WHY DOES GOD ALLOW HARDSHIP IN OUR LIVES?
Text: Psalm 73:1-2
Intro: Have you ever look around at you life and simply asked: WHY? Have hardships and trials ever come into your life for seemingly no reason? I want to share a few things from my own personal experience, only to illustrate the point I want to make. I am absolutely not trying to complain, not trying to make you feel sorry for me this morning.
My parents separated in a bitter divorce that left an 11-year-old boy trying to decide which of his parents he wanted to live with. When I moved back home to live with my dad I found my self living in a drunkards home, that didn’t really bother me until I was born again. I don’t understand why.
A few years later after my mother’s third marriage failed, she decided to move back to this area and she had not been back hardly a year and she suddenly took sick and was admitted to the hospital and was dead a short week later. We buried her on Christmas Eve. I Don’t understand Why.
About a year later my wife and I found out that we were to have our first child and she lost it. A couple of years we learned that we were expecting again and we had a beautiful baby girl, She was 3 months early and was in the hospital for a long stay before we were able to bring her home. I don’t understand Why.
I have tried to help a couple of families out financially and I have been almost forced in to financial bankruptcy along with having been sued. I was only trying to do right and show compassion to someone in need. I don’t understand Why.
My wife and I prayed and felt that it was time to try having another child and she miscarried twice this year. I don’t understand Why these things happen, but there has to be a reason.
So I want you to consider the thought of: “Why does God allow hardships in our lives?”
I certainly do not claim this morning to have all the answers, but I do have the answer book. First off, is it a sin to Question why things happen to you? I believe that the answer to this question is NO! There are several instances where great people of Faith have wondered why things happened to them.
Take Asaph for example. He was a contemporary of David, He was a godly man, not only a musician and psalmist, but also a seer or Prophet, he asked why? Look also to Psalm 77:7-9 He was not the only one to ever wonder what the Lord was doing. David had similar Questions; Psalm 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? Job was another one of God’s choice servants that couldn’t understand and He questioned what was going on and why. Job 7:18-20 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? 19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? Job 19:22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
So Why does God allow hardships in our lives? These are the reasons that I could find in the pages of God’s Word.
I. Purge Out Faults
There is no doubt that sometimes God allows hardship on our lives to chasten and rebuke us. That Principal is found through out the Word of God. As a matter of fact that is the literal context of the 73rd Psalm. Note the descriptions that are used in this psalm. “Jerusalem is fallen into perpetual desolations (vs. 3), and the enemy violates the Temple (vs. 3). The sanctuary’s intricate and beautifully carved work is battered with axes and hammers (vs. 6). The destruction of the Temple is complete (vs. 7), and the nation is seen to be without a prophet (vs. 9). A foreign devil blasphemes the name of the Lord God (vs. 10). Israel is depicted in a state of utter chaos and spiritual disarray.”
If you will recall the Old Testament every time the nation of Israel would be swept off into idolatry, the Lord would allow some foreign nation to come and carry the Jews off into captivity. It was a form of Discipline.
Turn to Hebrews 12:5-11
This in not to only reason, but it is a reason the Hardship come into our lives.
II. Prove Our Faith
The Second reason that the Lord spoke to me about is this. I believe that the Lord allows hardship to enter our lives to Prove our Faith.
Take your bibles and turn to John 6:1-6.
I have heard people say that the Lord tested me to see what I would do in this situation. No I don’t think so, for He is Omniscient and He already knows what you would do. Although He may allow things in our lives so We can see what We would do.
The Great Commentator Matthew Henry wrote: Our Lord Jesus is never at a loss in his counsels; but, how difficult soever the case is, he knows what he has to do and what course he will take, Acts 15:18. He knows the thoughts he has towards his people (Jer. 29:11) and is never at uncertainty; when we know not, he himself knows what he will do. (2.) When Christ is pleased to puzzle his people, it is only with a design to prove them.
Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
These trials that come to prove our faith allow us to either see that we should strengthen our weak faith for we bowed under the load, or that we should strengthen our faith to meet the next task ahead.
III. Pattern For Followers
Turn to I Corinthians 10:1-13
Did you notice the word that was used in verse 13, ‘temptation’? Here is the definition - a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Earlier I mentioned that Rebekah was born early and had the difficulties of being in the Hospital. God allowed the hardship that we faced to be an encouragement for others that were facing the same trial.
There are times that we face hardship in our lives so that we can look back and say to some one else that is struggling hard this is the way to make it through.
IV. Produce Fruit
The last thing that I want to say about hardship in our lives is that sometimes they are allowed in our lives so that we can produce more fruit.
Bro. Sam preached last night from one of the parables. Matthew 13:3-9 The sun represents Persecution and as we all know nothing in the plant world will grow let alone produce fruit without the vibrant rays form the sun. Likewise in our lives sometimes hardship is necessary for us to grow and produce fruit.
James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
The word here in James 1:2 is synonymous with the word testings. Do you recall what the Scripture said the Husbandman does to produce more fruit in the vine?
Turn to John 15:1-8
The purging mentioned here is referring to the trimming and pruning that the keeper of the vineyard does so the vine will be more productive. God may have to do the same for you and I.
Conclusion: I don’t know the reasons for the hardships that come in your life and I am still trying to figure out some of the trials in my life, but God has never nor will ever do anything to harm us. He may try to Purge our Faults; Prove our Faith; create a Pattern for Followers or simply try to Produce fruit in our lives. He will never harm us. I wish for the Faith that Job had. Job 13:13-15 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. 14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
