Why are some Christians seemingly called to a life with much suffering and hardships and other Christians seem to experience few trials in their faith, health, finances, familial relationships (in-laws, adult siblings), church, work, relationship with friends/neighbors, etc?

Knowing that God is sovereign in all things, and all things experienced in this world are for His glory, why do some Christians experience more trials and tribulation in this world than others?

When I say "Christians" I mean serious minded Reformed individuals/families (like those here on the PB). Also, I mean suffering and hardships experienced apart from overt sin in one's life.

Any good book recommendations also appreciated

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Robin
Married to Jim
Mother to Gabrielle (20), Victoria (18), Joshua (16), Olivia (12) and Elizabeth (8).
ARP
Birmingham, Alabama
Avatar: "Generations" by artist Loren Entz. This print reminds me of my sweet mother and wonderful grandma to my children who went home to be with the Lord in 2002.

Robin,
I highly recommend Thomas Boston's book, "The Crook in the Lot". It is an excellent treatment of "dark" providences in the life of a believer.
Jim
PS Check out my wordpress blog. I've got some quotes from that book on it.

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Jim
Elder, Harvest Reformed Church (RCUS)
http://www.harvestreformedchurch.org/
http://tbftgoggi.wordpress.com/

Upon a life I did not live; upon a death I did not die, Another's death, Another's life, I'd rest my soul eternally
Omnia dicta fortiora,si dicta Latina
Si vis pacem, para bellum

That is one question I must have asked myself a hundred times. Sometimes life isn't fair but than again if it were all of us, myself included, would not be here now but it the place of eternal torments. I still wonder though some times why certain ones in the family of God seem to suffer more hardship and misery in this life more than others. Also why some seem more blessed than others.
There is a booklet I have read from the Chapel Library entitled "The Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod" by Thomas Brooks. It is a good read and is free from Mount Zion Chapel. Chapel Library: Mount Zion Bible Church: Main Page

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Tom Mitchell
Opp, AL
Member of First Presbyterian Church PCA Florala, AL

Open profaneness is the broad dirty way which leads to hell
--but trusting in religious duties is a sure way, though a cleaner way to hell. ~ Thomas Brooks
www.myspace.com/tom_mitchell1960
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=607055102

Thank you Jim and Tom! I will be reading both.

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Robin
Married to Jim
Mother to Gabrielle (20), Victoria (18), Joshua (16), Olivia (12) and Elizabeth (8).
ARP
Birmingham, Alabama
Avatar: "Generations" by artist Loren Entz. This print reminds me of my sweet mother and wonderful grandma to my children who went home to be with the Lord in 2002.

Good recommendations! They are also available online at the PB links manager:

Links and Downloads Manager - Christian Walk Links - The Crook in the Lot -- Thomas Boston - The PuritanBoard

Links and Downloads Manager - Christian Walk Links - The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod -- Thomas Brooks - The PuritanBoard

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Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

In my case the reason is sin that is not visible to other people but is a reality. My hardships are discipline from the Father. It may be different for others.

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Mary Vanderkooi
Kale Heywott Church (KHC)
Soddo, Ethiopia

Robin,
I added a few more quotes from Boston on my wordpress blog. Check them out...

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Jim
Elder, Harvest Reformed Church (RCUS)
http://www.harvestreformedchurch.org/
http://tbftgoggi.wordpress.com/

Upon a life I did not live; upon a death I did not die, Another's death, Another's life, I'd rest my soul eternally
Omnia dicta fortiora,si dicta Latina
Si vis pacem, para bellum

to answer you simply as to why: because we desire a deeper relationship with God. Looking back on some very recent (past two days) trials conerning our family I can see the marvelous work that God has wrought in our house. My wife and I were drawn to prayer all day in one accord. We were reminded of the cherished fellowship we have with our brothers and sisters in our church. We were humbled and helpless, pleading with our Father for grace amd mercy. I found myself before His throne more times in the last two days than I have been the week prior. I can joyfully attest that Rom 8:28 is a promise He keeps and He loves to give us occasions to prove it. Praise to the Most High.

Online book: Suffering and the Sovereignty of God :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

I don't know about the "why" of it but I do find it interesting that quite often those who suffer the most usually complain about it the least.

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Kevin
Far East
Deacon, Int'l Church

Suffering is a deep privilege. Paul said he longed to share in the sufferings of Christ (Phil. 3). There are many reasons why people suffer, and I don't believe (based on the book of Job) that we can look at someone and say which reason applies to what person:

1. We suffer because of sin. We reap what what we sow. If I go out and steal, I will pay the consequences, and my life will be more difficult, because I now carry the guilt and maybe the punishment. It will destroy me on the inside..
2. We may suffer because of the sin in the lives of people around us. If someone burns our house down, we will suffer of no fault of our own.
3. We suffer (as was already said) because we long to know Christ better. Suffering teaches us about deep of our sinfulness, it teaches us to trust God, it teaches us God's faithfulness. In short, suffering helps to complete our sanctification.
4. We suffer because sin is in the world, and that is the natural outcome of sin. No one, not even the believer completely escape the curse of sin until the day we are redeemed from this world.

Suffering is not something that we necessarily bring upon ourselves, but it is something that happens to everyone. Often when we look at people who seem to have great lives, but we don't know about their inner sufferings. So often God gives people an easy life on the outside, because they are dealing with other types of emotional suffering on the inside.

In short, all suffering (for the believer) is gift from God in this sense: Unlike the lost man whose suffering will come without remedy, God promises to the believer that He will cause ALL things to work together for good. One of the wonderful privileges of being God's child is that God never wastes our suffering. He will always take the painful, and if we let Him, He will (and always does) make beauty for ashes. That is why it is a privilege. When it comes, we can thank God for what He will do.

For the unbeliever this is not true; his suffering becomes his torment, while for us, our suffering becomes something we learn to appreciate and thank God for, because we find Him in the midst of it.

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J Baldwin
Keowee Presbyterian Church, PCA
Pickens, SC
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Check Out My Blog: http://reflectjoy.blogspot.com/

Good Stuff:

Literature List by Title

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~ Steven Bradford ~
Member Covenant Presbyterian, Chattanooga, TN

What wonderful replies! I agree with everyone's thoughts.

Without sounding pious, how does one best respond to other believers who have a "what now?" response or approach one's continual hardships/sufferings often trying to fix you or the situation when often there is no immediate fix - it is from the providential hand of the Lord. When other believers in the church grow weary of someone's continual hardships/sufferings (even though the person suffering is not complaining) how should one respond?

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Robin
Married to Jim
Mother to Gabrielle (20), Victoria (18), Joshua (16), Olivia (12) and Elizabeth (8).
ARP
Birmingham, Alabama
Avatar: "Generations" by artist Loren Entz. This print reminds me of my sweet mother and wonderful grandma to my children who went home to be with the Lord in 2002.

I might remind them of how God responded to Job's friends, who effectively did the same thing while he suffered:

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Mason
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
New York, NY

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18

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J Baldwin
Keowee Presbyterian Church, PCA
Pickens, SC
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Check Out My Blog: http://reflectjoy.blogspot.com/

To glorify God by being conformed to the image of Christ.

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Richard
CofE
UK

And we know that we are of God' (1st John 5:19) When God made us a believer, He ment to try us; and when He gave these promises and askes us to trust them, He gave such promisis as are suitable for times of tempest and tossing. Luther said 'if he had not seen Christ at the helm, I would have abandon ship long ago.' God perfects us thrugh our trials and tribulation, He shows us our want for Him. "God is not slack consening His promises." .. 'Go to the deeps of God's promise, and claim whatsover you will; The blessing of God will not fail thee, His word He will surely fulfill.'

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Robert Brown
Emmanuel OPC
Kent Washington

Augustine. ' Animam meam in odia haberem'
(Translated) I would hate my own soul if I did not find it loving God

Ecclesiastes can be a tough study, but one that is beneficial when sorting out why the righteous can have a tough time in life, while the unrighteous seem to scoot along with few problems. "Under the sun" is a quick reference to the book of Ecclesiastes in our house, and one that is given fairly often.

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JWithnell
Member Bethel OPC
Virginia