One thing led to another, or really, one verse led to another, and that led to today’s thought.  This Sunday at Berean we’ll resume our journey through the book of Romans with a look at Romans 8:28.  As I dove in and followed the truths of the verse, I was blessed and challenged.  So often we quote that verse without grasping what it fully teaches us.  But that’s the topic for Sunday, not today.  As I compared Scripture with Scripture this week, I was led to what I call a “What did he just say?” verse.  It’s found in Psalm 119:71.  “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes.”  What did he just say?  Good to be afflicted?  Really?  But if we look at the surrounding verses, we’ll get it.  There we see His outlook and confidence in God.  Verse 65 – “Thou hast dealt well.”  Verse 68 – “Thou art good, and doest good.”  We also see his love for God’s word.  Verse 66 – “I have believed Thy commandments.”  Verse 68 – “Teach me Thy statutes.”  Verse 70 – “I delight in Thy law.”  And then the power of verse 72 – “The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”  The writer of these verses had an unshakeable faith in the goodness of God and God’s plan for him.  Even in affliction.  And if that affliction drove him to a deeper relationship with God through God’s word, then it was good to be afflicted.  The question is, would I say the same thing?  Or would I complain or feel sorry for myself.  Or become angry with my lot in life.  Or even angry with God.  No, I must learn to trust.  To embrace God’s plan and live my life for His glory.  No matter what.  As someone said about this passage, “Our worst is better for us than the sinner’s best…There is no royal road to learning the royal statutes; God’s commands are best read by eyes wet with tears.”