Living The Christian Life

Difficulties in the believer's life

1. Difficulties consecutive to voluntary faults
2. Difficulties inherent in the present state of the world
3. Difficulties allowed for the education of the believer
4. Difficulties resulting from a faithful witness
The deep root of the difficulties lies in the fact that the world is still under the influence of Satan seeking to impose on all by its system ( 1 Jn 5:19 ; Lu 4: 5-6 ).
The difficulties can be considered in several aspects:

!!1. Difficulties resulting from voluntary faults
The believer is constantly faced with a choice: either to follow the way of God, or to follow his own path ( Jos 24:15 ). Anyone who consciously commits a fault acts in a manner contrary to the will of God with full knowledge of the facts. In this case, it is not a fortuitous act, but a deliberate choice.
To act in this way amounts to breaking communion with God and to placing oneself voluntarily in insecurity (cf. Pr 18:10 ) with all the negative consequences that this can entail. example act result Adam and Eve ( Ge 3: 6-19 ) disobedience curse Jonah ( Jon 1: 2-4 , Jon 1:15 ) refusal to carry out an order from God storm and discharge into the sea Achan ( Jos 6: 18-19 ; Jos 7: 20-25 ) Lust, theft, concealment stoning Hiel of Bethel ( 1 K 16:34 ; cf. Jos 6:26 ) disregard of a warning death of two of his children Saul ( 1 S 13: 8-14 ) impatience abridged reign Saul ( 1 S 28: 7 , 1 S 28: 17-19 ; 1 S 31: 6 ; cf. De 18: 10-14 ) occultism dead Anyone who has committed a fault against God can confess it and obtain forgiveness ( 1 Jn 1: 9 ; cf. Rev 2: 5 ). However, God's forgiveness does not remove all the consequences of the fault on the human level ( Gal 6: 7-8 ; cf. 2 Sam 12: 13-14 ).
2. Difficulties inherent in the present state of the world
Although he has a new nature, the believer is subject to the laws of the fallen world, especially the physical laws. For example:
• accident ( Ac 20: 9 );
• disease ( 2 Ti 4:20 ; Ph 2: 25-27 );
• dead ( Acts 7: 59-60 ; Acts 9: 36-37 ; 1 Thess 4:14 );
• difficult material circumstances ( Acts 11: 27-29 ; cf. 1 K 17:12 );
• dangers of nature ( Ac 28: 3 );
• mourning ( Acts 9:39 ; Jn 11:19 );
• separation from the family (cf. 2 K 5: 2 ).
Although God can also intervene in these problems, the believer must accept these human contingencies knowing that God grants his child the necessary renewal ( 2 Cor 4: 8-9 , 2 Co 4: 16-18 ; cf. Isa 40 : 29-31 ).
3. Difficulties permitted for the education of the believer
God uses the believer's difficulties for an educational purpose, to perfect his faith and his sanctification ( Heb 12:10 ). Thus, in his love, God wants or allows the trial ( Heb 12: 5-6 ; Rev 3:19 ):
• to highlight the disposition of the heart ( De 8: 2 );
• to purify the faith ( 1 Pi 1: 6-7 ; cf. No 31:23 );
• to make patient ( Ja 1: 2-3 );
• to strip of "me" ( 2 Cor 12: 7 );
• to perfect, strengthen and enrich ( 1 Pi 5:10 );
• to help understand and relieve the suffering of others ( 2 Cor 1: 4 ; cf. Heb 4:15 ).
The justice of God need not be challenged when it intervenes in this way ( Job 1: 21-22 ; Ps 145: 14-17 ; De 32: 4 ).
Note
Depending on the case, a difficulty can fall into one of the three categories mentioned in the points above. For example: storm: Category for Jonah ( Jon 1:12 ) 1 = difficulty following a voluntary fault for Paul ( Acts 27: 14-15 ) 2 = difficulty inherent in the present state of the world for the disciples ( Mt 8: 24-27 ) 3 = difficulty allowed for the education of the believer

sickness: for Guéhazi ( 2 K 5: 26-27 ) 1 = difficulty following a voluntary fault for Eli ( 1 S 3: 2 ) 2 = difficulty inherent in the present state of the world for Paul ( 2 Cor 12: 7 ) 3 = difficulty allowed for the education of the believer

death of a loved one: for David ( 2 S 12: 13-18 ) 1 = difficulty following a voluntary fault for Joseph ( Ge 49: 33-50: 1 ) 2 = difficulty inherent in the present state of the world for Job ( Job 1: 18-22 ) 3 = difficulty allowed for the education of the believer
4. Difficulties resulting from faithful testimony
Two camps are in conflict: believers with Christ at their head and unbelievers led by Satan. The believer undergoes the effects of this opposition ( Jn 15: 18-21 ; Mt 10: 16-18 ; 2 Ti 3:12 ) which can manifest itself in the form of:
• mockery ( 1 Cor 1:18 ; Ac 17:32 );
• loneliness ( 2 Ti 4: 14-16 );
• misunderstanding ( 1 Cor 1: 21a ; Ep 4:18 );
• persecution ( Jn 15:18 ; 2 Ti 3: 11-12 ; 2 Cor 11: 23-28 );
• imprisonment ( Acts 16: 19-40 ; Col 4: 3 ; Rev 2:10 );
• separation from family ( Mk 10:29 );
• deprivation of property ( Heb 10:34 );
• dead ( Acts 7:59 ; Acts 12: 1-2 ).
The passage in 1 Pi 4: 12-19 describes what believers are called to experience when God allows these circumstances.
Believers must not allow themselves to be shaken by afflictions ( 1 Thess 3: 2-3 ); on the contrary, they can even rejoice at being judged worthy to suffer for Christ ( Acts 5:41 ; Phil 1:29 ; Lu 6: 22-23 ).
God gives particular strength to his tried children ( 2 Cor 12: 9b-10 ; Phil 4: 12-13 ; Mt 10: 19-20 ; cf. Acts 16: 24-25 ); thus they can highlight the Christian character even in these circumstances ( Mt 5: 44-45 ; Ro 12:14 ; cf. Acts 7:60 ; Heb 11: 35-12: 3 ).
The sufferings for the name of Jesus Christ are a source of present and future blessings ( Ja 1: 2-4 ; 1 Pi 5:10 ; 1 Pi 1: 6-7 ; 2 Cor 4: 16-18 ; Rev 7: 13-17 ; cf. Mk 10:30 ; Ro 8:28 ).