Before I get started, a quick disclaimer:
I do not believe that every bad thing that happens to us is a result of lack of faith or disobedience. That doesn’t represent reality, nor does it represent the truth of Scripture.
The truth is that we experience pain for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s simply the result of living in a broken world. Other times it’s because this broken world is full of broken people. Other times it’s because we have an enemy, Satan, who wants to destroy us and he will use other people or circumstances to attack us.
That said…it’s also true that the tension in our lives is sometimes explained by the fact that we are not being obedient to Jesus.
Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27:
Matthew 7:24-27- “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
What Jesus teaches us is this:
Storms will come. Life will have tension, pain, and conflict.
Even though storms are inevitable, further destruction is not necessary. No one can avoid a storm. But the house doesn’t have to be destroyed in the process.
The difference in the outcome depends on the foundation. Whether our lives hold together or fall apart depends on whether we have a strong foundation of our lives.
The foundation that lasts is hearing and obeying what Jesus says.
This passage does not teach that every bad thing is the result of disobedience. Both the wise man and the foolish man experienced a storm. The wise man’s wisdom didn’t keep the storm away.
However: it does teach that further consequences await the person who simply refuses to obey Jesus.
What that requires of us is this: When life seems to be falling apart, it is wise for us to ask whether there is any area of disobedience in our lives. Because from what Jesus taught, there are certain kinds of pain that stem from disobedience.
And here’s the kicker: it’s God’s love that compels Him to allow us to experience this kind of pain when we disobey. In these situations, it is a loving Father trying to get the attention of His children.
That’s not because He’s out to get us. It’s because He desperately wants us to become who He made us to be in the first place. And we will never become who He made us to be without following His words obediently.
Is there tension in your marriage? In your internal dialogue? With your parents or kids? Is there friction with a co-worker or boss? Can you simply not be still and you feel like you can’t slow down? Does it feel like your life is total chaos and out of control?
Stop. Be still. Ask the Lord if there’s an area of your life not submitted to Him. Pain isn’t always the result of disobedience. But it could be. And wisdom dictates we sit down with the Lord and find out if it is.
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This post originally appeared on dillonschupp.com.