I don’t know about you guys but is seems as though struggles in my life come in bunches. Something at home usually breaks down about the time I am sick, the car is acting up, and there is a crisis in the life of another family member or church attendee. I get some light at the end of the tunnel in one situation and another problem rears its head. Life can pile up on us at times.
As we deal with these life issues, we must hang on to this truth, God is always good. But I must admit, there are times this reality is hard to get my hands around. Satan loves to accuse God of not caring or being inattentive when the attacks are coming from the Evil One. God does not cause evil. To do so would be against his character and he cannot do that. The Apostle James makes this clear in James 1:13-14, When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
Some may ask then, “Is God not more powerful than Satan? Can he not just stop the attacks before they come?” The answer to this question is yes, he could. However, there are times he chooses not to. It is from this same section of the letter from James we get a bit of an insight into God’s thinking on this issue. James 1:12, Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. Paul the Apostle gives us a further picture of God’s purposes in Romans 5:3-5, Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Think about it this way. A man serving as in the military is not ready to face the enemy until he has experienced boot camp and is kicked around a bit. This training is meant to make him physically and mentally tough; preparing him for those life or death situations he will face in the heat of battle. How cruel it would be to take a young recruit right off the bus from his home and throw him into combat. He wouldn’t stand a chance. It a sense, God, in his love and goodness allows us to go through a type of spiritual boot camp to toughen us up for the spiritual battles that may come later. Satan is simply being used as the drill sergeant.
The good news in this training is that Satan does NOT get to decide the intensity nor the length of the struggle. The Apostle Paul reveals this promise in 1 Corinthians 10:23, No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
A dad who fails to teach his child discipline is harming the potential of that child to succeed in this world. That is not a good parent. In the same way, God cannot be considered good unless he allows us to toughen up and learn to deal with the things we will face in this world. God’s training comes with a promise. The dark moments of our life will last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish his purpose in us.