For the past several days I have been reading over Jonathan Edwards’ “Resolutions.” I will be teaching a short series on making God-centered goals in the Jr. High and Sr. High class at our church, and we will be using Edward’s seventy resolutions as a model for making God-centered goals for our own lives.
While many of Edwards’ resolutions are incredibly convicting, one in particular stood out to me because it applies so directly to my life right now. Edwards’ sixty-seventh resolution states, “Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.” Edwards’ language is a bit awkward compared to how we speak today, but his point is simply this: you should think about how your affliction has made you a better person and worked for your good. While most people would rather forget about their affliction once they are past, Edwards suggests it is important to reflect on how your affliction influenced you. More than that, he suggests that afflictions influence us for good. That something good can come from something bad isn’t just a nice poetic idea, but an incredible biblical truth. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” According to the Bible, the God rules over our lives with such wisdom, power, and love that he designs even our afflictions for our good.
It may take some people days, months, or even years to discern how a particular affliction made them a better person or worked for their good. In most cases, the affliction needs to be resolved and life needs to be “back to normal” for a season before you can look back and see the good the affliction brought you. Of course, sometimes a person’s affliction may be so painful or confusing that they are never able to see any way their affliction was good for them. But just because we sometimes have a hard time seeing the good in our afflictions doesn’t mean the good isn’t there. We need God to give us the wisdom to see how it is He has designed all things – even the hard things – for our good.
By God’s grace, Erin and I have been able to see a lot of good things come from her cancer. This is not to say there haven’t been hard things that have happened or that will happen in the future. It is simply to say that despite everything difficult, we have seen God use her cancer for our good in several ways.
1. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by increasing our dependence on God, especially in realizing the privilege of prayer and the power of God’s Word.
2. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by deepening our understanding of God’s design for suffering and how He calls His people to respond when they suffer.
3. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by giving us a profound appreciation for each day of life, for our children, and for each other.
4. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by reassuring us that God will provide all that we need.
5. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by teaching us to be thankful for the friends and family who have loved us and supported us during this process.
6. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by helping us identify with and minister to others who are dealing with various afflictions.
7. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by giving us a better perspective on how minor our afflictions are compared to the more serious and lasting afflictions many others experience.
8. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by giving us a renewed appreciation for Erin’s dad and the way he used his cancer for the good of so many.
9. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by loosening our affections on the things of this world.
10. The affliction of Erin’s cancer has worked for our good by increasing our hope for Heaven.
I’m sure we will add to this list in the days, months, and years to come. And Lord willing, when we face other afflictions in our lives, we will always walk through those difficult times with an eye for how God is working for our good.
