Today I feel like writing about Adversity, Hardship, Tribulation and the like. Yes life certainly has it's up's and down's, but without difficult times how else will we learn to trust God?
Some new Christians may think once they get saved their life then just becomes peaches and cream and they won't ever have to experience any kind of trouble or hardship. I'm here to tell you that is simply not the case!
While it is certainly true that all things do work together for our good (Rom 8:28) and we have peace with God though what Christ accomplished on the cross (Col 1:20), that doesn't mean we won't be tempted in this life (Jam 1:2-3, Jam 1:12, 1 Pet 1:6-7). when we give into that temptation God will chastise us to get us back on the right track (Job 5:17-18, Heb 12:5-11).
As believers we can expect persecution to occur for the word's sake (Mar 4:17), and though we be persecuted we know we aren't forsaken (2 Cor 4:8-10). We should follow Paul's example and take pleasure in things such as infirmities, necessities, distresses, etc (2 Cor 12:9-10). Not only should it not surprise us but we should expect persecution if we are living godly (2 Tim 3:12).
Although scripture is clear in both the old and new testament that we will have afflictions we can be confident that the Lord will deliver us from them all (Psa 34:19), 1 Thes 3:3). Affliction can be useful as it can help us become more obedient to God's word (Psa 119:71, Isa 48:10). see Chastisement above and (Pro 16:6).
Jesus made it clear that we would have tribulation in this life (Joh 16:33), but he also tells us to be of good cheer because he has overcome the world. The bible instructs us to glory in tribulation because tribulation worketh patience (Rom 5:3, Rom 12:12); we should take great comfort in knowing that these things are not able to separate us from the Love of Christ (Rom 8:35-39) and we should comfort others by the same comfort God gives us (2 Cor 1:3-4).
In conclusion, while at this present time we are to endure hardness (2 Tim 2:3), bear on another's burdens (Gal 6:2), and to suffer for Christ sake (Phili 1:29, 1 Pet 4:12-13). We are still better off than the lost world as we have God as our refuge; we have no reason to fear when evil comes because God is with us and we trust in him (Psa 9:9-10, Psa 23:4). Eventually for those who are saved there will be no more crying, or sorrow, or death, or pain (Rev 21:4) so we can look forward to a blissful eternity worshiping our Creator.
Adversity
Pro 24:10, Ecc 7:14, Isa 30:20
Tribulation
1Th 3:4, 2Th 1:6 -7
Other
Job 14:1, Ecc 7:3, Mat 10:29 -31, 2 Cor 6:1-10
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