Some people say that "life is good," but some others say that it's not. Usually those who say the latter do so because of bad experiences that they'd rather not go through again.
True enough, no one wants to have bad experiences. Yet at times it happens. What to do?
Some curse God because of their loss. Some hate themselves because of failed expectations. Some even end their lives because of hopelessness in dire situations.
Friends, this should not be! We must realise that when everything goes wrong, it won't last that way forever. The Lord Jesus Himself said we must expect troubles to come, but we shouldn't fear them or succumb to them. Rather, we should take heart and worry not, because He has overcome the world (see John 16:33).
Some Christians lose their faith in God when bad things happen. They think that God hates them, and that's why bad things happen to them. That isn't true.
Take for example Job, a man who "was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil" (Job 1:1).
Realise that being favoured doesn't mean having a test-free life
Job was a man who feared the Lord, and lived uprightly. He was rich, "in fact, the richest person in [his] entire area" (Job 1:3). God was proud of him to such an extent that He boasted of him twice before Satan.
"Then the Lord asked Satan, 'Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil'" (Job 1:8, see also 2:3).
We read next that Satan tested Job, and caused the death of his children and his herds. Job's wife even tempted him to "curse God and die" (Job 2:9). Later on his friends tried to enter the scene, and ended up blaming him for his misfortunes.
Have you ever experience such loss of family, friends and fortune like he did?
Don't blame God, instead be faithful to Him
We must realise that God isn't the one destroying our lives (see James 1:12-17). In fact, it's because we are His children in Christ that we are tested by the enemy! When we face trials, we should never curse or blame God for what is happening. Job did not blame God (Job 1:22), nor did he curse Him (Job 2:10).
For our part, we must remain faithful to the Lord no matter what happens. The Lord Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:9-13, "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."
Be steadfast
1 Corinthians 15:58 gives us a wonderful encouragement: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."
