If God loves me, why do I face problems?
This is one of those questions which plague many of our brothers and sisters in their everyday Christian life. There are those that actually believe that if you suffer hardship then there must be something wrong in your Christian walk. That in some way you have unconfessed sin and that the only way to turn things around is to go to God with your sin and beg forgiveness.However I am here to set the record straight. It is not the sin in our lives which causes us to have hardship. This is the thought of Jobs friends, and indeed they were not really friends at all to the man that lost everything even though he did not sin. Sometimes it seems that we suffer needlessly, but I say that God works all things for good to those that love him. From my own personal experience, I can say that I had a very difficult childhood. I never knew my real father and I was abused by a few stepfathers
Paul suffered more than most believers ever will. But in his sufferings he learned a lesson very few learn:
* That Yahweh’s strength is made perfect in weakness. This implies that human wisdom, wealth, fame, talent and strength generally get in the way of Truth if they are not sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
* That the insignificant believer who realises his/her own smallness and lack of strength can go on to harness the mighty power of God!
Suffering is the lot of all mankind, believers included. They suffer like other people. The difference is that when a true believer suffers he/she has the comforting assurance of faith that suffering has a divine purpose and will one day end. One day we shall all fully understand why God allowed us to suffer. It’s so easy to complain when suffering strikes home and family; but before you begin to complain, think on these verses:
2 Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Corinthians 11:22-30 (KJV)
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
… to be continued….
REPEMU INTERNATONAL 