Will being faithful to God spare me from adversity?
Exodus 5:4-9Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.” That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen: “Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves! But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’”
Jeremiah 15:15Then I said, “Lord, you know what’s happening to me. Please step in and help me. Punish my persecutors! Please give me time; don’t let me die young. It’s for your sake that I am suffering.”
Daniel 3:19-27Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace.
John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Acts 4:2-3These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.
Acts 5:17-18The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
Acts 14:2, 5Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas . . . Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them.
Acts 16:19-24Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
Acts 17:5-8Some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council.
Romans 8:35-37Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
1 Thessalonians 3:1-3Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.
1 Peter 2:20-22God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
The lives of believers in both Old and New Testaments testify that being faithful to God does not eliminate adversity. When we accept Jesus, Satan becomes our enemy. He will try to stop us from following God by sending us all kinds of adversity. He hopes that he can at least make us doubt God and be unable to witness for him. Adversity may be a sign that we are being faithful to God. So continue to be faithful, even when things get tough.
Nahum 1:7The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.
In most cases, the Bible doesn’t say “if trouble comes,” but “when trouble comes.” No human being has ever lived life without some adversity.
Psalm 27:5He [the Lord] will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Daniel 3:24-25Suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”
Matthew 2:12-13“And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!
Acts 9:23-25After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.
Acts 12:5-7While Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.
Sometimes God does rescue us from adversity because of our faithfulness. We should not hesitate to ask for help if we are facing hard challenges. Then even if help doesn’t come immediately, we can be sure that God is present with us in our troubles.
