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)

 

Being a Christian does not mean that you are living in a bubble of safety where nothing bad can ever happen to you. Even though we might not be immune to life’s difficulties, we can experience the utmost joy because we know God's abiding presence is always with us. While we don’t like the pain and suffering, we grow stronger and stronger in faith because God is our source of strength

We can be confident that God isn't the cause of our problems because we know that His grace and faithfulness are new every day. God won't use suffering as a means of control or manipulation. But He can redeem our sufferings and bring forth something better in us than all our losses and griefs put together.

Sadly, we live in a culture of instant gratification and easy fixes, and sometimes that perspective affects how we see God. Then faith becomes fragile because it lacks spiritual resilience and endurance. Instead 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 life in Christ. As a result, our friendship and fellowship with God becomes transactional rather than transformative.

Remember that the Kingdom of God resides within each of us, and that God is with us in the person of Jesus. This means we are called to live in an other-worldly life flowing with justice, peace, and joy. This shows us that God is always working to making all things good for us and for His glory.