7 Physical Afflictions that Occur When People Displease God

It would be unbiblical to assume that every physical affliction we experience is due to our disobedience towards God. God is very gracious towards us and he is eager to spare us of the punishment we deserve (2 Peter 3:9). In fact, this is the very reason Jesus came. He died the death we deserved so we could live free with him forever (2 Corinthians 5:21).

However, throughout the Scriptures, there are clear verses that inform us about physical consequences to our bodies that can occur when we walk in darkness.

Therefore, here are 7 physical afflictions that can occur when people disobey the Lord.

1. Stress Can Occur When You Disobey the Lord

Sin always leads to stress (Psalm 32:1-5). The more sin, the more chaotic our lives get (Romans 6:19, James 3:16, Matthew 24:12); this disorder brings anxiety.

We often think of stress as a mental affliction, and certainly that is a part of it. But when stress gets really bad, it will actually start manifesting throughout your body too. Tightness in your muscles, cramping in your stomach, and even rashes on your skin can breakout when you are holding too much stress.

2. Hunger Can Occur When We Disobey the Lord

On a collective level, a society is often blessed with abundance when obeying God and cursed with famine when rejecting the Lord’s favor. Psalm 107:33-34, “He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.”

Not only that, throughout the Proverbs, we are taught that individuals who partake in the sin of laziness will often lack the food that they need. Proverbs 20:13 states, “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.” In the New Testament, Paul wrote, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

Hunger is meant to be a physical motivator that we might obey the Lord.

3. Self-Inflicted Physical Abuse Can Result When We Disobey God

Non-Christians often think the Bible is just a restrictive book with a bunch of meaningless rules. However, when you look at the Scriptures from an objective standpoint, they are clearly trying to help us avoid self-inflicted harm.

For example, some people love to abuse substances. “What’s the harm?” they say. Proverbs 23:29-30 says, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.”

Likewise, whenever the Bible tells us not to do something, it’s trying to help us avoid the self-inflicted physical consequences that occur when we misuse our bodies in sin.

4. Fatigue Can Occur When We Run from the Lord

When you are disobeying God, you will know you are on your own. This thought can tempt you to work so hard to make everything happen for yourself that you completely run yourself ragged.

Notice the warning in Psalm 127:1-2, “Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”

Only when we follow the Lord can we enjoy deep rest.

5. Burning with a Sexual Desire Can Occur When We Displease God

A sexual desire is actually a blessing from God. However, when we misuse this blessing, it can get out of control and feel like a curse. When you engage in sexual sin, it doesn’t stop the sexual desires you have. It actually makes them worse and more uncontrollable.

Romans 6:19 says, “For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” When we apply this truth our sexuality, it means sexual sin will result in more and more sexual sin; while sexual obedience to God will lead to more and more self-control.

1 Corinthians 7:9 also say, “But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” When people run from God, they can’t be blessed with a healthy marriage, which will result in them burning with sexual passions instead of enjoying sex in marriage as God intended.

6. Hard Living Can Occur when We Run from the Lord

What happened to the prodigal son in Jesus’s parable? Luke 15:13 states, “he squandered his property in reckless living.” When you love sin, you end up abusing your body through living hard. The prodigal son’s partying eventually led him on his hands and knees in the pig pen.

Wild living causes you to burn the candle at both ends, so to speak. This results in your body breaking down much faster than someone who is living a healthier lifestyle.

7. Death Can Be a Direct Result of Disobeying the Lord’s Commands

Before sin entered the picture, death was not a part of our story. So in a way, all death is a direct result of sin coming into the world, which is why Jesus came to offer us eternal life through his grace (John 3:16).

However, Scripture also points out a more acute correlation to people dying when they disobey the Lord. Exodus 20:12, for example, states, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” When referring to taking communion in an unworthy manner, 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 warns, “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.”

No matter what sin you have struggled with, no matter how long you have run from the Lord, if you still have breath your lungs, you can repent. God desires to forgive us all and bless us through Christ (1 John 1:9).

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