Trials and Troubles

Trials, hardships, and problems seem to be everywhere. They seem to be lurking at every corner. The words of Job explain it well, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” Many questions come to mind, but let’s limit the questions to one. If the Almighty God is powerful, why does He allow these troubles to take place in my life?

Two key words come to mind, Punishment and Chastening. In English these two words are often used as synonyms. Yet in Scripture there is clear difference. Let us define these words careful, thereby, being able to answer our question. Punishment means a sentence of judgment, while chastening means action of correction. God does not punish His children, He corrects them. God does punish those who are not His children. The first truth which must be lodged in one’s heart is God never punishes His child or His children. If you have placed your heart and soul in the hands of Christ, by believing He has paid your sin upon the cross, then you will never face punishment. Only those people who embrace religion or reject Jesus Christ face punishment. Hebrews 12:5-8 makes this very clear. “ And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

These verses teach several lessons. Yet, let us stay focused on the question at hand. Why am I facing trials and troubles if God is so powerful? If you are not a child of God you are under God’s wrath. The real punishment is yet to come. There is no real purpose other than being punished for sin. For those who are a child of God some of the trials are of one’s own making, other trials are caused by someone else, and still other trials are caused by simply living in a sinful world. Yet one thing you can be sure of, and that is every trial you face is being shaped by God so that your trials and troubles may mold you into greatness. Therefore, do not despise God or the trials, but learn and grow in the way God intends for these trials to shape and bless your life. Remember if you’re a child of God, God has “ … loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jer. 31:3).