Purposes in tough Times

 Read Psalm 119:73-80.

Yodh

What happens to us directly affects those around us.  Whether we like it or not, whether we are aware of it or not, people watch and take notice of how we respond in tough times.

In this tenth stanza, the psalmist continued to refer to his affliction from God (see vv.65-72).  However, there is a decided turn in his praying.  In verse 76, he asked God to comfort him with his faithful love.  This would confirm that God was not being mean to him but lovingly correcting his behavior.  Such comfort, then, had an even greater purpose.

There are two major supplications concerning the testimony of his faith to others.
1. What others would see. (v.74)
He prayed that others who witnessed his affliction would rejoice and be glad.  The joy and gladness was not about his suffering but about his hope.  Through it all, he never wavered in his faith that God loved him enough to intervene and correct him.  Such steadfastness of faith in tough times could open the door for ministry to others.

2. What others would do. (v.79)
Having gone through his time of discipline from the LORD, he could speak from experience to those in similar situations.  God does not waste our time.  When He gives us something it is to be used to help others.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)