Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
Is God testing me with this pain?
Answer:
The idea that God is testing us with pain is a complex one. As a pastor, I've seen many people struggle with this concept, wondering why God would allow them to suffer. It's natural to think that if we obey God, He should shield us from pain and difficulty. But the Bible teaches us that God is not a deceiver, and He doesn't prop us up with the false impression that we don't need Him. In fact, pain often serves as a wake-up call or reminder of our human brokenness and alienation from God. It's a call to seek outside assistance and turn to God in repentance and faith. As the theologian Vernon Grounds said, an individual who is completely free from tension, anxiety, and conflict may not be living in a way that acknowledges their need for a Savior. Pain can be a catalyst for spiritual growth, and it's through our struggles that we can come to know God more deeply. It's essential to remember that God is not asking us to jump through hoops or prove our faith through unnecessary tests. He suffered for us so that we could live, and He loves us enough to want us to latch on to Him in order to be saved from our sins. As the Bible says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).
Sources:
elemental theology
emery bancroft
my utmost for his highest
oswald chambers
building dynamic faith
jerry falwell
kingdom of the occult
walter martin
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
psalms
tremper longman
warranted christian belief
alvin plantinga
raising passionate jesus followers
phil diane comer
systematic theology
wayne grudem
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