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How do you know
the difference between a "trial" in the Christian life, and God
"chastening" you?
My wife and I are both Christians and we
have a very good marriage and wonderful children who have also been saved and baptized. It
just seems that every time we turn around things are going wrong in our life. We know that
Christians are supposed to suffer hardships, and we understand that life on earth is
anything but easy. But how do you know the difference in God testing you, punishing you
(even though you can't figure out why) or Satan just having fun? It just seems that every
time we take three steps forward, we get knocked back five. We have both prayed about this
and even asked our pastor and Sunday school teacher. They tried to answer this question
only to confuse us more.
Your question starts out, “My wife and I are both Christians and we have a
very good marriage and wonderful children who have also been saved and baptized.” The
Book of Job starts out, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and
that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there
were born unto him seven sons and three daughters” (Job 1:1,2). From the description
you gave of your family, we have two similar families here.
From the
Book of Job, we know that it was not some specific sin of his own that caused Job’s
trials and suffering (notice that I said some specific sin — all suffering is
a direct result of sin entering into the world, but not all suffering in the life of an
individual is a direct result of his own personal sin; like the case of a baby that is
born addicted to drugs, because the mother was on drugs, etc.), but rather, it was
Job’s righteous life that so angered Satan. Job 1:8-12 says, “And the LORD said
unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth,
a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan
answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge
about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast
blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth
thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the
LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not
forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”
We know
that this same scenario is still taking place today (that of Satan going before the Lord
and accusing the believers), and it will until the mid-point of the Tribulation Period,
when Satan will be cast out of the heavenly realm. Revelation 12:7-11 says, “And
there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon
fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in
heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast
out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our
brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame
him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their
lives unto the death.”
Satan still goes around
causing trouble for believers, when he is given permission to do so. I Peter 5:6-10 says,
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in
due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath
called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while,
make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
Such
suffering normally goes in periods of time, as did Job’s. There were two specific
onslaughts of Satan (which lasted for some time, like when Job said, “So am I made to
possess MONTHS of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me” Job 7:3). Jesus
suffered especially great temptation for a period of time of 40 days and nights. Luke
4:1-13 says, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was
led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being FORTY DAYS TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL. And in those
days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil
said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And
Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all
the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power
will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever
I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus
answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem,
and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God,
cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over
thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash
thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not
tempt the Lord thy God. And WHEN THE DEVIL HAD ENDED ALL THE TEMPTATION, HE DEPARTED FROM
HIM FOR A SEASON.”
Be
faithful serving the Lord, and do not be discouraged. Keep asking God to show you if there
is anything in your life that is displeasing to Him. If He shows you something, quickly
make it right. Hebrews 11:11-13 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to
be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which
hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is
lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” If He does not
show you anything specific from His Word, then just trust Him that He is in control, and
that He will also bless you in the end, as He did Job. James 5:10,11 says, “Take, my
brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of
suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have
heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very
pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
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