5 Spiritual Needs You Must Not IgnoreSýnishorn

The Need to Be Afflicted.

In the life of a believer, this may be one of the hardest things to endure. Affliction is not a welcome guest—it's not something we look forward to or gladly invite into our lives. It often brings physical and emotional weariness. And you know what? That’s okay. We're human. We live in a body that suffers.

But learning to see affliction as a tool—rather than a punishment—can transform our walk with God and deepen our knowledge of who He is.

The psalmist once wrote:

“It was good for me to be afflicted.” (Psalm 119:71)

Can you imagine being able to say that? “It was good.” Because affliction, in itself, doesn’t feel good. Most of us would choose to skip those seasons entirely. But then we look at the words of the apostle Peter, who reminded us that our faith must be refined—just like gold. And gold, to be purified, must pass through fire.

Even Jesus, while on earth, did not promise us comfort or castles. In fact, Isaiah described Him as “a man of sorrows.” So who better than Him to understand our pain?

Jesus Himself said:

“In this world, you will have affliction. But take heart—I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

This tells us something powerful: affliction is not to destroy us—it is to refine us. These trials, though hard to understand at the moment, qualify us for something greater. If we can endure the process, we will be found worthy of the glory that follows.

Here’s today’s reflection for your heart:

Affliction is not a punishment—it is a tool God uses to shape something eternal in you. Don’t fear the process. Because it is in the fire where gold is revealed.