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For 30 years, Christian leader and spiritual adviser Billy Graham has been offering advice to the thousands of readers who share their problems ...
Read more about By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services.
For 30 years, Christian leader and spiritual adviser Billy Graham has been offering advice to the thousands of readers who share their problems ...
Read more about By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services.
Is God Punishing Me With These Hard Times?
By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services
Q: I've been going through some hard times lately. I'm a Christian,
but have I done something wrong and God is punishing me for it? I
don't know what I did wrong, but I sure wish I could get this behind
me. -- N.J.
A: God has allowed these trials to come into your life -- but He didn't necessarily cause them, nor is He necessarily punishing you for something you did wrong. In fact, God wants to use this to draw you closer to Himself -- and I pray this will be your experience.
After all, problems and trials are part of life. It's natural for us to shrink back from them, and we all wish we could be free of them and live a trouble-free life. But life isn't like this, and we all know it can radically change -- even in a matter of seconds. The real question is how we will react. Will we react in anger or despair? Will we lash out in hatred or revenge? Or will we turn to God in faith and seek His help?
Trials will either make you turn away from God or they will drive you to Him. If we turn to Him our faith grows stronger, and afterward we'll be better equipped to meet the next challenge that comes our way. The Bible says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:2-3).
This may seem difficult -- but I urge you to commit your problems to God and ask Him to help you grow spiritually stronger through them. Never forget: Jesus Christ went through far more than you ever will, and He will never abandon you.
========
Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.
(c)2008 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
This news arrived on: 09/30/2008
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Posted Comments:
09-30-2008 14:23
Acelia.M. wrote:
Is God punishing me?
If you really trust God with everything in your life you'll know HE is not punishing you, but in the contrary. God loves us so much that He gave his only beggoten Son. Jus think of Job, even in his worst trials, he said, Are going to love God only in the good time? No, I think the Lord wants to bring you to a higher level in Him, and only because He loves you so much. God is so good and let me tell, we all go to horrible and desperate time, but He said "I will never leave you nor forsake you" It is so good when you passed your trial and tribulations and look back to see that during those trials, the Lord was with you all the way through helping you and after all you became strongher in the Lord, if you had seek God as your only source of strengh. Paul said that we are not the only one going through trials and tribulations, but all our brothers and sisters in the Lord around the World, are going through the same thing. So be encourage, remain faithful knowing that the Lord is walking with you all the way through and if you reamin faithful, you will walk in totally Victory. Pray, read the Word of God and get involve in everything in your church things and going to get easier with you. God Bless You!!! In the love of Christ our Savior. Acelia
09-30-2008 06:17
Glen wrote:
Is God punishing me?
I have been going through the same thing. I too am a Christian and have been going through trials and troubles the last few months. I keep praying and trying to keep up my faith. I believe in the verse in Romans. " All things working together". I know things are rough now but I believe thins will get better for us.
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