God's kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God's kingdom consists of God's approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives.

Romans 14:17 (GWT)

 

The Christian life is not about living in a protective bubble that guarantees nothing bad will happen to you. Just like God didn’t shield Jesus from suffering and pain, neither will He shield us from all the trouble of life. However, we can still experience deepest joy in the most challenging moments because God’s abiding presence will always be with us.

If you believe that God is on your side, then don’t question Him when it feels like He’s bringing you into a valley of darkness and pain. If you’re going through one of those valleys right now, listen to what God says and does. It’s because, no matter how much we dislike the suffering and pain, we grow strong and well because God is our source and strength.

God’s grace and faithfulness are new every day.

Hence, we can rest assured that God isn’t the cause of our suffering. He won’t use pain to control us or force us into obedience. Instead, God never lets us waste our pain. He can redeem our suffering and create in us something greater than our sorrows and losses combined.

Unfortunately, we live in a world of instant gratification and quick solutions, and sometimes our view of God reflects that outlook. A lack of spiritual resilience and endurance makes faith brittle and dependent on absolute certainty. In the absence of an exhilarating faith in God, there is a dysfunctional fear of God. When that happens, we lose the mystery, the beauty, and the wonder of our ultimate reality of Christ. As a result, our friendship and fellowship with God becomes transactional rather than transformative.

Remember that God is with us in the person of Jesus, and the Kingdom of God is within us. When we answer God’s grand invitation to enter His kingdom, we live an other-worldly life flowing with justice, peace, and joy. This tells us that God is always with us and is always working to make all things good for us and for His glory.