Why Tribulations and God Seems Far Away?

Why do Christians go through tribulations and sometimes God’s answers seem so far away?

I Corinthians 13:12 says, that "...now we see in a mirror, dimly..." In the study notes under this passage in the Spirit-filled Life Bible, for which Pastor Hayford served as General Editor, it reads: "Ancient mirrors, which were manufactured at Corinth, were made of metal and gave dim reflections, an illustration of our imperfect knowledge during this age. But knowledge will be full and instantaneous in the future state of glory." We may not always fully understand, until we are in "Glory," what is transpiring in our lives, but we can rest in the fact that we have a "High Priest" who has experienced and sympathizes with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:14, 15).

Romans 8:35, 38, 39 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." The study notes under this portion read:

"For any Christian who is discouraged, this powerful passage gives assurance of Christ’s present love, active at every moment in the Christian’s life. Are any causes of discouragement greater than those Paul mentions? And if not, then we are never in this life separated from Christ’s love. Even in hardships we can be more than conquerors (vs. 37)."

The meaning of the Greek words for "tribulation" means pressures; "distress" means extreme affliction; "famine" means dearth; "peril" means danger; "sword" means an instrument of death. John 16:33 assures us that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has overcome all these things.

As you study the following scriptures you will be encouraged: I Corinthians 10:13; Romans 5:3; II Corinthians 1:4. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "My thoughts toward you, says the Lord, are thoughts of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Resources:
1) "Our Daily Walk"
2) "People of the Kingdom"
3) "I Believe in God’s Will to Heal"
4) "Deliverance From Suffering and Sickness"
5) Tape #3621 "The God Who Works in the Dark"

	Living Way Ministries 14820 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405-2233 In Canada: Box 75300 White Rock, B.C. V4B 5L4 (800) 776-8180 * FAX: (818) 779-8411 Privacy Statement Last updated on: 01/18/2002