When trouble comes our way, why? Scripture gives us three reasons.

1. Sin’s touch on creation
2. Sin’s touch on our choices
3. Adversity to godliness  

The first reason is due to the fact that we live in a sinful environment. Romans 8:17 says that the “sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:22 also states we know the “whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” The creation around us is subject to decay, corruption, mishaps, and suffering, and we too are subject to the same natural pains and problems.

The second reason for trouble in our circumstances comes from sinful choices that we make. Until the Lord returns and redeems our sin-infested bodies, we must battle the desires of the flesh with a life that pursues the God-given identity that is ours in Christ by faith. Galatians 6:7 says “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
It is good to know that we are free from sin and free to serve God in the details of life (read Romans 6!).

1Peter 3:17 states “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” 

This brings us to our third reason for why we suffer trouble. Simply put, godliness. What is godliness? It is living like God would live, thinking like him and taking pleasure in the things that God is pleased with. Godliness is possible only through the life of Christ that is ours once we trust in the gospel of salvation —  the free gift of God through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins, and faith alone in his redemptive work (1Cor 15:3-4, Romans 3:23-26, Eph 2:8-9). Once we have received the free gift of eternal life we are dead to sin and alive to God. We have life! But God’s life is contrary to the world and therefore you will be an object of resentment from those who oppose the gospel ministry. This is why Paul the apostle writes “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” – 2Tim 3:12.

Until the Lord’s return we will always contend with sin’s touch on creation, but if we are to suffer for any other reason, let us endure trouble because we are standing in the sound doctrine of God’s word and the life it produces.  

Remember! The measure of God’s love is not our circumstances but Calvary, and Christ is the resource for us to endure any trouble that comes our way.

“Who shall separate us for the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” – Romans 8:35 -37

CM
1Cor 15:58