Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, does it seem to you that probably your

[Marz†SFECU†pray4revival]

afflictions...? helped you to find the Lord? So, if so, your afflictions worked out for your eternal good, right? Check out these verses:

Psalm 119:67 & 71
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep thy word.

It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Thy statutes.

I Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

II Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

See also Romans 8:16-18, I Peter 4:1-2, Hebrews 12:11, Revelation 3:18

 

[Soulless]

How does a God that would rather inflict suffering on people as a means of bringing them to him as opposed to simply showing itself to the world, equate with a loving God?

 

[God'sservant]

yes they help us to rely on god and grow in faith in him

 

[KittehSezeee]

Seems like you're saying that people are more likely to come to god to fix a problem than to want him around for the sake of his company. I guess that's reasonable, I only like to see my doctor when I'm sick.

 

[Don]

I have no doubt whatsoever that there was a systematic effort of a faceless entity that made sure that I'd leave the nest with low self esteem and totally unprepared to deal with the realities of life let alone to be an active participant in man's cruelest endeavor, war and the art of killing. But God was waiting for me in the USMC and I do believe that one of My Drill Instructors Gunnery Sgt. Francis was a Christian for he said as marines our motto is "God, Country and Corps", in that order and I have never heard the Marines express that since. One day we ran across a marine that had been flayed alive (we were sure) with his genitals suck in his mouth. We were on the last day of a 3 day patrol we were so enraged that when the choppers came to extract us we just took what little rations they had for we were out and put what was left of him on a chopper and our marine scouts and dog handler set out to pick up the trail of the VC that did it. 2 days later we found them frolicking and bathing in a stream. Having no idea of the resolve that they gave us and feeling no fear in "their jungle" we caught them with their pants down and after we were sure they were a lone unit of 7 like mad wolves we moved in on them and payback was in kind. for we found on them his zippo lighter and personal items but I did not feel sorry for them. I had not become so jaded and had no stomach for it and it was then that I realized that there was more than death to fear for me but turning into an animal was an aspect of this reality for as marines they didn't take us as prisoners for they played hard ball but we had some guys that played harder ball. That night I made a vow to God that I'd never kill for the sake of killing, rape or mutilate. It was that priority of God that made me remember that He was supposed to be first. I kept the promise and saw enough violence to last me for the rest of my life but Satan was not finished and God let him take me to the day, years later that I could take no more and saved my life with John 15:19 and introduced me to His HS. It was those "afflictions" that made me realize that if God can't help me nothing can but He took me to the line. Before when I stumbled and fell He'd pick me up and dust me off and I'd go right back to non-sense but He finally got my attention and He gave me what He had been holding for me all that time, LIGHT for now I can see and when I see those who can't, it is a heart felt, "but there for the grace of God go I." That is the way He works and I know that there are atheist out there waiting for their wake up call. AMEN

 

[johninjc]

Yes, the times in my life when I have strayed away from God were times of trouble in my life. When I tried to do things my way instead of His were the times I failed, my way lead to pain and suffering. Drawing closer to God always lead me to peace and rest. Sometimes we want to do our way but His ways are so much better than ours.