Struggling and Stumbling in Our Walk of Faith
by Pastor Walter Snyder

Q: Your home page says you cannot answer all e-mail because of the high volume, but
please won't you answer mine? My husband and I recently stepped out on faith, "doing a
Peter" by "stepping out of the boat" with our eyes on Him, and it seems like "things" are
getting out of control. Lately, if it's not one thing it's another. If a Christian isn't being
100% faithful in some area of her life, does God "punish" other parts? "Punish" isn't the
word I am looking for, but if a Christian is obedient in, say, 95% of everything, will God
permit bad things to happen until the Christian turns over the other 5%?

A: Your questions don't need a special plea; they're certainly applicable to all Christians.

Let's begin with Jesus: In Mt 16:24, He says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me." Obviously "cross" doesn't mean a shiny object on a
necklace. The individual Christian's cross is suffering for the sake of the Gospel, just as Christ
Himself did. Jesus "never promised you a rose garden" during your earthly walk with Him.

Because Christ came to establish true peace between man and God, opposition to the Gospel
means opposition to its believers. Jesus who is our Prince of Peace also said, "Do you think that I
have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Lk 12:51-52)" He warned
His disciples during the Last Supper, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it
hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are
not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (Jn 15:18-19)"

Yet as you note, God also has a direct hand in the "negative" events of our lives. By faith, He
accepts us and views us in light of the Son. However, He knows better than you do about those
things not holy which still dwell within you. Like an oncologist facing a patient's cancer, He says,
"These things must go." Citing the Old Testament, the author of Hebrews confronts the believer,
"Have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? 'My son, ~do not regard lightly
the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary~ when reproved by him. For the Lord ~disciplines the
one he loves~, and ~chastises every son whom he receives~.' (12:5-6)"

You're right in wanting to be 100% faithful. Yet while living mortal life, this will not happen. Paul
lamented, "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very
thing I hate.... I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not
do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not
want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Ro 7:15, 18-20)" God wars
against your indwelling sin; your sinful nature wars against the new creature He made you
through Baptism and the Word; the temptations of the world stand waiting for your unguarded
moments; Satan exploits every possible weakness.

Now let's focus a bit more on your final question: "If a Christian is obedient to God in, say, 95%
of everything, will God permit bad things to happen until the Christian turns over the other 5%?"
Even when God allows pain, suffering, and financial or emotional downturns, it doesn't
necessarily mean that this is because of some predetermined percentage of good versus bad
attitude or behavior. Like their Savior, Christians are sometimes called to suffer for the sake of
the unbeliever. Christ bore the cross and endured its death for all, even though He deserved
absolutely nothing of the shame and suffering. God may use your trials---perhaps some you don't
at all "deserve,"---to testify to those around you of His abundant grace. The world watches your
struggles and has opportunity to see how a Christian confront's life's ills. Consider the history of
Christ's Church, realizing that it was the faithful and strong who were called to martyrdom.

Returning to Paul, look at 2 Corinthians 12. Remembering his vision of heaven, he glows, then
laments suffering the unnamed "thorn in the flesh." This affliction curbed his pride. Using your
illustration, it kept him from bragging about his "percentage of perfection." Instead, he welcomed
weak and painful times along with the good. He trusted God's words, "'My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,'" and resolved, "Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (verse 9)"

God brings us through our times of struggle. Christ carries you as you carry Your cross. Fret not
about what you don't have, what goes wrong, or what's taken away. "Seek first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mt 6:33)" And rejoice:
"The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out
of the book of life..... (Rev 3:5)" Your name is in that Book and you will conquer, for you "can
do all things through him who strengthens [you]. Phlp 4:13)"

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~<TM>,
© 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Ask the Pastor, © 2004 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer,
by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations
into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international
copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book
~What Do Lutherans Believe.~