Why does God sometimes purpose and permit suffering to come to His children? (Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: Job 5:17)
Christians know that ‘all good and perfect gifts are from above (paraphrased). But is it possible that ‘bad’ things are permitted by God to bring ‘good’ to our present and future?? “Yes…I say ‘most definitely
yes…God uses ALL circumstances …both good and bad…to shape and to bring ‘healing’ to our lives! Job would answer, “I’ll trust Him….even if He kills me (paraphrased) !!!” Remember the anguish of discipline which sometimes came forth from a loving parent who cared enough to chasten, challenge, and correct???
Walking through… what King David called ‘the valley of the shadow of death’…..present in the world…but not of the world…makes for a very dangerous and yet safe…journey. Trials, tribulations, joy, tears, and troubles are part of man’s existence in the physical realm. And Christians rather than being exempt…are generally the targets.
Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
God hardened Pharoah’s heart so he would REFUSE to let the children of Israel follow Moses out of Egypt. Thus, the Israelites, along with the Egyptians, suffered many things from the hand of God. But for what purpose? God wanted to reveal Himself more fully to His chosen Israel. He wanted to bring them forth under ‘devine deliverance’…not under political permission. Wow! Wow! Wow! Beautiful and powerful are the manifold blessings of God! Both the Israel who walked through the divinely parted sea waters as they fled Pharoah’s armies….and we who, today, are ‘of the faith of Abraham’ never cease to marvel at the mysterious ways which God performs His wonders! (Romans 9:17)
And then there was Job. Job…Job…Job…what a man of God!! He trusted God even if God chose to ‘kill’ Job’s earthly body. Job’s story is such an awesome demonstration of God’s up-close-and-personal relationship with man. Job was a man perfect in faith. Meaning….simply….he TRUSTED (believed) (had faith in) God. PERIOD. So when Lucifer, by permission, attended the Council Meeting of God, he vigorously challenged Job’s TRUST and FAITH. Lucifer claimed Job’s faith was such because he had no problems, heartaches, and lack. God listened then gave Lucifer permission to do use all his destructive powers against Job and his worldly possessions…including his children and servants. But Lucifer could not take Job’s life. God wasn’t finished with Job in the earthly realm…yet. And, you know how it went. Lucifer destroyed all Job’s possessions…children, servants, lands, wealth…..and lastly…Job’s health. Job lay in a dirt grave to comfort his rotting/wormy flesh….and TRUSTED…BELIEVED…CONFESSED…what He knew to be true……that God is perfect in purpose, perfect in permission, perfect in mercy, and perfect in faithfulness to His children.
God uses natural things to teach of spiritual things. A putrid sore must open and erupt in order for the body to rid itself of impurities on its way to wholeness. In the temporal state, man in continually on a path of restoration and healing. Tribulation is common to man. But the depth, breadth, height, and length of that tribulation is managed by God.
2 Cor 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
You said, “yes…God uses ALL circumstances …both good and bad…to shape and to bring ‘healing’ to our lives!”
Yes, I know that to be true. It’s not just a consideration. It’s a fact.
Blessings to you 🙂
Mary
LikeLike