I (the Lord) say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
Isaiah 46:10
If there is something that cannot be broken is God’s will. No matter what happens, no matter how Satan and all the evil spirits of hell wage war against God’s purpose, it will be done. When we live in submission to Him, He will do what He pleases with our lives; we just have to trust Him with all our hearts no matter how dry is the dessert He leads you to.
Most Christians believe that God’s way is all peaches and cream, it is very common to hear sermons in which pastors say: “God wants you to live your better life now”, “God wants you to be happy”, “God won’t let you suffer!”...
My dear ones, this is not true, period. God wants to bless us, yes. He did already! He sent His Only Son to die for your sins! That should be enough for us to be happy. Most of us who have debts dream about the day in which we receive a letter stating that our debt has been cancelled, the debt is paid in full and now you are free! You don’t have to pay for the debt, someone else did for you! What a blessed day! What a joy!
God paid for our freedom, He paid it all, He made us free to go to heaven as soon as we leave this world. We don’t have to spend eternity in hell, yet, we are not able to be content with this precisely because Christianity has deviated so much from its original message that God’s greater gift to humanity has become nothing compared to the earthly pleasures. God wants you to rejoice, of course! Be happy with the fact that your debt has been paid and the accuser has no power over you anymore. Jesus said:
“...rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20
But for us to be happy in modern Christianity, we need a bank account full of money, trips to exotic locations, fancy cars, high paying jobs, the latest Iphone or tablet in the market, big houses, and each and every little craving of our heart.
Unlike what modern preachers say, God will let you suffer, be sure of that. We are no better than Christ and He suffered till the end; if He suffered we will too if we are truly His children. The Scripture says:
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:20-22
All of God’s servants suffered greatly. Let us make a brief review of their lives:
- John, the Apostle wrote: I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus... Revelation 1:9
- The Church of Smyrna: I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Revelation 2:10
- Peter the Apostle wrote: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. [...] those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:12-19
- James wrote to the Church: Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. James 5:9-11
- Paul, in his letters wrote a lot about suffering as a Christian. Let us see what God taught us through his writings:
- For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:29-30
- You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 1:6
- Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 2 Thessalonians 1:4-6
- You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...2 Timothy 3:10-12
- You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. Hebrews 10:34
- Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own people, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 2 Corinthians 11:24-26
- ...as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; [...] through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:4-10
If I continue the list I would not finish; the Bible has hundreds of examples in which God’s will was the suffering of His children.Should we, then, say that it is never God’s will that His children suffer? No way. Modern Christianity has strayed from the original message in which God’s sovereignty is acknowledged, accepted and revered. Now we tend to contend with God and refuse to suffer for His sake yet, as Isaiah said: “We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
And God says: “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’” Isaiah 45:9
To those who are suffering as Christians I tell:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
To those who are not Christians I tell:
Fix your eyes on Jesus, author and consumator of our faith. He said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 and “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
