Why Do Christians Have So Much Trouble?

     Question to O. A.:  I know that God is a God of Love.  So why do bad things happen to Christians?  I was in route to a meeting of our small group recently, had a flat tire, and missed the whole meeting.  Can you tell me why Christians have so much trouble?  T. L. in New York.

     Dear T. L.:  Well, Christians have trouble because everyone on earth has trouble, and that includes Christians.  You probably don’t like that answer, and I don’t either.

     But the early Christian letters don’t say a word about Christians being excused from trouble.  For example, look at the case of Jesus and His twelve original disciples.  Only one of them lived long enough to die of natural causes.  Jesus and the other eleven disciples met violent deaths.  So, if Jesus and His disciples had trouble, why shouldn’t we expect to have trouble, too?

     Of course, we know it’s human nature to want an easy, carefree life.  Most people want a good job, a happy family, plenty of money, a new car, lots of pizza and ice cream, and nothing to worry about.  And then when trouble strikes, in a strange twist, they blame God for it.

     They say, “God, why did You let this happen to me?  What kind of a God are You, anyway?  Couldn’t You have let this happen to somebody else?”

     We’re somewhat self-centered, aren’t we?  But I had a friend who used to say, “I give God all the credit and none of the blame.”  By that he meant that he blamed the natural world for his trouble, and gave God the credit for helping him through that trouble.

     All of us were born into a world of disease, war, accidents, crime, and evil – and none of us is exempt from it.  But we Christians have the promise of healing, peace, and miracles during life’s troubles.

     Non-Christians don’t have that promise.  Non-Christians can’t do anything but grit their teeth and bear the full force of their trouble.  So, which had we rather be:  A non-Christian facing life’s troubles without God’s promises of joy, peace, and purpose?  Or a Christian facing life’s troubles with God’s promises of joy, peace, and purpose?

     I sure that God helped you with your flat tire, and that He gave you peace as you stood on the side of the road.  But even if He didn’t, please pray more often to be filled with the love, joy, peace, and patience of the Holy Spirit.  If you do, you’ll find that you’re more aware of the Spirit’s guidance and protection during life’s trouble, and more prepared to deal with it.