience, but affliction happens; and how you navigate through them can be life-transforming or life-destroying.
One of the greatest kings who has ever ruled, David, wrote about his own experiences and what he learned from them. He said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word . . .It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” Psalm 119:67, 71 I wonder if David, who was a shepherd before he was a king, was thinking back to his days in the sheep fields. There would be times, I’m certain, when a sheep would wander off from the flock and be in need of rescue. Who knows, maybe David dealt with several rogue sheep over the course of his shepherding career. It’s certainly not uncommon.
In his book “In His Hand,” Roy Gustafson tells the true story of his encounter with a shepherd in Israel whom he saw carrying a sheep that had a splint and bandage on its leg. The guide that was leading the tour group told Roy that the shepherd himself had broken the sheep’s leg because that particular sheep had the habit of wandering off and leading other sheep astray as well. The purpose, it was told, behind the shepherd breaking the leg of the sheep was to teach the sheep not to wander off. I guess it could have been worse . . .”Honey, we’re eating rebel sheep tonight.”
“Before I was afflicted, I went astray . . .” Before God afflicted me, I wandered. There were things I pursued, places I went, people I hung out with, dreams I chased, plans I made, all of which led me in a different direction away from God’s presence and purposes. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12 Straying only leads to destruction. And then God does something hurtfully loving . . .he breaks your leg. That’s loving? It reminds me of that line in “Evan Almighty,” when Steve Carell says, “God, do me a favor. Love me less.” But the truth is, He can’t love you less. So, He breaks your leg. Then He splints it; bandages it; and does something amazingly beautiful and gracious . . . He carries you. And this is what I’ve learned: it’s in His carrying us during our affliction that we learn the love of the Shepherd (Jesus), and that His ways are always the right ways that lead to life, peace, purpose, joy and security. “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” Psalm 119:71
Maybe your leg is broken right now, and you are feeling the affliction. Are you letting Christ carry you, and are you learning His ways? Or are you trying to make your own way on a broken leg only to find yourself at the edge of the proverbial cliff that leads to destruction? Afflictions happen, but how you respond during those moments will be the difference between learning His ways that lead to life, or limping off on your own trying to nurse a wound that will never heal.