When Affliction Feels Greater than the Blessing
A Common Expectation
When we come to Christ, many of us think that all the bad things in life will disappear, and that we will never experience torment or trouble again. However, the Word of God tells us otherwise. Jesus Himself said in John 16:33:
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
This powerful verse gives us a glimpse of what we will face, even after receiving Christ as our personal Savior: peace in Him, but tribulation in the world.
Why Do Christians Still Face Trouble?
Someone who didn’t know Christ once asked me:
“If God is so just and all-powerful, why do His followers still have problems? Why doesn’t He protect them?”
It’s a question many people ask. They assume that being a Christian means being free from hardship. But Jesus was clear:
“In the world ye shall have tribulation.”
Just like everyone else, we go through daily challenges — work, school, bills, illness. And in those moments, people who don’t know God may say what David wrote in Psalm 42:3:
“My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?”
Remembering the Goal: An Incorruptible Crown
When affliction seems heavier than blessing, we must remember that we do not fight for something earthly, but eternal. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:25:
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
We must keep our eyes on what is to come — the heavenly promise. That same promise for which many of our brothers and sisters in the faith died, believing in a heaven that awaits all the faithful. Though we may suffer here, we will receive the crown of life, and Jesus Himself will say:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
(Matthew 25:21)
The Reality of the True Gospel
God never promised a life without struggle. Many Christians today — influenced by modern teachings — believe that being a believer means living only in constant victory, with no need to worry. But Jesus taught us not to worry about tomorrow because God cares for His children. He said He would never forsake us and would be with us until the end of the world.
But we forget that we have a relentless enemy — Satan, who walks about “as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”
(1 Peter 5:8).
We also battle against our own flesh. Paul confessed this in Romans 7:19–20:
“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
Still, Jesus tells us:
“Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
In other words, there is peace — it is possible to overcome. But Christ must be in every part of our lives: our plans, our work, our decisions. His direction must come first.
Affliction or Disobedience?
Many constantly live in affliction and say, “This is for Christ’s sake,” or “It’s the enemy attacking me,” but often, it is our own disobedience. We make choices without first seeking God’s will.
The True Blessing
God’s blessing is not always something you can touch. But when your family lives in peace, when there is always food on your table, when you went through the hardest moments and God was there lifting you up — that is blessing.
When people expected to see you fall, God took your hand. He closed your ears to lies and accusations, guided you forward, and held you with love. Even with everything against you, you remained joyful, because nothing material can compare to the peace and joy that God gives.
There’s a deep contrast between today’s message of success and the biblical gospel. Today, some preach that having more material possessions is a sign of God’s favor, ignoring the suffering that servants of God endure for the Gospel.
A Sad Contrast
Some say they are “under attack” just for being criticized on social media, while missionaries are dying for Christ in communist nations, unknown to the world, fighting to win souls. What a sad contrast!
Affliction shapes us. It molds us. It reveals God’s mighty hand. In John 11:37, at the death of Lazarus, people asked:
“Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?”
Isn’t that what many still ask today?
Many love the God who promises, but not the God who processes.
The Greatest Blessing: Christ
The greatest blessing a person can receive is Christ. That cannot be bought with money. And in affliction — in the evil day (because the Bible says it will come) — God is there to protect you, to keep your life safe from the enemy’s claws.
Pastor Emilio Pereira