Why Am I Still Having Troubles Now That I Am a Christian?
God’s Word
provides us with two reasons God’s children continue to face suffering after
salvation.
First,
though delivered from the dominion of sin, Christians still experience
the effects of sin.
The reality
of suffering endures in a world tainted by sin. Even believers experience
pain, disease, aging, and death, and we often fall victim to accidents or
sinful acts of others. Those things are the common lot of all, and they all
have a connection to sin.
But there is
another reason believers suffer: we are one with Christ.
In that
union, God gave us the privilege of participating in the same kind of
suffering Jesus endured—suffering for doing what is right.
To the
degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that
also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you
are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of
glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:13-14; cf. Romans 8:18)
Suffering
for righteousness sake is part of normal Christian living. Far from removing
suffering, our salvation guarantees it. Scripture, in fact, tells us to
expect trials: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you,
which comes upon you for your testing, as though
some strange thing were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12)
Thankfully,
along with the promise of suffering, God promises us His presence and a
lasting reward. And because of those precious truths, you can respond with
hope—in complete contrast to the despairing outlook that plagues the
unbeliever.
We’ve
complied a list of principles that will help you
respond properly when trials come. A right response will prove the
genuineness of your faith and give you opportunity to put God’s grace on
display.
Psalm 34:18
says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are
crushed in spirit.”. Hebrews 13:5 reminds you
that God will never desert you because He promised His presence with you
always (cf. Matthew 28:20). You can rest assured God is as near in the
darkest suffering as He is in the brightest days of blessing.
The prophet
Jeremiah wrote, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His
compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is
Your faithfulness” (Lamentations
First
Corinthians 10:13 promises that “no temptation has overtaken you but such as
is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of
escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”. You can endure because God
has promised not to give you more than you can handle. He wants you to
overcome and won’t allow you to face any temptation that will crush you
under its weight.
All
believers are imperfect and need discipline and training from their heavenly
Father. He faithfully provides every true child of His with the sort of
chastening that produces holiness. Hebrews 12:6 says, “For whom the LORD
loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” That truth is
not unique to the New Testament; Deuteronomy 8:5 says, “You should know in
your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens
you.”
How should
you respond to God’s chastening? With thankful submission that recognizes
your loving heavenly Father is at work in you. Resolve not to despise or be
discouraged by that work (Hebrews 12:5).God is pruning your life to make you
more effective and fruitful. Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not
bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that
it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2).
God knows
what you need and can handle, and He brings trials to prove your faith and
display it to those around you. He has graciously chosen you to stand as an
example of the power of His grace. His grace is “sufficient for you, for
power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). In a world without
hope, without peace, fearing death, and living in complete emptiness, your
perseverance in trials is testimony that God is alive and gloriously at
work.
Persevering
in the midst of intense suffering provides a testimony of true hope to a
world without hope. No matter the intensity of the trial you are facing, you
always have the hope of heaven to cheer you. As one who believes in God and
trusts His Word, treasure the truth that suffering and death are not worthy
of comparison with the wondrous glory of knowing Christ. Paul affirmed that
when he wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”
(Romans 8:18).
So, if you are going through a trial, pray that your spiritual condition will be gloriously evident to all around as you exemplify true joy in it (James 1:2-4, 12).