As people repent from lifestyles of worthlessness that will end in eternal punishment and make the life changing decision to have relationship with Jesus Christ, some believe in a new life free of all problems. Even preachers sometimes share that accepting Christ means the disappearance of problems in life. Many new believers buy into this lofty message and get stock as they get born again and begin to live the believer’s life. Many young believers get sad and confused because they listened to some television sponsored preachers concocted an entertainment, self-satisfying message of health, wealth and prosperity. They promised you will enjoy perfect health, abundant wealth and unending prosperity, if you have enough faith. Some even go as far as to call money a seed as against the word of God contained in the scriptures. They allured that the more money (seed) you give (sow), the more prosperous you will be. Also if you sow a seed of money you will get money full of your bank accounts and flawless health. In his book, Handling life’ disappointments, Dr David, O Dykes wrote, “………one tiny flaw in the prosperity-perfection message: it’s a lie.” He adds, “When sincere people embrace it and find they still encounter difficulties they become self-critical, supposing they have a faith that is flawed or worse, some may walk away thinking God can’t be trusted to fulfill His promise.”
It’s false to believe that when you accept Christ, it’s a journey to problem-less life because Christians face problems too. The difference is that they simply view problems from new and different perspectives. They heed the call of Jesus saying, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28). Again, the Psalmist sang, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22). Also, “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Indeed Christians are not exempted from problems and earthly chaos, however when they become new creation, old things pass away. They have been forgiven and their sins erased. Christians are forgiven people; through God’s grace and mercies, they are given the ability to become “more than conquerors through Him who loved them (Rom. 8:37). They live in the newness of life. When Christians encounter difficulties and life’s challenges, they get to know God intimately; discover that God allow us to face adversity to conform us to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). God uses painful experiences to accomplish His plan of conforming us to be like Christ.
Jesus promised that in the world we shall experienced tribulations but He consoled us, “Take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He also admonished that a servant is not above his master. If Jesus suffered tribulations while on earth, we His disciples/servants shall expect nothing less. If God did not spare Jesus, His only begotten Son from sufferings, how do you think He will spare us, since His purpose is to make us more like Christ. Even Jesus prayed in Gethsemane that the burden be taken away but that did not happen. He then added, “Let your will be done.” We may not have control over early mishaps and difficulties but as Christians we have control on how we react or respond to problems. What people easily forget is that even though we are not of the world, we still live in the world. We are born the same way like everyone else, buy in the same market, affected by the same economic crunches, influence by the same decadences and social disorders, etc. But when we become believers, God put His Spirit in us and that gives the abilities and strengths to respond to life’s challenges differently.
Again, as Apostle Paul agonized over his struggles and sufferings in life, he pleaded with God thrice to take away from him “a thorn in my flesh” and God did not do as Paul requested but simply replied him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (1 Cor. 12:9). God said to Paul whatever the nature and dimension of your problems, God’s grace is sufficient for you. This answer also applies to all Christians who trust in God Almighty. God’s grace over-rules and overcomes every problem we may face. The devices of Paul’s thorns originated from Satan; however God allows it to make him aware of his need for His strength and power. Apostle Paul prayed thrice but God answered in a different way. If you have prayed a dozen or numerous times for God to relieve you of your problems and the troubles persist, it could be God has answered it differently; for example: forging a new character quality in your life.
Some servants of God are quick to attribute to sin and lack of faith God’s delay or no physical manifestation to our prayers. I agree that God may not do anything except moved by faith (not by tears or grudge or complain). However, one is tempted to ask if it was all about lack of faith, why did those servants not use or add their own faith to evoke God’s response? Some of the people Jesus healed had no faith. For example: the man at the Well of Bethsaida for 38 years had lost believes and hopes in every possibility and perspective of healing. The Apostles also healed the lame man at the Beautiful gate begging for alms that neither had faith nor was looking forward to healing. While I’m not undermining the power of faith in obtaining from God, I am convinced that we receive all the goodness of God by His grace and mercies, even when we deserve nothing. If your prayers are not yet answered, do not get angry at God and rebel against Him or nurse grudges against God. Do not resign to faith and give up on yourself when God has not given up on you. God is still faithful even when we are not. He is still dependable when we have failed Him severally.
When God says His grace is sufficient for us it means we should encounter our struggles and problems God’s way not ours. God is promising, there’s no problem that He can’t solve – nothing is too difficult or impossible with God (Luke 1:37). God still answer prayers in His own way and at His best time, when we submit to Him completely and pray, “Thy will be done.” God’s power is made perfect, complete and satisfied in our weaknesses. Little wonder, Apostle Paul could say, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). God keeps His promises regardless of how difficult the circumstances may seem. Paul suffered profoundly for following Christ. Therefore, anyone who ever imagined that Christian faith always leads to health, wealth and comfortable circumstances must have forgotten Jesus’ and Paul’s experiences. He knew that faithfulness to God brings sufferings and difficulties. Suffering has its positive side: Little wonder Apostle Paul through his experiences had to say, “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint or put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:2-5).
It may be good to preach entertainment message but that is not the full or true gospel. Believers should know that Christianity means, “Come and die with me.” The Lord said to Ananias about His new convert, Paul, “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name sake” (Acts 9:16). Apostle Paul urged the Saints in Philippi, “…Stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, not by being terrified by your adversaries……for it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake……” (Philippians 1:27-29). Paul also said, I sent Timothy, a brother and minister of God…..to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this” (1 Thess. 3:2-3). Apostle Peter admonished, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” (1 Pet. 4:1).
Some Christians want the crown but not through the cross. Even some of those who are rich in the world, may not tell you what they do to get rich. Some riches come through excruciating unforgettable, yet regrettable decisions and pains in the inside. Nothing good comes through luxury but through hard work, sufferings and perseverance. Apostle Paul said, “But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is more wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord……….All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised Him to life. I also want to suffer and die as He did” (Philippians 3:7-10) CEV. Apostle Peter charged, “Therefore be steadfast in faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you” (1 Peter 5:9-10).
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