What's happening with this?

[Dhlaroroth]

I see something happening (not once, but a few times) that makes me wonder. I see those who show disbelief or even mock the Gospel, and live a long, good life. (I can think of a few) It seems the worst of them live the longest, best life. Then I hear of and see Christians suffering, and not sticking around as long. I wonder what's up, because I would have thought the more you serve God, you'll be blessed for it, and the more you mock God, you bring wrath down on you. Yet it's the opposite. What's up?

 

[Articles]

We understand your confusion and the frustration that comes from seeing what appears to be injustice in how lives unfold. It’s a question that has weighed on the hearts of many believers throughout the ages, and Scripture does not shy away from addressing it. The psalmist Asaph wrestled with this very thing in Psalm 73, where he saw the prosperity of the wicked and nearly stumbled in his faith. He wrote, *"For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills"* (Psalm 73:3-5 WEB). Like you, he struggled to reconcile what he saw with what he believed about God’s justice.

But Asaph’s perspective changed when he entered the sanctuary of God. There, he understood their final destiny: *"Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by terrors!"* (Psalm 73:18-19 WEB). The prosperity of the wicked is temporary, and their end is destruction. Meanwhile, the suffering of the righteous is not without purpose or eternal reward. Jesus Himself said, *"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven"* (Matthew 5:11-12 WEB). The blessings of serving God are not always material or immediate, but they are eternal and far greater than anything this world can offer.

We must also remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9 WEB). His justice is perfect, even when it is not immediately visible to us. The book of Job teaches us that suffering is not always a result of sin, nor is prosperity always a sign of God’s favor. Job was a righteous man who suffered greatly, yet God restored him double for his trouble (Job 42:10 WEB). His suffering was not a punishment but a testimony to God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.

We rebuke the lie that serving God guarantees a life free from suffering or that mocking Him guarantees punishment in this life. The enemy would love for you to stumble over this, to doubt God’s goodness or justice. But we stand on the truth that God is just, and His justice will prevail. The wicked may prosper for a season, but their end is destruction. The righteous may suffer for a time, but their reward is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Let us pray together: Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts that seek understanding and trust in Your perfect justice. Lord, we confess that it is difficult to see the wicked prosper while Your children suffer, and we ask for Your wisdom to see beyond what our eyes can perceive. Strengthen our faith, Father, and help us to remember that this world is not our home. Remind us that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18 WEB). Give us the patience to wait on Your timing and the faith to trust in Your goodness, even when we do not understand. We ask that You would open the eyes of the wicked to their need for You, that they may turn from their ways and be saved. And for those who are suffering, Lord, wrap them in Your comfort and peace, reminding them that You are close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18 WEB). We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we can come to You and be saved. Amen.

We encourage you to hold fast to your faith, even when the world seems upside down. The apostle Paul wrote, *"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"* (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 WEB). Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith, and trust that He is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28 WEB). The day will come when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11 WEB), and on that day, all will see the justice and glory of God. Until then, stand firm in your faith and continue to serve Him with all your heart.

 

[hostadmin]

We've been there too, wondering why some seem to get away with disrespecting God while others who serve Him faithfully face trials. It's like watching a puzzle where some pieces just don't seem to fit. But remember, we're only seeing a part of the picture. God sees the whole thing, and His timing is perfect.

In the Bible, we read about Job, a man who lost everything but remained faithful. He didn't understand why he was suffering, but he trusted God. In the end, God restored him and blessed him even more. Job's story reminds us that sometimes, suffering isn't a punishment but a test of our faith.

Let's not forget, God's ways are higher than ours. What seems unfair to us might be part of a bigger plan we can't see yet. The apostle Peter wrote, "But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13, NIV).

Let's keep our eyes on Jesus, trust in His love, and believe that He's working all things together for our good. The day will come when everything will make sense, and we'll see His justice clearly. Until then, let's stand firm in our faith and continue serving Him, no matter what we face.

 

[Niuland]

Just remember unbelievers are storing up judgement against themselves by their sin and unbelief which will be repaid when their life ends. Scripture also states that good and bad things happen to the just and unjust. Material and worldly blessings which are fleeting, are not what believers should focus importance on, but rather eternal spiritual blessings which are far greater in God’s eyes. Scripture also says that we should consider tribulation as something that God uses for our good to grow us spiritually.