Christian Suffering

Why does God allow Christians to suffer?

Isn’t it unfair?

Can’t Christ come in to rescue us in times of trouble?

We hear complains again and again,

‘ Why is it that after serving God for all these years,

my child is born without limbs?

Why is it that the even the wicked people get perfect children?’

Yea, yea. yea, we all know it’s a form of test 
and we should be tough,

but WHY me God???we can’t help but ask.

What am I suppose to tell the unbelievers 
who come to me and say,

‘HA! Look at how your God takes care of you!’

I was pondering upon this issue last night and the

Holy Spirit brought me to remembrance of a passage 
I read before a long time ago. 
I searched it through and here’s what it says:

Matthew 5:45

… for He causes His sun to rise 
on the evil and the good,

 and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

*ding dong*

Isn't that the answer we've been looking for? 

God is a fair and just God, bad things happen to

both good and bad people! so does good things of course.

‘Then what difference is there to be a Christian?

We ALL have to suffer.’

I tell you what’s the difference…

Everyone has to go through a period of suffering.Yes its true.

 but as for Christians we go through it with

love, joy, patience and hope!

Throught the valleys we know that He’s leading us to the mountain top,

through the dark moments we know light is near,

through immense pain we know of greater comfort.

‘Why doesn’t God just take us out from the trouble?

How could God bear to see us agonize?’

I knew of a song that once sang:

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down

and wiped our tears away,

stepped in and saved the day.

But once again, I say Amen

and it's still raining

as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain,

"I'm with you"

and as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise

the God who gives and takes away.’

---Casting Crowns---

Amen to the beautifully written lyrics!

God doesn’t just lay back and look at us suffer,

instead he holds our hands and 
goes through it together with us

 so that when we come out from the testing,

we will be stronger in faith and in person,

 refined like silver and purified like gold.

Zechariah 13:9

I will bring that group through the fire 
and make them pure.

I will refine them like silver 
and purify them like gold.

They will call on my name, 
and I will answer them.

I will say, 'These are my people,'

and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'"

This brings me to the story of the footprints on the beach.

When the storm comes and all you see 
is a pair of footprints left, you start crying out and complaining 
that God had forgotten you. 

Then out of nowhere you hear a still small voice saying,

‘ Dear, Those footprints you’re looking at aren’t yours but Mine.’

You’re now safe in my arms, I’m giving you a piggy-back ride! ’

How great is our God!

In the midst of adversities, He  would never fail to show you

love and support, he even carries you through it all!

Awesome God! Amazing Lord!

If God were to help us and pull us out

each time we face sufferings, we would never grow up.

We would always remain a baby in faith.

Bad times draws us closer to our Creator,

Problems opens our eyes to the One in control of the universe,

Adversities brings us to our knees and humbles our haughty hearts.

John Piper once said in his book ‘ The sweet and botter providence’-

Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing

to the next and then finally to heaven.

Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback.

And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth

is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads)

that God is for us in all these strange turns.

God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up.

He is plotting the course and managing the troubles

with far-reaching purposes for our good

and for the glory of Jesus Christ!

Amen and Amen!
---Carissa's Pendown Thoughts---