Acts 14:22 (MSG)
putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn’t be easy: “Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.”

Affliction! This is something that causes calamity; sorrow; suffering, distress; grief; pain; adversity; misery; wretchedness; misfortune; trouble; and hardship, by whatever name you want to call it, is something we have all suffered at some point in life as long as you are on this side of eternity there will be an endless stream of diverse afflictions coming your way.
So many Christians, including me, saw affliction as punishment from the Lord or the work of the enemy but by the grace of God, I have come to see it as a blessing in disguise, which it is in so many ways according to 2 Corinthians 4:17.
How many times have you cried about the situation you’re in? or cried to the Lord to get you out of a fix as fast as you want or ask the Lord why. We are impatient by nature and would prefer that our lives are on the up always, but the scripture tells us to expect afflictions as stated in John 16:33.
God does not waste anything including your pain and tears, He will use whatever the enemy means for evil for His glory as seen in Genesis 50:20.
Afflictions vary, and the bible recognizes the multifaceted ways that suffering can come upon us. Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, that his affliction did not cripple him, but strengthened him, as afflictions should do for us.
A lot of blessings and promotions can come out of afflictions but remember that whatever you’re going through is not new, Ecclesiastics 1:9, however, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says there is always an exit route for that situation when it’s time.
Affliction strikes everyone, no one is immune or exempted (including Believers) from pain. Christians should expect afflictions, and plenty of them, Psalm 34:19. In Isaiah 43:2 God promises, “When not “If” whilst 1 Peter 4:12 says not to be surprised at being afflicted.
James 1:2-12 teaches us the test of perseverance in afflictions, the natural human response to trials is not to rejoice but according to James, not only are we expected to rejoice and count it as joy but to see our afflictions as a blessing that brings maturity.
Affliction is instrumental in bringing out precious qualities in a Christian, it produces character, and hope because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” Romans 5:3-5. Suffering teaches the believer to endure, to have a straight back, to have strength when the going gets tough. Suffering creates the kind of character that will not lead to disappointment, especially when you look at these afflictions as blessings in disguise.
God’s first design in all our troubles, is that we might let go of self-confidence. When we do that, there is a temporary sense of falling. But by faith in God’s mercy, we land, infinitely more secure, in the arms of our Father, who is utterly in control even at the brink of life and death.
However long the affliction last, it has an expiration date, Psalm 30:5 and know that the Lord will hear when you call and deliver you.
Shalom