IS IT GOOD TO BE AFFLICTED, BY GOD?

(PSALM 119:67)
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
(PSALM 119:71)
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
(PSALM 119:75)
Know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

So many times I hear people say, 'God is good all the time' and I agree in some sort. At the same time, I wonder why these people believe God is good. I mean does God's goodness to me just about making me feel better, in life? I think most american people believe that God is like a vending machine. Pop in a couple quarters of prayer and church going then 'God' makes me feel better. Hey, I like to feel good and I don't like feeling bad. Is that God's ultimate reasoning behind his goodness to me, to make me feel good? If so,after reading Psalm 119, when does affliction, heart-ache and pain feel good because apparently God can and does aflicts those that seek him?

The verses above show that learning God's statutes is even more important than my own comfort. But, I don't like that....... it's uncomfortable. Don't tell me something that may mean God may afflict me. Just skip that verse, please! But, according to this passage God can and will afflict me for just that purpose. How many messages have you heard on that one?