Trials

[Craig]

Hello Ray.

I will make my question brief.
How do you know if you are suffering for Christ and not just for your own screw ups?
It seems as though, in the bible, people had a tendency (Like in Job) to think that they were somehow the reason for their misfortunes.

God be with you.
Thanks.
Dante


Dear Dante: Often times you may not know whether God is putting a trial on you for your growth or whether it is the result of as you say, "your own screw-ups."  But either way it is part of God's plan, and so God can use your own screw-up to teach you obedience, patience, etc.  Sometimes we need to actually "learn" from our mistakes so as to not make them again.

Job did not blame himself for his trials--his friends blamed Job for His trials. Job and God both knew that his trials were coming from God.,

God be with you,
Ray