Why does God allow difficult seasons? When life feels uncertain, painful, or unfair, it can be easy to question God’s character and wonder if our struggles are a result of something we did wrong. But Scripture reveals a different truth: God’s heart toward us is rooted in love, grace, and mercy—not punishment or condemnation.

Vivian Bricker explores how knowing who God is helps us navigate suffering, uncertainty, and the lies we often believe about God’s intentions. Through Scripture, we are reminded that God’s love does not change based on our circumstances, and that hardship is not proof of God’s rejection or displeasure.

Highlights:
Why the unknown can make us question God’s goodness and control
Understanding the difference between biblical truth and the idea of karma
Why suffering is not always a reflection of God’s punishment
How the New Covenant through Jesus changes our understanding of blessings and curses
The importance of knowing God’s character so we can recognize false beliefs
How God’s love remains constant even during difficult seasons

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How can a deeper understanding of God’s character change the way you view hardship?

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Full Transcript Below:

Understanding God’s Character
By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading:
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). 

In my opinion, the scariest thing in the world is the unknown. Whether that be an undiagnosed illness, starting over in a new city, or thinking about the future, the unknown can be terrifying. None of us can truly know what is ahead because we are not the ones in control. 

For some of us, there will be good times ahead and for others, there will be hard times. One cannot be dogmatic and say that those who have good times are in the will of God and those who are going through tough times are not. It is never within God’s will for us to be in pain, to be depressed, or to be sick. He never intended for us to go through any of these things, and it is not right for people to believe in the ideology that if you do good, good returns to you from God and if you do bad, bad returns to you from God. 

This is not biblical as this is actually a belief in karma. Karma is part of the religious beliefs contained within Hinduism and Buddhism. Although karma has become popularized within mainstream media, Christ followers do not need to endorse it. Karma is refuted in the Bible as Psalm 103:10-11 says, “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Therefore, we don’t need to say that God blesses certain people while cursing others. 

The aspects of blessings and curses based on your actions were true within the Mosaic Covenant, but it is not true for us today. We are under the New Covenant by the blood of Jesus (Luke 22:20). Within the Mosaic Covenant, Israel was petitioned to obey God, and blessings would come to them; however, if they did not obey God and did evil, curses would come into their midst. 

Since we are not under the Mosaic Covenant, we don’t need to hold ourselves or others to this type of thinking. If we are having dreadful things happening in our lives, they are not caused by God. And if we are having good things happening in our lives, we cannot always be dogmatic to say it is caused by God either. To say that “God has blessed me because I’m doing well, but He has cursed you because you are not doing well” is not rooted in biblical truth. This is why Christians need to be more aware and not to flaunt things they believe are blessings. This only gives the idea that if you are struggling, you have done something terrible in the eyes of God, and you must be cursed. 

As Christ followers, this type of thinking needs to end. We all have free will, and with it, we have chosen to do terrible things (Romans 3:23). Additionally, we live in a fallen world that is covered in sin. This is why we shouldn’t be quick to say, “It is God’s will for you to suffer from (fill in the blank).” God never intended for evil, sin, or death to be in the world. He wanted us to live in perfect harmony with Him in the Garden of Eden. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

The Bible tells us, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). God’s character is found in love. Since God is love, why do we believe the lie that He brings curses into our lives or into the lives of others? This goes against His very nature.

God is love, and He is not going to bring harm into our lives. As Christ followers, we need to be aware of who God is and His characteristics, as this can help us weed out lies that pull us away from Him.

Even well-meaning Christ followers can say unhelpful and unbiblical things, which is why we must be level-headed and fully understand the Bible ourselves. Regardless of what you are going through, remember the truth that God is love, and you are loved by Him, and neither of these things will ever change. 

Have you ever thought a terrible thing happening in your life was due to God punishing you? What made you think like this? How can having a proper view of God’s character help you understand Him better? 

Further Reading: 

Romans 5:8

1 John 3:1

1 John 4:19

Why does God allow difficult seasons? When life feels uncertain, painful, or unfair, it can be easy to question God&rsquo;s character and wonder if our struggles are a result of something we did wrong. But Scripture reveals a different truth: God&rsquo;s heart toward us is rooted in love, grace, and mercy&mdash;not punishment or condemnation.
Vivian Bricker explores how knowing who God is helps us navigate suffering, uncertainty, and the lies we often believe about God&rsquo;s intentions. Through Scripture, we are reminded that God&rsquo;s love does not change based on our circumstances, and that hardship is not proof of God&rsquo;s rejection or displeasure.
Highlights:
<ul data-start="870" data-end="1303">
<li data-section-id="4x357f" data-start="870" data-end="935">Why the unknown can make us question God&rsquo;s goodness and control</li>
<li data-section-id="1de3y5f" data-start="936" data-end="1011">Understanding the difference between biblical truth and the idea of karma</li>
<li data-section-id="1onyw2r" data-start="1012" data-end="1074">Why suffering is not always a reflection of God&rsquo;s punishment</li>
<li data-section-id="8iosr8" data-start="1075" data-end="1161">How the New Covenant through Jesus changes our understanding of blessings and curses</li>
<li data-section-id="rwi61z" data-start="1162" data-end="1239">The importance of knowing God&rsquo;s character so we can recognize false beliefs</li>
<li data-section-id="mbnq54" data-start="1240" data-end="1303">How God&rsquo;s love remains constant even during difficult seasons</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
Join the conversation:
How can a deeper understanding of God&rsquo;s character change the way you view hardship?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here:&nbsp;<a href="https://forums.crosswalk.com/">https://forums.crosswalk.com/</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Understanding God&rsquo;s Character By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading: &ldquo;This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins&rdquo; (1 John 4:10).&nbsp;
In my opinion, the scariest thing in the world is the unknown. Whether that be an undiagnosed illness, starting over in a new city, or thinking about the future, the unknown can be terrifying. None of us can truly know what is ahead because we are not the ones in control.&nbsp;
For some of us, there will be good times ahead and for others, there will be hard times. One cannot be dogmatic and say that those who have good times are in the will of God and those who are going through tough times are not. It is never within God&rsquo;s will for us to be in pain, to be depressed, or to be sick. He never intended for us to go through any of these things, and it is not right for people to believe in the ideology that if you do good, good returns to you from God and if you do bad, bad returns to you from God.&nbsp;
This is not biblical as this is actually a belief in karma. Karma is part of the religious beliefs contained within Hinduism and Buddhism. Although karma has become popularized within mainstream media, Christ followers do not need to endorse it. Karma is refuted in the Bible as Psalm 103:10-11 says, &ldquo;he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.&rdquo; Therefore, we don&rsquo;t need to say that God blesses certain people while cursing others.&nbsp;
The aspects of blessings and curses based on your actions were true within the Mosaic Covenant, but it is not true for us today. We are under the New Covenant by the blood of Jesus (Luke 22:20). Within the Mosaic Covenant, Israel was petitioned to obey God, and blessings would come to them; however, if they did not obey God and did evil, curses would come into their midst.&nbsp;
Since we are not under the Mosaic Covenant, we don&rsquo;t need to hold ourselves or others to this type of thinking. If we are having dreadful things happening in our lives, they are not caused by God. And if we are having good things happening in our lives, we cannot always be dogmatic to say it is caused by God either. To say that &ldquo;God has blessed me because I&rsquo;m doing well, but He has cursed you because you are not doing well&rdquo; is not rooted in biblical truth. This is why Christians need to be more aware and not to flaunt things they believe are blessings. This only gives the idea that if you are struggling, you have done something terrible in the eyes of God, and you must be cursed.&nbsp;
As Christ followers, this type of thinking needs to end. We all have free will, and with it, we have chosen to do terrible things (Romans 3:23). Additionally, we live in a fallen world that is covered in sin. This is why we shouldn&rsquo;t be quick to say, &ldquo;It is God&rsquo;s will for you to suffer from (fill in the blank).&rdquo; God never intended for evil, sin, or death to be in the world. He wanted us to live in perfect harmony with Him in the Garden of Eden.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
The Bible tells us, &ldquo;This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins&rdquo; (1 John 4:10). God&rsquo;s character is found in love. Since God is love, why do we believe the lie that He brings curses into our lives or into the lives of others? This goes against His very nature.
God is love, and He is not going to bring harm into our lives. As Christ followers, we need to be aware of who God is and His characteristics, as this can help us weed out lies that pull us away from Him.
Even well-meaning Christ followers can say unhelpful and unbiblical things, which is why we must be level-headed and fully understand the Bible ourselves. Regardless of what you are going through, remember the truth that God is love, and you are loved by Him, and neither of these things will ever change.&nbsp;
Have you ever thought a terrible thing happening in your life was due to God punishing you? What made you think like this? How can having a proper view of God&rsquo;s character help you understand Him better?&nbsp;
Further Reading:&nbsp;
Romans 5:8
1 John 3:1
1 John 4:19

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Understanding God's Character

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/b4675d10-e730-4da4-9a53-b49b010db7bf/transcript