MCGI Topic Review: Why Do People Suffer Tribulations (Part 2)

https://youtu.be/VN9DK8ecxSA?si=_Ns-0nxwA1n-wtg_ Misery and pain are things that each human being goes through at one event or the other. Nobody is not on earth devoid of problems, pain or trials. Others of us are victims of illnesses, others of poverty, or heart or disappointment. When I heard the MCGI subject of the topic of Why Do People Suffer Part 2, I found myself reflecting on life and why people suffer. Initially, I used to pose this question to myself, why does God being a good guy allow people to endure so much pain? However, upon listening and reading the Bible, I realized that tribulations have more serious meanings and purposes of God. Among the key lessons I gained in the instruction is the fact that tribulations are present in life due to sin. In the Bible, we are clearly informed in Romans 5:12 that; Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men. This implies that since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden the world had become the place of pain and suffering. Thus, part of the sufferings that people go through today is due to fallen nature of humanity. Evils and calamities like diseases, calamities, hunger, and even death were all a result of sin. It made me realize that God did not bring to existence man to be in suffering, but sin opened the door to suffering. The other purpose of people undergoing tribulations is to test their faith. I was thinking about this when the story about Job in the Bible came to mind. Job was a god-loving righteous man who lost all that he had: his children, money and his health. Yet, he never cursed God. In Job 23:10 he said, but he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath put me to the test, I shall come forth as gold. This verse demonstrates that God at times permits His children to pass through difficulties not to ruin them but to enable them become stronger. It is as though gold is purified through fire. The burning is agonizing, yet cleansing. Hence, hardships may make us characterful and bring us nearer to God. It was also my lesson that there are tribulations that are supposed to teach us the lesson of obedience and humility. There are numerous occasions when life becomes easy and people tend to forget God. They develop arrogance and begin to believe that they are capable of doing all things independently. However, when they experience difficulties they start praying and returning to God. In Deuteronomy 8: 2, it is recorded, And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God brought thee in the wilderness forty years, to humble thee and to prove thee. This indicates that God at times lets us to walk through the wilderness in order to become humble and rely on Him. This personally I can relate to. My life has been characterized by some instances where I would only recite prayers when I was in trouble. In retrospect, I can say that those trying moments taught me to have a stronger faith in God. In addition, the teaching told that there are tribulations that come as correction with God. God also punishes us by ensuring that we go through difficulties just like a father who disciplines his child. In Hebrews 12: 6, it states, For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. It implies that whenever we experience pain due to the wrong decisions we make, it is not that God hates us, but He wants to take us back on the right track. Having a parent scolding off the child who playfully touches fire, God permits us to experience the heat of our deeds so we can learn prudence. I understood that there are cases when it is my own fault that made me suffer- through this suffering I became more intelligent. The other important observation made during the MCGI lesson is that tribulations equip believers to live eternally. This is because life on earth is provisional and the struggles that we experience are what will make us strong spiritually. In Romans 8: 18, bible states that, I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy as compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us. This translates that despite the challenges one may face in life there is an even better reward to those who do not turn their backs on God. I found this reassuring because I am aware that my sufferings are not in vain. All the tears, all the pains, all the insomnias may be eternal values provided I survive with believing. I also observed that there are certain tribulations to allow the revelation of the power of God. In John 9:1- 3, the disciples questioned Jesus on why a man was born blind. Was that the sin of his parents or his sin? But Jesus said, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: But that the works of God be done in him. What I learned about this story is that not every suffering is a punishment, but it is an opportunity of God to reveal his glory. People are able to understand the power of God when they experience miracles, healing, and deliverance after the trials. To sum up, the MCGI subject Why Do People Suffer Part 2 has made me open my eyes to realize that tribulations do not always mean that God is angry by us. At times, it is his means of making us stronger, humble, and prepared. The tribulations make us remember that we are dependant upon God and it teaches us patience, faith, and endurance. This is because of what 2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us, that our light affliction, which is but momentary, is a far more exceeding and enduring weight of glory which works to us. Now whenever I have hard moments, I do not complain as before. Rather, I make an attempt to discover what God wants me to learn. Through pain, I grow. Through trials, I trust. And in tribulations, I am brought nearer to God.