“...we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” This is the other side of the coin of Christianity. So many speakers and writers are drawing a happy face on being a Christian in our day. I personally believe we need to get back to presenting the rough side of our Faith. The flip side of joy, peace, and happiness is chastening, attacks from unseen satanic powers, a daily war with the flesh, periodic times of darkness, resisting despondency, and all the other negatives that soft, velvety saints cringe to hear of.
Being a Christian is not a bed of roses; it has its problems. No believer is exempt from the ills of humanity. Suffering, arguments, family squabbles, temptations, bad habits, spurts of anger, and a score of other unpleasantries are our lot in this world. We are not promised a trouble free life. No Christian should think it strange when he or she passes through tribulation. Some spend all their time diagnosing themselves when trouble comes. With morbid introspection, they skin themselves to the raw, thinking they have done something wrong, not realizing God is grooming them for something greater.
“If we were kept from tribulation, then we would miss all God’s benefits in tribulation---glory, comfort, and joy.”
(rds)
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