Some people paint a picture of the Christian life as a bed of roses with no problems or troubles. Once you become a Christian you probably find out soon that whoever told you that is wrong. Jesus Christ does give you peace, joy and love but never promises a carefree life. You may not understand why the things are happening to you. The afflictions may have come to test you like job was tested. The Lord may be disciplining you. Here are some verses dealing with this:
“I will not die, but live, And tell of the works of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely, But He has not given me over to death.” (Psalm 118:17-18 NASB95) [1]
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:67, 71, 75, 107 NASB95)
“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. He wounds, and His hands also heal.” (Job 5:17-18 NASB95)
“My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:11-12 NASB95)
“Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will dbandage us.” (Hosea 6:1 NASB95)
This Scripture tells us that if the Lord has afflicted us, he loves us and will heal us. This should give us hope. As Jeremiah wrote:
“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord ,’ plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB95)
In Sunday school one day we were studying in the book of James. The subject of healing came up. A chiropractor said that some of his patients ask if God will ever heal them. He answers, “Yes, but you may not know it in this life.” We may not understand our afflictions but we know that Jesus Christ will take them away but it may not be until we see Him face to face. Keep trusting in Him until He does take the affliction away.
By Dean W. Masters
Unedited redistribution approved
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[1] New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.