2 Chronicles 20:29,30
29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
The Lord uses adversity in the life of the beloved for many purposes, all of them ultimately good. He uses adversity to conform us to the image of Christ and to provide a bridge to a deeper relationship with Him.
Unfortunately, none of these statements can be made on behalf of the unbeliever. The unbeliever stands before God in a position of estrangement and alienation. Still, God loves all men and women, and He wants each of us to come to a point of repentance.
God is just and righteous. He must judge and oppose sin. He allows both the saved and the unsaved person to bear the consequences of their willful sin and acts of transgression. He moves decisively against sin with the desire that all would repent of their sin and seek Him wholeheartedly. That is the message of the book of Lamentations when Jeremiah concludes that the Lord does not willingly afflict the children of men forever ( Lamentations 3:31-33). He will show compassion; therefore, we should turn to Him, trust Him, and remember His lovingkindness
Conclusion
The Lord does not desire adversity for His people; rather, He responds wisely and appropriately to our actions and works to fulfil His purpose in our lives. Fortunately, the dark moments of our lives will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.
