Christ First Forum

If God Wants Me to Be Happy, Why So Much Suffering?

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.

Chronic illness, difficult marriages, losing a child-doesn't God want me to be happy?

God definitely wants you to be happy long-term and infinitely, and deeply now in and through those circumstances.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not with him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)

That's saying that since God paid the infinite price of his Son for you, will he not then surely carry through in providing everything you need?

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20 ... index.html

I don't nessarily believe scriptures teaches God wants to make me 'happy.'

His purpose and plan for our lives is to be a 'witness' for Him,and to be used to bring others to Christ...

FOR TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED, BECAUSE CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR US, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS.
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BUT REJOICE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU PARTAKE OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, THAT WHEN HIS GLORY IS REVEALED, YOU MAY ALSO BE GLAD WITH EXCEEDING JOY.

IF YOU ARE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, BLESSED ARE YOU, FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD RESTS UPON YOU. ON THEIR PART HE IS BLASPHEMED, BUT IN YOUR PART HE IS GLORIFIED.

BUT LET NONE OF YOU SUFFER AS A MURDERER, A THIEF, AN EVIL DOER, OR AS A BUSYBODY IN OTHER PEOPLE'S MATTERS.

YET IF ANYONE SUFFERS AS A CHRISTIAN, LET HIM NOT BE ASHAMED, BUT LET HIM GLORIFY GOD IN THIS MATTER.

FOR THE TIME HAS COME FOR JUDGMENT TO BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD; AND IF IT BEGINS WITH US FIRST, WHAT WILL BE THE END OF THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF GOD?

THEREFORE LET THOSE WHO SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD COMMIT THEIR SOULS TO HIM IN DOING GOOD, AS TO A FAITHFUL CREATOR. 1 Peter 4:12~