Why is it that Problems are Inevitably Part of Christian Life and Who is the One Bearing Those According to the Bible

Mankind has many worries in daily living. Only few really regards them as "challenges", but most people refer to it as trouble. We would question Him why should we have to experience such. Can't we just live without worries, hassles, and/or failures? Isn't it a good idea that we can enjoy everything in life without a bitter consequence? If those problems may weaken a man, why do He allow these things? Many people believed that they do nothing good at all, for their main reason is that we can live without them. Why should you place a stumbling rock if that object will do harm?

Notice those insane persons in the psychiatric facilities. Why don't we envy them? They have nothing to worry, for they don't care whatever happens to them. They have no problems on sending children to school, a red failure mark on a report card, family disputes (they don't care if his family have totally abandoned him), breakfast-lunch-supper-snacks (they do experience hunger drive, but are unable to plan them ahead of time), neither the need for a spiritual well-being.

Can we be ascertain that sane people may live a problem-free life? The rich worries about the protection of his possessions, the intelligent resolves the meaning of the existence of things, the parent having trouble of paying tuition fees for their children, and many other things that man have been encountering in this world.

Being persons with thought and sanity, Christians do also encounter problems. Sometimes, a Christian suffers heavily from his own household, various Church enemies who are willing to persecute him at all costs, a friend lost because of his religion, and many others to mention. Even though problems are inevitable, how can we survive them? Is there anything we can do to lessen the burdens that those problems are giving to us? Let's find out later.

When Christians today are experiencing numerous problems, it follows that the Christians of the past have problems too. It may not be what we exactly experience today (unlike them, we have undergone many technological and lifestyle advancements), but maybe of same magnitude.

What kind of problems are they experiencing? Let's read The Acts 15:2, "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question." Regarding the question mentioned, it was about the necessity of circumcision to salvation (The Acts 15:1) as we can see, the apostles have problems regarding doctrinal issues that they have to consult it with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. The best intervention to use if you don't know the answer to a question is to consult someone you think who knows it. Since doctrines are vital part for a Christian, it should be resolved as early as possible to remove misconceptions and personal interpretations from misunderstood concepts.

Here is another problem experienced by past Christians. In The Acts 8:1-2, "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him." The church before do experience persecutions. "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about the sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;" (Hebrews 11:37). Not only that, but also persecutions coming from their own household (Matthew 10:36).

Therefore, a Christian must also encounter persecutions. Anyone claiming to be a Christian who lives in comfort, pleasures, luxuries, or they are the ones who persecutes others should not be acknowledged as a true Christian. This is one way on assessing yourself: if no one hates you because of your religion and its doctrines, you're not a Christian. Moreover, when you see preachers or pastors claiming to be Christians who does not suffer persecutions from evil persons, they are false prophets. Why? The Bible says so. Let's read II Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions."

Let's now ask why should Christians encounter problems, and it is inevitable. It may seem unfair that they are the ones who walk in righteousness and yet they still encounter them in their service to the Lord? In the book of St. John 15:19-20, "If ye were of the world, the world love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." The world hates them because they are moving away from it. The world will not care for them, because whether they conform to it or not, the world will still love its own. In other words, the world likes to use them for its own benefit. But, when Christ takes them away from the world, the world could no longer consume them, so it will begin to hate them. Because of this, the world persecutes them as a sort of anger. You cannot expect any permanent benefit from the world, so it's your choice whether you conform to this world or not.

Another reason why should Christians encounter problems is: if you decided to make Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, whatever the world have done to him must also be done to you. It is unfair for a servant to receive more privilege than his lord. That's why it is inevitable for Christians to encounter problems (one of them is persecutions, as what I have mentioned earlier).

Here is one more reason why it is inevitable for a Christian to encounter problems. In the book of St. Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The primary enemy of Christianity is the devil, so we knew whom to blame if we encounter such problems. He wants to attack us, at any means, for him to weaken the faith of a Christian. What can they do to endure his attacks? Continue reading to verse 9, "Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." Therefore, Christians can resist his attacks by faith. Let's see the case of a thief in John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." What can you expect anything good from a thief? Being ready and observant is another measure that can be done since thieves attack in an unlikely time span, wherein the owner is less likely on guard.

Problems may be inevitable, but there are ways for Christians to resist them. In Philippians 4:6-7, "Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." It's hard for a person to bear all the burden since the flesh gives him limitations and may result to depression, which triggers suicidal intents (but I am not promoting suicide). By letting problems be known unto God through prayers and supplications with thanksgiving, burdens can be lessened. Through the peace of God, devil's attacks can be resisted.

How about resisting attacks from unrighteous men? Let's read Isaiah 51:7-8, "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings, for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them up like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation."

How to attain the peace so that problems can be resisted? In the book of St. John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." His words will be a help for solving problems and He can be trusted that He will not forsake those who love Him. If Christ is with someone, why should he worry so much because of problems?

To further lessen the burdens, let these things be known to God. Why? In I Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Problems can be surrendered to God because He cares. Upon surrendering problems to Him, He will be the one to discover the solutions. Since the devil causes such problems, He will be the one to resolve it. What can the devil do against His will?

He can be trusted enough to assist men (those who love Him) in their problems. In Hebrews 13:5, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." This is applicable only to those who have faith in Him: whenever His help is needed, He will be there, just trust in Him and never doubt, since He cannot lie. Let's read Titus 1:2, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." Even He is the Almighty and most powerful, there's something he can't do, but we are constantly doing, He cannot lie, whatever the circumstance will be.

Being a Christian, who faithfully obeys His commandments without hesitations, are you still having problems in your life that seems too heavy for you to bear? Kneel down, pray to God, talk to him heart-to-heart, thank Him for everything He have done, then open to him all your troubles. As long as this request won't do any harm, you can expect Him to respond. Just give him ample time, since He always act exactly in time. Remember that prayers of wicked men are abomination to Him, so make sure you are free from any form of wickedness, whether obvious or hidden. Don't commit suicide nor wish for a mental trauma, but run to Him. If you are faithful to His words, He will not fail to grant you comfort from your problems. Prayers of an upright man are effective.

Note: This is based from the topic outline presented by Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano to the members of the Church of God, International.  

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