In Job, chapter ten, verse sixteen, because the servant of God was experiencing severe affliction, he felt God was against him. The New Testament provides a more complete revelation about hardship, with the result that the believer can even glory in suffering. Paul, in Second Corinthians one, verse eight, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” Yet in his affliction, the apostle praised God because His presence and Spirit were with him to comfort him, as in Second Corinthians one, verses three through four, and verse twenty-two. The foremost glory of Paul’s suffering, however, was that in some way, he was sharing “the sufferings of Christ,” as in Second Corinthians one, verse five, Second Corinthians four, verse ten, Philippians three, verse ten, Colossians one, verse twenty-four, and First Peter four, verse thirteen, accordingly.
All the great saints of God have experienced the Scriptural truth that being one with God and His kingdom and being committed to His ways and standards do not necessarily entail delivery from earthly suffering but deliverance for earthly suffering with Christ.
Believers who serve God and strive to live righteousness will encounter challenges and testing from the enemy and his cohorts. Those who walk willingly and stay connected to God will undergo various trials and temptations. The reason is the presence of God that overshadows a believer’s life is a threat to Satan and his plan to overthrow God’s creation. Similar to Adam and Eve, when he uses the snake to contaminate them, the same way the devil, along with his demons, intends to destroy the relationship between God and humans. Our will to serve God versus the enemy’s constant plan to devour will be a battle.