How do you know if God is punishing you?

You cannot be punished for that which Christ died for. You will be disciplined but never punished if you are in Christ!

Sometimes you just don't. But what we do know is that the Lord uses ALL circumstances for our sanctification. So whatever our circumstances we can be assured that he is working all things together for our ultimate good.

Prayer.............The Lord does actually answer prayer. He wont keep you in the dark about something he wants you to learn. Your conscience is his tool.

Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

Psalms 119:65-76

Osage Bluestem said:

How do you know if you are being punished for something or things are just not going well because sometimes they just don't?

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Quite often our "punishment" comes from our negligence, not listening, paying attention, etc. For example, I am only 36 years old and I suffered a light heart attack the end of last month. Was this a punishment from God? How many people my age abuse themselves even more than I do, or just as much, without having to suffer consequences at a young age? I don't know, but I certainly do not view my suffering as punishment from God. If anything I brought it on myself, by ignoring advice and not taking good care of myself. I had been diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago, but I think it had been a problem for awhile before then. The disease runs on both sides of my family, so it's not surprising also considering other factors that I acquired it too. I was smoking, not getting enough exercise, eating too many fatty foods, gender, dealing with a great deal of stress and hypertension. I could have taken measures to help prevent the heart attack, and I am taking them now. But what shall I say? It is grace that God allowed me to abuse myself for as long as I did, and it is grace that he allows others to do the same. If you think about it, as St. Augustine once said, "all of life is grace". I have found that to be true. Everyone has sinned, if everyone got what they deserved, then nobody would be breathing. That we are allowed to breath, though we deserve the punishment for sin, it is by grace alone that we do not get what we deserve every waking moment. How much greater, is the special saving grace in Christ, God has chosen to bless us with? When I think about punishment, I think about the law of God. We who are saved by the grace of God are no longer under the law. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Does not mean we will not suffer, trials, temptations, etc. and there are earthly consequences to be paid, but our standing before God is based on His choice and mercy and grace. Do not think our Heavenly Father is punishing us, though He may chastise us, and for our own good, though we may not understand. Our sovereign Lord is a good, loving, merciful God, and how patient He is with us. Thanks for asking the question, and what timing, at least for me.

Apologetic_Warrior said:

Quite often our "punishment" comes from our negligence, not listening, paying attention, etc. For example, I am only 36 years old and I suffered a light heart attack the end of last month. Was this a punishment from God? How many people my age abuse themselves even more than I do, or just as much, without having to suffer consequences at a young age? I don't know, but I certainly do not view my suffering as punishment from God. If anything I brought it on myself, by ignoring advice and not taking good care of myself. I had been diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago, but I think it had been a problem for awhile before then. The disease runs on both sides of my family, so it's not surprising also considering other factors that I acquired it too. I was smoking, not getting enough exercise, eating too many fatty foods, gender, dealing with a great deal of stress and hypertension. I could have taken measures to help prevent the heart attack, and I am taking them now. But what shall I say? It is grace that God allowed me to abuse myself for as long as I did, and it is grace that he allows others to do the same. If you think about it, as St. Augustine once said, "all of life is grace". I have found that to be true. Everyone has sinned, if everyone got what they deserved, then nobody would be breathing. That we are allowed to breath, though we deserve the punishment for sin, it is by grace alone that we do not get what we deserve every waking moment. How much greater, is the special saving grace in Christ, God has chosen to bless us with? When I think about punishment, I think about the law of God. We who are saved by the grace of God are no longer under the law. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Does not mean we will not suffer, trials, temptations, etc. and there are earthly consequences to be paid, but our standing before God is based on His choice and mercy and grace. Do not think our Heavenly Father is punishing us, though He may chastise us, and for our own good, though we may not understand. Our sovereign Lord is a good, loving, merciful God, and how patient He is with us. Thanks for asking the question, and what timing, at least for me.

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from Walther's Law and Gospel, a must read...


Feileadh Mor



“The question might here be raised why it is that the Law leads men into the horrible sin of despair. That is merely an accidental feature of its operation. In and by itself the Law, too, is good.


Let me follow this up with a passage from Luther’s Commentary on Galatians. On Gal. 2, 3. 4 Luther says: “Accordingly, when your conscience is terrified by the Law, and you are wrestling with God, the Judge, do not consult your reason or the Law, but take your stand alone on the grace of God and His word of consolation. Cling to this and act as if you had never heard a word of the Law. Enter into that darkness (Ex. 20, 21) where neither the Law nor human reason gives its light, but only the dark word of faith. The believer relies with a certainty on being saved in Christ, without the Law and regardless of it. Thus the gospel, without, and regardless of, the light of the Law and reason, leads us into the darkness of faith, where the Law and reason exercise no authority. We must, indeed, hear the Law also, yet in its proper place and at the proper time. When he has come down from the mountain, he is a legislator and governs the people with the Law. In this manner our conscience is to be exempt from the Law, but ours is to obey the Law. … Hence, any person who understands well how to distinguish the Gospel from the Law may thank God and know that he is a theologian. In times of tribulation, indeed, I do not know how to do this as efficiently as I should. Both teachings are to be distinguished in such a manner that you place the Gospel in heaven, the Law on earth; that you call the righteousness which the Gospel proclaims a heavenly and divine righteousness, the righteousness which the Law proclaims an earthly and human righteousness; and that you are as careful to distinguish the righteousness of the Gospel from the righteousness of the Law as God with great care has separated heaven from earth, light from darkness, day from night. One of these doctrines shall be the light of day, the other the darkness of night. Would to God that we could put them still farther apart!
“Therefore, when we are speaking of faith and are ministering to men’s consciences, the Law is to be utterly excluded; it must remain on earth. When you treat of what men are to do, light the night-lamp of works, or of the righteousness that is by way of the Law. Thus the sun and the unmeasured light of the Gospel and of grace is to shine during the day; the lamp of the Law, however, at night. A conscience, then, that has been thrown into terror by feeling its sin should argue thus: I am now engaged in earthly tasks. Here let the donkey labor, slave, and carry the burden that is laid upon him. That is to say, Let the body with its members be subject to the Law, But when you ascend to heaven, leave the donkey with its burden on earth. For the conscience of a believer in Christ has nothing to do with the Law and its works and the righteousness of this earth. Thus the donkey stays in the valley, while the conscience, with Isaac, goes up into the mountain, ignores the Law and its works, and keeps its eye only on the forgiveness of sin, on nothing but that righteousness which is exhibited and given to us in Christ. … This point of doctrine, vis., the distinction between the Law and the Gospel, we must needs know because it contains the sum of all Christian teaching. Let every one who is zealous to be godly strive, then, with the greatest care to learn how to make this distinction, that is, in his heart and conscience. The distinction is made easily enough in words. But in affliction you will realize that the Gospel is a rare guest in men’s consciences, while the Law is their daily and familiar companion For human reason has by nature the knowledge of the Law. Therefore, when the conscience is terrified by sin, which the Law points out and magnifies, you are to speak thus: There is a time to die, and there is a time to live; there is a time for acting as if you were ignorant of the Gospel. At this moment let the Law begone, and let the Gospel come; for now is not the time to hear the Law, but the Gospel. But how about this? You have not done any good; on the contrary, you have committed grievous sins. I admit that, but I have the forgiveness of sins through Christ, for whose sake all my sins have been remitted. However, while the conscience is not engaged in this conflict, while you are obliged to discharge the ordinary functions of your office, at a time when you must act as a minister of the Word, a magistrate, a husband, a teacher, a pupil, etc., it is not in season to hear the Gospel, but the Law. At such a time you are to perform the duties of your profession,”

Osage Bluestem said:

How do you know if you are being punished for something or things are just not going well because sometimes they just don't?

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Oh, I dunno. What if the car you rented breaks down on the side of the freeway on your way to an important meeting, and you turn on the radio for the first time just to hear "THE WRATH OF GOD HAS FALLEN UPON YOU" being shouted over the airways?

Nanopants said:

Oh, I dunno. What if the car you rented breaks down on the side of the freeway on your way to an important meeting, and you turn on the radio for the first time just to hear "THE WRATH OF GOD HAS FALLEN UPON YOU" being shouted over the airways?

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LOL! That might be a clue.....

Y'know God is disciplining you if you're a child of God. It takes awhile to recognize the difference between "going with the flow" and "stubbornness". Learning that too is discipline.

Osage Bluestem said:

How do you know if you are being punished for something or things are just not going well because sometimes they just don't?

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yup! i'm hyper so no patience to slog thru 2 pages of responses, just gonna give mine

my (AWESOME) pastor once said in a sermon "if you're in Christ, you've never been punished like you deserve for your sins; Christ took the punishment oyu deserve!!"

okl & that addresses the OP!! carry on