No, becoming a believer does not guarantee an easy or prosperous life.
Based on Scripture and Les Feldick's teaching, believers still face trials, tribulations, and persecution. God does not remove us from hardships but promises to strengthen us through them. The Apostle Paul's experiences, as cited by Les, demonstrate that even the most faithful servants endure severe suffering.
2 Corinthians 11:24-27 — Paul lists his sufferings, showing that even a great servant of God faced many hardships, not an easy life.
The Bible does not promise believers a life of ease and prosperity. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, the Apostle Paul recounts his own experiences: 'Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.' These verses show that following Christ can involve intense suffering and hardship. Hebrews 11:34-38 also mentions believers who 'escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.' This shows that even God's choice believers faced great trials, not prosperity. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 1:5-7 indicates that believers are 'partakers of the sufferings' of Christ, and that these sufferings are accompanied by consolation from God. The Bible does not promise an easy path, but it does promise God's presence and strength through trials.
Les Feldick strongly refutes the idea that becoming a believer leads to a 'rose-petaled pathway' of ease and prosperity. He states that anyone who promises such a life is teaching false doctrine. Instead, he describes the Christian life as 'paddling a canoe upstream,' a constant battle against the forces of Satan and the world. He uses the Apostle Paul as the prime example, noting that Paul wrote 'if God be for us, who against us' (Romans 8:31) yet endured tremendous suffering, as listed in 2 Corinthians 11. Les teaches that God does not shield believers from trials but has a purpose in them—to test our faith and bring us closer to Him. He shares an illustration of a paralyzed young lady who has a happy disposition and proves her love for God through her suffering. He also emphasizes that God who permits the affliction also provides the strength to endure it. Believers are not promised an easy life, but they are promised God's constant presence and support through every trial.
Les Feldick teaches that God allows times of testing and tribulation to test our mettle. He explains that when hard times come, true believing hearts find God more precious, while others become bitter and rebellious. He also states that God's purpose is to bring believers to the place He wants them to be.
Les Feldick clarifies that Romans 8:31 'If God be for us, who against us?' does not mean God will prevent all harm. He says, 'No, no, that's not what it means' and points to Paul's own suffering as evidence. The promise is not protection from harm but God's strength to endure it.
Les describes the Christian life as 'paddling a canoe upstream. It's one of the toughest jobs on earth and a sissy cannot be a Christian.' It is a constant battle against the forces of Satan and the world. Believers are not removed from trials but are assured that God will see them through.
Les teaches that the same Lord who permits persecutions and testings also provides the strength to go through them. He references 2 Corinthians 1:5, 'For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.' God's comfort and strength match the intensity of the suffering.
Paul's Sufferings
Les shows that Paul, the very man who wrote 'If God be for us,' endured severe beatings, stoning, and other hardships, proving that believers are not promised an easy life.
No Rose-Petaled Pathway
Les debunks the idea that becoming a Christian makes life easy, calling it false teaching and comparing the Christian life to paddling a canoe upstream.
God's Purpose in Trials
Les explains that God brings tough experiences into believers' lives for His own purpose, to mold them into what He wants them to be.
Testing Our Faith
Les uses the example of a paralyzed young lady to show that trials can prove our love for God and that true believers find God more precious in hard times.
Still in This Old World
Les reminds believers that they are still in a body of flesh and living in a time of trials, but God promises to escort them through valleys and never forsake them.
Can Anything Separate You from God's Love? Romans 8:33-39
We're living in an extremely different time than most Christians had to live in, because we do have a government that so far at least guarantees our our rights to assembly and to religion. I don't like the word, but whatever. All right let's go on. Romans 8. Tribulation or distress or persecution.
God Provides Strength
Les emphasizes that the same Lord who permits suffering is the same Lord who provides the strength to endure it, citing 2 Corinthians 1:5.
Paul's Extreme Trials
Les highlights Paul's own admission of being 'pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired of life,' showing the reality of severe trials even for the most faithful.
2 Corinthians 11:24-27: Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Paul recounts his extensive suffering, demonstrating that believers are not promised an easy life.
2 Corinthians 1:5: For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
This verse indicates that as believers share in Christ's suffering, they also receive abundant consolation from Him.
2 Corinthians 1:7: And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
This connects the believer's participation in suffering with the experience of God's consolation.
2 Corinthians 1:8: For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
Paul openly shares his extreme pressure, showing that even a great apostle could feel overwhelmed by trials.
Romans 8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
This verse is often cited as a promise of protection, but Les clarifies it means no one can ultimately prevail against God's purposes for us.
No, Les Feldick teaches that God does not remove believers from trials. In fact, he says, 'We're still in this old world. We're still in a body of flesh. We're still living in a time of trials and tribulations. That's part of it.' God's promise is not to remove trials but to escort believers through them.
Les teaches that God brings times of testing and tribulation to test our mettle. He allows tough experiences to bring us to the place He wants us to be. Suffering can prove our love for God, and when we remain faithful, God becomes more precious to us.
Les explicitly clarifies, 'No, no, that's not what it means.' He points out that Paul, who wrote those very words, suffered terribly. The verse means that no enemy can ultimately thwart God's purposes for us, but it does not prevent suffering in this life.
According to Les, the same Lord who permits the affliction also provides the strength to go through it. He cites 2 Corinthians 1:5—'as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.' God gives comfort and strength proportionate to the suffering.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "If God Be for Us" Really Mean? Romans 8:31