No Trials in Life

[Allegra]

It would be pretty unusual for someone to have the complete lack of empathy that you describe without having experienced some “trials”. However, not all trials are cataclysmic events. Sometimes trials take the form of inattentive parents who don’t form appropriate bonds with their children, or a childhood that doesn’t foster appropriate relationships with other people, or a mental illness that makes it impossible for appropriate bonds to be formed. While more subtle to the outsiders, these trials are far worse in my opinion than having one’s house burn down or losing a loved one (which everyone inevitably goes through.)

 

[Benadam]

maybe that was why they gave it to you young. I didn’t figure it out until my 30’s, by then the burning coals was the only reason for doing it.

 

[Viki63]

Psalm 73:
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5They are free from common human burdens;
. . .
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.

 

[poche]

Sometimes when a person has no problems and everything goes well for them it is a sign of reprobation.

 

[Sunbreak]

Nap, I don’t think we have an answer as to why some people go through life without trials. My ex was also like that - he always got any job he applied for so never had the experience of being rejected for work. People in general seemed to like him. Even in playing board games, he tended to win more than would be expected by chance (such as rolling the dice in monopoly and always collecting the money everyone else paid in fines). As a result, he did not have empathy for other people’s struggles, could not deal with people being unhappy about anything, etc.

 

[TheOldColonel]

If you live in the Arctic Circle, it’s actually possible to “go outside and die.” It takes about 25 minutes.

 

[Nap66]

As a result, he did not have empathy for other people’s struggles, could not deal with people being unhappy about anything, etc.

I’ve met quite a few people in my life like that (narcissists). It’s all about them, as it should be since they never have any problems that aren’t of their own making. Why does God allow such people trial-less lives? Are such people lost from birth? As Poche said upstream:

Sometimes when a person has no problems and everything goes well for them it is a sign of reprobation.

Reprobation - rejection by God, as of persons excluded from the number of the elect or from salvation. Maybe some people are rejected from the start and God knows they will never accept him, hence no need to send trials their way. Heavy thoughts. Trials are only sent to people capable of changing, accepting God and gaining eternal salvation. Sending trials to those who have no intention of changing, accepting God and gaining eternal salvation would be a waste of time.

 

[Nap66]

So, rest assured (besides your ex having his own trials) justice will be served at the end for every sin, and every tribulation gets well rewarded, if not in this life, in eternal life.

That’s what I hope for. But then I thought of how many people say that Hell doesn’t exist and everyone goes to Heaven because God loves everyone the same. So if justice is not played out on this earth, and not in the next, what is the point to trying to live a good life?

Now the notion that trials and tribulations get rewarded in the next life (never seems to happen in this life) is a new one for me. That would make sense as to why some people lead trial-less lives. Even if every one of us ends up in Heaven, to those who suffered on earth more than others, to be rewarded for such trials would be justified. I will ruminate on that concept for a bit.

 

[Sunflower98]

I haven’t read every response here yet but it’s a fascinating topic. I, too, question why some get it “easy” while others seem targeted for heavier crosses and harder lives. I won’t lie, I find it doubly annoying when the unafflicted also happen to be big jerks.

I don’t have an answer for this but I wonder: Maybe the lack of crosses is a cross unto itself? That is, those folks have fewer opportunities to grow in holiness. As a result, perhaps they are are at greater risk of Hell than some others. Not a good thought by any means.

 

[Nap66]

I find it doubly annoying when the unafflicted also happen to be big jerks.

I find it tripley annoying when the big jerks get blessings (good things that happen to them out of the blue with no work on their part) on top of their trial-less lives. Why why why why why? They look at you and say “I don’t have any problems, if you have bad things happen in your life it must be something you’re doing.” Never do they look at themselves and see that the good things that are happening in their lives is NOT from something they are doing.

What is even more frustrating is when the trial-less, blessing-filled person is a non-believer and outwardly atheist. Hates God with a passion. You would think in a just world, it is that person who would receive trials and tribulations for their rejection of God. Instead he bestows an easy life and blessings to boot! Why?

Maybe in the end when that person is judged (and we all will be judged), God will say “I sent you an easy life, with many blessings and you did nothing with them nor acknowleged that I gave them too you. You took them as your own doing. I also sent other people in your life with trials and tribulations and you turned your back on them with no empathy. What you have sown, you will reap.” Then off to Hell! That’s my fantasy world.

 

[lilypadrees]

Everyone has trials in their lives. It could be that your unbelieving friend doesn’t see them as you do. Or he just chooses not to discuss them with you.

 

[Nap66]

and please don’t put a deadline on God’s justice.

Sometimes I wonder about God’s justice timetable. He seems to work very slowly in human terms. Look at the Golden State killer that just got caught, forty years later! Almost a half-century. I imagine all the victims’ families had lost all hope of ever obtaining justice after 40 years, and I’m sure many, many prayers were offered up to God for his justice in the case. Yes, we want swift justice on earth, because we are human and have a limited life-span that if we are average turns out to be about 75 years. God may have eternity but we have 3/4 of a century (maybe).

Of seeing Him through his actions, of getting to know Him by questioning how His justice is operated. And you’ll find, that by pursuing and enduring in this path you are already receive the greatest good there is to be attained in this life and the next - growing closer to Jesus and the friendship between you.

That I know. Jesus is my friend. On the other hand, of all the trial-less people I have known (and I’ve known a few), none of them were religious and could care less about God or Jesus. They have themselves and the people they can use when needed, and that’s it. But I surely would like to be a fly on the wall if and when such people ever had to face a trial or tribulation that required them to ask God and Jesus for help. Just from a psychological standpoint, I’d like to see how they would react.

 

[margaret42]

Maybe this is like the question, “Why does God allow good people to suffer”? My thought is that the “good” people can handle suffering because they know God, and have faith in Him. Sufferings, temptations, etc., are miniscule to them, as they have peace through “redemptive suffering”, or being reminded of Jesus when a problem occurs.
If everything’s easy, like for your friend, why would they think to rely on God?

 

[Limoncello4021]

Jesus tells us rather frequently that his disciples will suffer: the branches of the vine will be pruned so as to produce good fruit. So if a person really has no sufferings and a “perfect” life, I’d feel sad for them. They are missing the only truly important thing in this life, and potentially happiness in the next life. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus comes to mind.

 

[PureKathleen46]

I have often thought that wsy myself. I believe in my humble opinion they are receiving their heaven on this earth! Do not be concerned about this. God has given you a precious gift of deepness that few receive!

 

[PureKathleen46]

You said this so beautifully! Especially having Simon to carry our cross! God bless you!

 

[Nap66]

So if a person really has no sufferings and a “perfect” life, I’d feel sad for them. They are missing the only truly important thing in this life, and potentially happiness in the next life.

Trial-less people seem quite happy and they sure aren’t sad for trial-filled people. I suppose I would feel sad for trial-less people if it was assured that justice would be dealt in the next life. But as you stated above (and I bolded), “potentially” happiness in the next life. What if we all end up in heaven in the next life because of God’s mercy? What then is the point between having a trial-filled life and having a trial-less life?

How many people here would trade a trial-filled life with God for a trial-less life without God? I know for me I could do with a little less trials in my life.

 

[margaret42]

I’m taking the parable of “Lazarus and the rich man”, in a scrupulous kind of way. Did Jesus mean that all beggars must be administered to or we’re not going to make it? I don’t even refuse a dog when it comes begging at the dinner table. Cause we all know what happened to the “rich man”.

 

[margaret42]

It’s not that easy to get along with everyone.