In 2010, both my wife and I lost our jobs within the space of three months. I still have vivid memories of how, during a family walk, my six-year-old son dashed over to a fallen tree stump where people had embedded coins. ‘Hey, Dad!’ Chris called, prising out some 5p coins, ‘Look at this. We don’t need to worry about money anymore, we’re rich!’ 2010 was also a time of bereavement – my father dying of cancer. Last year, towards the end of 2025, my 92-year-old mother died, followed by my 80-year-old father-in-law. It was also the year I lost my job at MAF.
Although such experiences are hardly unique, I can’t help wondering why Christians are so often surprised when hardship or adversity come calling. Life, 2 Corinthians 5:2-4 makes clear, is full of groaning. The apostle Paul writes, ‘Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling… For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened.’
False expectations
When I was a young believer, there were a number of false teachings doing the rounds. One concerned the idea of an elite combat corps of Christians – an invincible army of ‘overcomers’ who would perform ‘even greater’ feats than Jesus, and would become an unstoppable and unbeatable force for God.
Although many found the ear-tickling ‘Latter Rain’ movement’s teachings of ‘Joel’s Army’ attractive, it’s no good telling Christians that they will be unconquerable if they will, in fact, face difficulty, hardship, prison, or death. It’s something Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:7-9 and Luke 21:10-12.
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