What if you’ve been mislabeling what God is doing in your life?

What if you’ve been attributing (even blaming) the work of the enemy or sin as “God’s doing”, and thus getting beat up unnecessarily?

The enemy doesn't need to defeat you if he can distort your view of God.

Our greatest battle is not against the darkness but against the lies we believe about The Light.

A.W Tozer once said: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

Your lens and perspective matters.

There’s a lot of confusion about how God works.

We call pain “discipline.”

We call suffering “testing.”

We see pruning as punishment.

But God’s work in your life isn’t chaotic or cruel—it’s purposeful and good.

When we mix up these terms, we misunderstand His heart. And when we misunderstand His heart, we only set ourselves up for unnecessary pain and difficulty – something I would try to pervert and push among believers if I were the enemy too.

Discipline is about correction, not harm. Pruning is about growth, not punishment. Testing is never about inflicting pain but revealing what’s already true. And suffering? That’s the result of a fallen world, the enemy, sin—not a tool God uses to teach lessons.

For example: if I broke my 2yr olds arm to teach her a lesson, I’d be done for child abuse. Yet many think God is like this. Crazy!

God is better than we think – our challenge is believing it.

If you’ve been caught in these mix-ups, it’s not your fault. Many of us have been taught this way. But these misunderstandings can make us pull back from God when we should be running toward Him.

Let’s untangle the confusion.

I’ve laid out 10 key truths and 5 practicals to help you see clearly and break free from these harmful beliefs.

1. Pain & Suffering

The result of living in a broken, fallen world. It can stem from sin, the enemy, and our own choices.

How it gets mixed up: Many people think that God causes pain and suffering to test or punish us. It's easy to assume that because we're suffering, it must be a test from God, especially when we're trying to make sense of hardship.

Examples: Illness, financial struggles, natural disasters, or relational breakdowns.

Truth: Pain and suffering are not from God, they come from a fallen world, sin or the enemy. God is with us in these times, offering comfort, healing, and strength.

2. Pruning

A loving, refining process where God removes what hinders our growth, to help bear more fruit.

How it gets mixed up: People sometimes confuse pruning with punishment, thinking God is causing pain for no reason. When facing discomfort, it’s easy to feel like God is punishing us rather than refining us for a better purpose.

Examples: Letting go of unhealthy attachments, negative emotions, or habits that prevent spiritual growth.

Truth: Pruning is a loving action designed to help us grow stronger and more fruitful, not a punishment.

3. Discipline

God’s loving correction to guide us back to His way when we’ve strayed, made poor choices.

How it gets mixed up: People often view discipline as God’s anger or punishment, rather than a tool for growth. When we face consequences or correction, it can feel harsh, leading us to confuse it with punishment.

Examples: Experiencing the natural consequences of a sinful decision, like strained relationships. The discomfort is an invitation to reflect and change.

Truth: Discipline is not punishment but a form of love, intended to bring us back to alignment with God’s wisdom and protect us from harm.

4. Tests

A challenge that reveals the strength of our faith, not meant to harm us but to strengthen us.

How it gets mixed up: People mistakenly believe God sends tests to cause suffering or harm, viewing them as proof of God’s displeasure. It’s tempting to think that if we are in a tough situation, it must be a test from God to prove something about our faith.

Examples: A tough decision that challenges your values, or a trial that makes you rely more on God.

Truth: God does not test us to harm us. He turns them around to refine us, reveal our trust in Him, and build us up.

5. Temptation

The desire or urge to do something wrong, often arising from our own flesh or the enemy.

How it gets mixed up: Some confuse temptation with a test from God, believing He’s the one tempting them. Temptation often feels like a challenge we have to overcome, and it’s easy to mistake it for something God has orchestrated.

Examples: Being tempted to lie, gossip, or engage in immoral behavior.

Truth: God does not tempt us (James 1:13), it comes from our own desires or external influences, and God provides a way out (1 Cor 10:13).

6. Trials

A difficult situation that challenges who we are.

How it gets mixed up: People often think trials are sent by God as a test or punishment, rather than being part of living in a broken world. It’s common to assume that God is the source of all challenges, especially in difficult seasons.

Examples: Loss of a job, personal grief, or a period of emotional or spiritual dryness.

Truth: While trials can come from various sources, God is with us through them, using them for our growth, not causing them.

7. Refining

The process of becoming more pure and more aligned with God, often through challenges.

How it gets mixed up: People often confuse refinement with punishment, thinking God is trying to hurt us when He’s actually working to make us better. Refinement can feel painful, leading us to think it’s a form of punishment, but it’s really about making us more like Christ.

Examples: Spiritual growth that comes through overcoming a struggle, eg, patience, forgiveness.

Truth: Refinement is a process that God uses to shape us, purify us, and become more like Him.

8. Concequences

The natural outcomes of our actions, particularly when we make poor choices.

How it gets mixed up: People sometimes think consequences are God punishing them, when they are simply the natural results of their choices. We often don’t want to accept the responsibility for our actions, so we can mistakenly blame God.

Examples: Losing a relationship due to dishonesty or financial trouble after poor decision-making.

Truth: Consequences are not punishment from God but natural results of our decisions. Yet God is still able to redeem them when we surrender.

"People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD." – Proverbs 19:3

9. Suffering For Righteousness

Suffering that occurs because we live according to God’s ways in a hostile world.

How it gets mixed up: Some believers think their suffering is a result of their sin, when in fact, it could be suffering for righteousness. Suffering for righteousness can be an affirmation of our faith and alignment with God.

Examples: Being persecuted for your your faith or facing social rejection for living godly.

Truth: Suffering for righteousness is part of the journey – something to rejoice in (Matt 5:10-12).

10. God's Will

God’s purpose and intent for our lives.

How it gets mixed up: People sometimes believe that every hardship is God’s will, thinking He directly causes all things, including suffering. It’s natural to assume that if something happens, it must be part of God’s perfect will, even when the situation is painful or difficult. But it’s not.

Examples: Enduring hardship that feels like it’s from God, such as a job loss or tough relationship.

Truth: Not all suffering is God’s will, but He uses all circumstances—good or bad—for our growth and His glory when we let Him (Romans 8:28).

5 Practical Steps To Move Forward (and enjoy His goodness!)

1. Discern The Source

When facing a difficulty, reflect on its origin: Is this a natural consequence of a choice? An attack of the enemy? A refining process?

Why it helps: Understanding the source prevents false assumptions about God and helps you respond appropriately.

Example: A lost job may be a natural consequence of economic factors, but it can also be a moment for God to guide you to something better.

2. Reject Lies & Embrace Truth

Actively combat lies about God with truth and prayer. When negative thoughts come, replace them with affirmations of His goodness.

Why it helps: Lies about God can distort your perception, but declaring truth aligns your heart and mind with His character.

Example: When you think, “God is punishing me,” counter it with, “God is my refuge and strength” (Psalm 46:1).

3. Reframe Your Perspective

When challenges arise, consciously ask, "What is God's role here?" Is He my redeemer, my comforter, or my guide in this situation?

Why it helps: Shifting from a perspective of punishment or abandonment to partnership with God changes how you approach difficulties.

Example: Instead of saying, “God is testing me,” say, “This is hard, but God is with me, redeeming and growing me through it.”

4. Build Intimacy with Him

Spend time in prayer and worship, asking God to reveal His heart to you. Be honest about your struggles and invite Him to lead you.

Why it helps: The more you experience God personally, the less likely you are to misinterpret His actions or intentions.

Example: Use the prayer: “Lord, show me Your goodness in this situation. Help me see You for who You truly are.”

5. Focus on Gratitude & Testimony

Keep a journal of God’s faithfulness, noting ways He has worked in your life or brought redemption out of hard situations.

Why it helps: Gratitude shifts your focus from pain to God’s presence and reminds you of His goodness in all circumstances.

Example: Write down three ways God has provided or brought hope even in difficult times.

Conclusion

It’s easy to confuse these concepts and label all forms of hardship as “testing.”

However, the Bible presents God as the Redeemer of suffering, not the cause of it. When you see His work clearly, you can finally walk in the peace and purpose He has for you.

God is good. Always.

His plans for you are full of life, not harm. And He has given us His Word, Spirit, blood, promises, covenant, authority and life so that we can still have good cheer and overcome the brokenness of this life.

When you see His work clearly, you can finally walk in the peace and purpose He has for you.

Don’t let mislabeling keep you stuck. It’s time to know God as He truly is. He is a good Father.

“God is light and in Him there is no darkness.” (1 Jn 1:5)

"It is only when we see God as He truly is that we begin to see everything else as it truly is." – C.S. Lewis