Question about God Asking Hard Things of You

[ronandcarol]

We all know that God alllows suffering. However, will God ask you to do something when your suffering causes you to want to do the opposite? And if he does, how do explain why a loving God would do such things?

The Bible states that God will never push you beyond your limits, and that He
will always provide a way out. Although, we all have free will that He will not
stand in the way of.

ronandcarol

 

[Deeje]

The Bible states that God will never push you beyond your limits, and that He
will always provide a way out. Although, we all have free will that He will not
stand in the way of.

It really helps to understand why.

Job is the best example of why. (Job 1 & 2) The devil accused Job of serving God with completely selfish motives....that if he was made to suffer, he would turn his back on God and even curse him. Look what Job endured by God's permission. God did not bring a single calamity on Job, but he permitted the devil to prove his claims.
Job is a representative of all of us. He not only stayed loyal, but he endured the most unimaginable suffering, erroneously thinking that it was coming from God himself. He was not privy to what was going on behind the scenes. But in accord with the scripture you quoted, (1 Corinthians 10:13) God knew how much this faithful man could endure and he did not allow the devil to go beyond it.

The outcome for Job is not often highlighted but is a very important part of the lesson....
Job 42:12-17:
"So Jehovah blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the beginning.....He also came to have seven more sons and three more daughters.....No women in all the land were as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers.
After this Job lived for 140 years, and he saw his children and his grandchildren—four generations.  Finally Job died, after a long and satisfying life."

God is a rewarder of those who cannot be overreached by the devil. (Proverbs 27:11) All that we have lost will be returned to us, including our family members who have died.

 

[Deidre]

Well, it seems hard to me to love people because I've been hurt before. It also is hard to witness to people because bullying caused me to have social anxiety.

I've been hurt before too, probably every human being has at some point. And Jesus was very hurt, as well...but, He loves us, and sometimes, love is what we should do, even when it's hard. In the end, I want to believe that love wins. That good wins.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I've been hurt before too, probably every human being has at some point. And Jesus was very hurt, as well...but, He loves us, and sometimes, love is what we should do, even when it's hard. In the end, I want to believe that love wins. That good wins.

Jesus also believes that love wins, that good wins - John 13:34-35.
Jesus demonstrated having ' self-sacrificing ' love for others as the hallmark and winner.

 

[OTPEuJill42]

The Bible states that God will never push you beyond your limits, and that He

Jesus also believes that love wins, that good wins - John 13:34-35.
Jesus demonstrated having ' self-sacrificing ' love for others as the hallmark and winner.

That's hard to remember for me right now. At this point, it's so easy to doubt that God really loves me.

 

[First Baseman]

Paul stated that in his travels he suffered immensely, having been stoned more than once, shipwrecked more than once. Paul also said that his faith was made more perfect through suffering. The more we suffer the more we depend upon God. We must learn to always depend upon God, all the time. In order to learn this and renounce our pride we must suffer. We suffer because we cannot be perfected by God without suffering. And Christ suffered as an example to and for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Indeed if you do not ever suffer then maybe your faith isn't as strong as you might think it is. Food for thought.

God disciplines us as a father disciplines his own son. Sometimes the rod is required in discipline.

It is really hard to explain why suffering is necessary to build one's faith. It is really easy to believe it after one suffers and see the end result of God's work.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

That's hard to remember for me right now. At this point, it's so easy to doubt that God really loves me.

1 Peter 5:7 for You. Throw all your anxiety (cares/worries) upon Him because He cares for You.

 

[First Baseman]

That's hard to remember for me right now. At this point, it's so easy to doubt that God really loves me.

Please try to always remember that Christ was beaten and marred more than any other man before He was crucified -

(Isaiah 52:14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness— [Many read this verse and just totally miss what it says])

and He was crucified for YOU. Totally. He didn't do it for Himself, He was already the Son of God before He was crucified. He did it so that He could pay your sin debt for you because you can't pay it.

Yes, God really does love you, OTPEuJill42. He loves you more than you will ever know. Like the prodigal son, God watches for you to come back home to Him. And when you do, He will clothe you in Righteousness and claim you as His beloved son or daughter! He will throw a banquet in heaven for you!

Yes, your heavenly Father loves you. Oh yes, He does!