Would God ever use an affliction to separate a Christian from others even if it causes loneliness & isolation?

Question

Many will say God does not cause certain afflictions, only Satan will do such things. However, when Zechariah doubted the angel who spoke for God, he was made mute until the birth of his son by GOD.

This made it difficult for Zechariah to interact or communicate socially with those around him. Yet during this time he was growing and learning.

God always has the best interests in mind for those He loves, even if we can't understand why he does or allows certain things. So if you're someone who doesn't believe in God, don't use this as an opportunity to say God is cruel.

Are there any reasons why God would use something such as mutism or other affliction to seperate a Christian from others TODAY for the purpose of disciplining or correcting them? If so, can you explain how and why?

Would it be for reasons similar to Zechariah such as lack of faith, rebellious attitude, such as with Jonah who refused to obey God, perhaps lack of faith, or something else?

I'm just asking this question to get the opinions of other Christians.

Answer 1

This is a really difficult question, just because only God knows our hearts for real. But, I'd say that God allows affliction and suffering, so that we learn to depend on Him. That's what is most important to him ultimately. So, it's definitely possible he would separate someone from their social relationships through an affliction. It may not be for the same reasons of Zechariah, but God always has a plan for good. Easy to say, sometimes hard to believe.

Answer 2

I'll be crude...not all believers are of the same quality. Then, of the quality ones, believers differ in grades....as in grades in school. Therefore, you will most likely get a lot of misinformation when you ask a question like this one.

Truth is, each person is different; however, to bring a person into depth, God does use heat...unpleasant scenarios. Yes, God will cause affliction to bring a person into deeper realms of Jesus--especially separation from others. It could be for a long time and it could be more than one problem. And, it could make you hate God with a ferocity that people won't believe and not understand. A training.

He was a man of many sorrows but is now King of Kings. Many ingredients go into a cake and then it must be cooked to develop. But, pressing on with determination, in due season, God will remove that cake from the oven and put frosting on the top!

Truth is, there isn't much value in people or this world. The only thing of value is what God is building. God is very intent on building his building.

Answer 3

God sees into our inner being and knows us better than a programmer knows computers. Because of weaknesses He sees, He allows certain things to happen or not happen. It is sort of like a protective measure.
Example: Poverty. Some people can't handle financial success so they will stay closer to God in that state.
As far as Zechariah goes: His voice was respected because of his office. God will sometimes shut us up ( of withhold the anointing ) if we begin spouting things out of our mouths from our brain instead our spirit.

Answer 4

I don't know. I broke my hand a while back and because of it, I went through all kinds of stuff like not being able to even feed myself or clothe myself. It was a very humbling experience to suddenly become as helpless as a child overnight. Then finding out that none of my family had the time or ability to take care of me. Nobody was even concerned enough to come and make me a meal. I found out that I couldn't depend on anyone but God.
I was the one who broke my hand. So I don't think God isolated me to teach me the lessons, but I think He used my situation to benefit His will and to teach me those things.
I certainly have more compassion for the disabled and those who are unable to take care of even their most basic needs. I also had time to reflect my life and search my heart, coming to the conclusion that God has given me a lot to be thankful for. The doctor said that my hand would never be the same and that it would be permanently damaged but I can still draw and paint. I'm an artist. At the time of my accident my spiritual life was fine and everything was going well. It brought me even closer to God.

Answer 5

I don't believe God does anything at all to afflict people. I do believe that people attribute such happenings to God according to their own beliefs. It's often said that people created God in their own image. If this is true then it explains why things are believed: these people are fearful and feel either self-righteous and judgemental, powerless, or they're simply superstitious. God is love. That's all there is to believe.

Answer 6

i still to this day am not sure if god exists or not... i don't consider myself christian.

i do know that I struggled for a long time since my adolescent years (age 12) with depression and suicidal thoughts... but was never diagnosed for 20-some years.. until two years ago when i landed myself in the hospital for the first time.

i don't think God necessarily uses affliction to separate a Christian from others to discipline them. It could be for other reasons.

I will never know if my depression was due to a chemical imbalance or due to stress growing up that caused my body to change thus causing the imbalance.

What I do know is that I grew up in a church and was in it from 1985-2000... it was a Bible believing church but had its cultic abberant ways. I always had such great hate for God. Why did I have to struggle with thoughts of killing myself and being sad all the time...? Yet at the same time I couldn't express myself (at the time I was very quiet and shy)... nor could I carry anything out or even attempt to somehow find a way to end my life.

To this day... if I didn't land myself in the hospital, if I wasn't police-escorted to the hospital, I would probably still be going to the church... but my stay at the hospital on involuntary status... it was enough to isolate me from the church's hold on me and my life and the people's and guilt/shame hold on me and the 'beliefs'... as well as isolate me from the world outside I was so scared off... and put distance between me and the thought/belief that everytime something goes bad or is a struggle, it's because god is punishing and disciplining me for something i did wrong or some bad thing i did or "must've done"

I believe that "God" (if you want to call him/it/the guiding force in life 'God') does find a way to steer us away from others... not just for reasons of 'disciplining'... but for reasons of me or my growing and learning.

People in church and Christians... always discouraged me from seeking help from a psychiatrist and therapist and I always heeded the advice, even though my inner child and my heart told me and urged me otherwise. I can say that I am glad that I found the courage within me to following through with seeing both. 2 years and going strong, with meds -- no, i'm not all doped up as people warned me that I would be --and with therapy sessions... I have not had a 'single' panic episode or depression episode... and never had a single/another suicide thought since entering the hospital. I haven't been back to the hospital since that first and last time.

That 'affliction' is what 'saved' me... and allowed me to be open to love... I never really felt love from God or Christians in my churchgoing days... but did realize love and acceptance for the first time from all the hospital staff.... and true peace and happiness in life.

I do know that many Christians think that God uses affliction to punish and discipline... and many believe 'only' to discipline... but moreso, I believe that he uses affliction for our own good, to grow and learn... to become stronger people... in spirit and in faith... whether it be in a religious way or a non-religious way.

My depression and suicidal thoughts struggle... has made me stronger in spirit, and stronger in faith. I don't really believe in God or really have much of a God component in my life... but it is because of my past affliction that I am out of the cult... loving life, living life to the fullest... and now united with true peace and happiness... things that I never really had experienced before

Answer 7

Sometimes things do come from God for learning purposes, but not every illness or handicap is his fault. Toxic waste has caused alot of illness and mutations. That is all human's fault.
Faith has nothing to do with it.

Answer 8

God! The Lord Jesus Christ!!! Works in Mysterious Ways!!!

Answer 9

If He is trying to get the Christian's attention, then, yes.