Unless you’re more sinless than Jesus Christ, you have no right to complain that God is unfairly punishing you. Case in that point, Jesus Christ was sinless, the only sinless man to ever walk the earth, and he was ‘punished’ more severely than any sinner or good person will ever experience. If Jesus, in his perfection, could take that much torture, surely you can also (being a sinner) take a tiny glimpse of it.
God lets us suffer to strengthen us, to prepare us for something better, to call us to Him, to experience his power and might. How can we accomplish any of these things without hardship?
The man who went through years of cancer treatment to no avail could have also questioned God’s love for Him for letting him suffer without cure for so long. Perhaps through that hardship the man gets to see just how great God really is, having cured his cancer when nothing else could.
Most priests will be able to tell you that the reason they entered priesthood was because of suffering which called them to do God’s will.
Don’t compare yourself to others. So one guy seems to have a better life than you based on what? How do you know what he experiences at home on his own? Maybe he’s ever fighting through the loss of a loved one. Maybe he’s been diagnosed with a fatal condition. Maybe he’s about to get evicted. You don’t know. Who are you to claim that God is rewarding another person based on simple observation? You’d be surprised at how good people can be at hiding their grief. Let God worry about those who sin. You worry about yourself. Perhaps God knows you’re more likely to answer his calling at this time (having already previously believed in Him), so he’s making sure you don’t deny Him any further.
A man, just like you, can reject God through hardship as well. “God, where were you when my son was dying and needed help?” God answers, “I was here, the same place I was when my own son was dying and needed help”.
A Man dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. He saw 2 sets of footprints in the sand where God said “look, I was walking alongside you constantly”. But at the most difficult times of his life, he could see only 1 set of footprints. He then angrily questioned God, saying “why would you not walk with me when I needed you most?”
God said, “Child, I was always with you. Those times you see only 1 set of footprints, it was then that I carried you”
It says in the Bible, all things work out for the good for those who love God, and that sufferings are nothing compared to the glory revealed through them. Trust God, and return to Him. Give yourself to Him, attend mass, pray, meditate, and connect with Him. He can’t guarantee that storms won’t come your way, but He can guarantee you that he’ll shelter you until they pass.
God bless.
Some good points.
When we pray the “Our Father” we pray with confidence that God will not put us to the test and will deliver us from evil, material and spiritual. The fact of the matter is that God DOES live up to His promises and will not put us to the test, so long as we are upholding our end of the bargain and following His commandments. If we love sin more than God, then we should expect (and rightly so) God’s wrath. In the Old Testament, when Israel disobeyed God, Israel was forced into exile and captivity. God’s protecting hand only was in operation when Israel was fulfilling her end of the covenant. As long as she was fulfilling her end of the bargain, any hardship, pain and suffering was allowed for the purposes of purgation and purification, not for the purposes of wrath. Time and time we see in the Old Testament how God delivers those who cry out to him and does not give the just man sufferings and trials that he cannot endure. The key is to remain just and obedient in the midst of the trial, for this is how God perfects us. *The Book of Job *is essential to understanding how God uses suffering to redeem and purify. Although there is a lot of gloom and doom in
The Book of Job, the theme of hope and vindication (in the end, Job has his fortunes restored to even greater degree than they were before his test) runs through it. For example, we read in Job 36:5-21:
God does not spurn the blameless man
or let the sinner live on in all his power.
He accords justice to the poor,
and upholds the good man’s rights.
When he raises kings to thrones,
if they grow proud of their unending sway,
then he fetters them with chains,
binding them in the bondage of distress.
He shows them all that they have done,
and all the sins of pride they have committed.
He whispers a message in their ears,
urging them to amend themselves.
If they listen and do as he says,
their days end in happiness,
and their closing years are full of ease.
If not, then a thunderbolt destroys them,
and death comes on them unawares.
Yes the stubborn who cherish anger,
and when he shackles them, do not ask for help:
they die in their youth,
or lead a life despised by all.
The wretched, however, he saves by their very wretchedness,
and uses distress to open their eyes.
For you, no less, he plans relief from sorrow.
Once you lived in luxury unbounded,
with rich food piled high on your table.
But you did not execute justice on the wicked,
you cheated orphaned children of their rights.
In future beware of being led astray by riches,
or corrupted by fat bribes.
Prosecute the rich, not merely the penniless;
strong-armed men as well as those who are powerless.
Do not trample on those you do not know
to install your relations in their place.
Avoid any tendency to wrong-doing,
for such has been the true cause of your trials.
Now your (I’m God remember) sinful nature would be enough of a challenge for you to have to go against it, fight it, without having it too easy (I abhor easy). I’d make sure my children (Christians) would know I’m their father and they’d know that they’d know that they’d know they’re my cherished children. How is that not an improvement from what we have right now?