where did this pain come from?

Where Did This Pain Come From?


If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
- 1 Peter 4:14-16
Not everyone who says they're going through a trial is going through a trial. Some people are suffering consequences. If you're hitting hard times, ask yourself, Am I suffering in a trial, or is my pain a consequence of something I've done? You need to identify the source of that hard thing in your life because your responsibility in the matter depends on it. What brought on this hardship? Is the difficulty you're enduring a wake-up call to the reality of your bad choices, or has it been allowed by God to train your character?
A painful consequence is something you reap when you plant a seed full of sin - something harmful you've done, harsh words you've spoken, places you've gone, wrong priorities you've pursued, commitments you've neglected, selfish choices you've made. If you are today harvesting heartache from a sin you've previously planted, then humbly repent of your actions right now.
Many believers are experiencing very painful consequences to sin in their lives. They may call those consequences trials, but "do not be deceived,” Galatians 6:7 says, "God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
Vote: Trial or Consequence?
"My marriage is in trouble after many years of neglect.” (Consequence.)
"My son has a serious illness and is in the hospital.” (Trial - for sure.)
"My husband lost his job because the automobile industry is suffering.” (Trial)
"My husband lost his job because he stole a bunch of stuff from work.” (Consequence)
In His kindness, God promises that trials will come. It's true that we are forgiven the penalty of sin, but we still must suffer the harvest of consequences. Wrong actions have wrong consequences, even for Christians. God will make sure of it.
I'll say it again, if you're suffering consequences, repent right now. Turn around and - don't walk - run back to God.
- James MacDonald