Does God Allow His Followers to Suffer?

Any time a person repents from sin and turns to Christ, it creates serious tension and rage in the kingdom of darkness. When they see this person has changed from the evil way to walk with God on the path of righteousness, they bring battles into the life of that person and all sorts of problems and suffering start for that person.

Many don’t understand this, so almost all the time, the new convert concludes that God makes His followers to suffer. They put the blame for their suffering on God; this is actually what the Devil wants them to believe so that they would change their minds and return to him.

But it is the Devil and his servants who are responsible for the believer’s suffering. Satan and his agents are the ones behind the tribulations and discouraging experiences the new convert suffers or is confronted with. Let everyone reading this piece understand this fact clearly and bear it in his mind.

A good scholar of the Bible will agree with this assertion. Recall the transaction that took place between God and the Devil before the calamities of Job started. Go and consult the Bible you will understand what I am alluding to here.

Some Words For The New Convert: As a new convert, you need to make up your mind to continue in the race you have chosen to run no matter what it might bring your way. Yes, make up your mind.

Satan is behind every challenge, opposition and persecution a new convert encounters as soon as he repents from his sins and turns to Christ.

A former follower of Satan revealed that they have a type of TV with which they use to identify a newly converted believer. Once they discover that a person is a new convert, they would begin to pursue that person seriously to frustrate him and make him backslide.

They would create all sorts of problems for him; problem in the home, problems in the place of work, problems in his business, problems with friends and family members, just to frustrate him.

They would cause him health issues; either his own health, or his wife’s, children’s or parents’. They would bombard him with all such inconveniences that were never the case before his decision to turn over a new leaf and separate from Satan.

You must also understand at the on set the type of race it is and the type of demand it will make on your life.

The Christian race is not only a marathon, it is also a steeplechase, and you do not only need your legs but much more, your heart to run it successfully to the end.

Dave Weinbaum, a writer and businessman said that for one to run a marathon, one must have legs, but to win a marathon, one must have a heart.

If you understand this, you will realize that in a marathon there is only one winner. All the others just tried, but though they have their legs, they did not have the heart (the inner strength, perseverance, and the iron-clad determination) required to win.

The new convert should have this in his mind that the race; the Christian race he has chosen to run is not as straight and smooth as the marathon. The marathon is run on a straight, smooth track or route, but the Christian race will take you through many bumps, hills, valleys, mountains, dry lands, sandy routes, storms, fire, floods, pits, even graves, grave yards, physical and spiritual confrontations with Satan and his myriad of demonic hosts and wicked forces. And you know what? You are expected to conquer them all.

In this race there will be occasions when you will fall flat to the canvas. The fall will not mark the end of the journey. You will get up nurse any injury sustained, dust yourself and continue the race. Every believer, new and old must expect this.

In some instances, you could die literally and wake up again gasping for breath; screaming “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” Or “blood of Jesus! Blood of Jesus! Blood of Jesus!” It is still part of the race and part of the experience of the new believer.

As a new convert, such experiences or encounters should not scare you to drop your baton and call it quits. These are what will make you a strong and powerful Christian. An authority in the race, and a mentor eventually for those coming behind.

God knows all these and he said “thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they shall not over flow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee”.

God knows what it will take to walk with Him and as He had promised to see you through, he certainly will. God knows what Satan can do to you because you have decided to walk with Him. So, He says don’t fear anything you encounter as you journey along. He is right there with you to strengthen you. Trust me.

Is it God that sends the waters, floods, or rivers on your way, to drown, sweep and carry you out of the way? No. Satan is. Is it God that kindles the fire on your way to burn you and stop you? No. Satan is. But God says fear not the waters. Fear not the floods. Fear not the rivers. Fear not the fire. They will not hurt you because I am with you to deliver you.

You’d better believe God and take Him for His words. I am a good example of a believer who has tasted fire, floods, even spiritual graves and pits and still came out unscathed. Why and how? Because as God promised, he has been faithful to me. Following Christ? Yes, very, very challenging but very sweet too, as you march on victoriously. If you continue and refuse to be intimidated by Satan’s antics, you will discover the sweetness in sticking with God.

Encouraging Divine Experiences for the Unwavering Believer:

When you make up your mind to stick with Christ no matter what, God will begin to open your inner eye to see Satan and his demon angels literally crying and lamenting and biting their fingers in regret. Why are they crying? Because they have failed over and over again to bring you down from the strong hand of God that holds and guides you everywhere and every day.

If you persist and persevere in your walk with Christ, you will reach a stage when just by saying “Father, in the name of Jesus,” you have not even said more than that, the next thing is that your eye will just pop open into the spiritual realm and you will begin to see all sorts of giant beings somersaulting and running away with lightning speed. I am telling you the truth.

Sometimes, it could just be a casual praising and thanking God for Who He is, and all of a sudden, your eye just pop open into the kingdom of darkness and God begins to show you the chaos that that little “casual” praising and thanking God is causing there. You will see the whole place on fire and those forces of darkness burning and running helter skelter. I am telling you the truth.

If you persevere and remain focused and faithful and committed to God, maintaining holiness and purity before God, He will take you beyond this realm always. I can assure you that. God is showing you the impact of your power on the forces of darkness just to encourage you and to let you know that you are not wasting your time with Him.

You can only make it to the end successfully if you make your face like a flint and keep marching on with your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, no matter what. Just try it.

At the initial stage, the Christian race will look bleak, tiring, lonely and hard. But with faith, perseverance, consecration and commitment you will grow and as you grow, you will become stronger and as you become stronger and stronger, you will discover the glorious sweetness that there is in walking with the Lord. At this stage, you will never never imagine looking back from the Lord, no matter what. Trust me.

Thank you for staying till the end. Kindly like, share, subscribe and drop your comments.