What If?

Many things weigh on my mind, and today they've led me to dive into a deeper stream of thought, seeing life through a new lens. Life is undeniably harsh, filled with challenges and temptations lurking around every turn. One moment, you're alive and laughing; the next, you're engulfed in sorrow and pain. Life is fragile, ever-changing. We don’t truly own these bodies we occupy; I believe we're simply borrowing them for a time.

It’s exactly 1:30am in the night and I can’t sleep. My body is in pain and lots of discomfort. I have lots of questions…

Did God listen to my prayer just before I got to bed? What wrong am I doing? Am I forgiven? I have lots of why’s, wishes and what if’s...

Have you ever paused to reflect on whether the sickness, pain, or suffering you endure might be a consequence of how you’ve treated God? It’s a question that has forced me to take a deep look within and examine my own life. Could it be that the hardships we face are not always from the enemy but at times from God's own?

Adam and Eve defied God, and we can see the heavy price humanity bears as a result. In Noah’s time, people turned from God, and the flood swept them away. Sodom and Gomorrah met ruin, consumed by fire, all because of disobedience. Samson lost his strength—and his sight—when he strayed from God’s command. Jonah, too, suffered, trapped within the dark, slimy belly of a great fish for his disobedience. And these are just a few examples...

Many of us live under the assumption that it is always the devil who brings suffering, forgetting that God Himself, in His righteousness, can discipline us when we stray. Micah 6:13 warns us of this very possibility: "Therefore I will make you sick by striking you, making you desolate because of your sins." This verse is a sobering reminder that God, in His justice, can bring correction upon us.

Yet, for reasons beyond comprehension, some people believe that God does not inflict pain. They’ve convinced themselves that God’s mercy excludes the possibility of judgment, and some even reject the existence of hell altogether, claiming that everyone will eventually be forgiven and welcomed into heaven. They forget the history of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Great Flood, where God's righteous anger wiped out all living things except those in the ark. Zephaniah 2:11 says, "The Lord will be terrible unto them: for He will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship Him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen." God's judgment is real, and His power is not to be dismissed.

After much self-reflection, I came to a deeper understanding: God created us for His glory alone. We were made to worship and obey Him. When we act contrary to His will, we open ourselves to His discipline. In 2 Chronicles 15:2, we are reminded of a timeless truth: "The Lord is with you, while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." This verse makes it clear—when we turn away from God, we risk losing His protection, and with that, we invite suffering into our lives.

We must face the truth: God does not owe us anything, yet we owe Him everything. When we disregard His commands and live as though we are self-sufficient, we provoke His righteous anger. The trials and tribulations we experience might just be the result of our rebellion against Him.

Time is running short. We cannot continue to deceive ourselves into thinking we can live however we please without consequence. Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, "For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives." If we are facing hardships, we must consider whether they are God's way of calling us back to Him. One thing I’ve learnt is that God loves me!

Let us therefore align our lives with His will. Let us heed His commands, knowing that His correction is not meant to destroy but to draw us closer to Him. In His discipline, there is mercy. In His judgment, there is hope for restoration, if only we will turn back to Him.