Psalms 119:71
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.”
What does Psalms 119:71 mean?
The psalmist is reflecting on how suffering became a teacher. When life was hard, he paid attention to God's ways in a way he might not have otherwise, and that closeness transformed his difficulty into something valuable. This isn't saying that pain itself is good, but rather that even in pain, something redemptive can happen when we turn toward God instead of away. If you're walking through a hard season right now, this verse isn't pressure to feel grateful for your struggles, but an invitation to notice if God has been closer or if you've learned something true about Him that you might not have discovered in easier times.