I seem to be asking myself this question a lot; especially recently. How do we continue persevering through trials and why do these trials occur? In this post I will share four specific reasons God allows trials in our lives.
I was overwhelmed with excitement when God put it on my heart to begin writing to share my faith and my testimony! I’ve always wanted the opportunity to write and also enjoy helping and inspiring others. Unfortunately there have been several trials, tests, and distractions throughout this process. I must admit at times I get really discouraged. However, the good news is that the more trials I experience, my hope and faith increase!
Jesus stated in the gospel of John that we will suffer trials and tribulations.
John 16:33 reads.. “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
I must admit there are times that I do not feel very courageous and wish that my trials or distractions would just go away! Don’t we all feel like that sometimes?
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the apostle Paul said “I asked the Lord three times to remove a thorn in my flesh….”. God’s response was in verse 8. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness….”
Paul asked God repeatedly to remove whatever trial He was experiencing; I sure we all have asked the question to God before… “WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?”
God’s answer to Paul is , “My grace is sufficient” meaning I may not take the trials away but I will give you the strength you need to come through the trial.(Remember the three Jewish boys that were thrown into the fire ? Daniel chapter 3) A 4th person protected them in the fiery furnace and they came out unharmed and did not even smell of smoke!
“My power is perfected in weakness”. We can experience God’s power manifested in our lives when we are going through trials and suffering. Does our faith in God increase when things are all going are way? Not likely. However, when we cry out to God as we go through the trial; we have been promised the grace and power of God. Going through these adversities WILL strengthen our faith.
Here are FOUR reasons why trials occur in our lives.
First– We live in a fallen world. Since the fall of Adam and Eve disobeying God, there has been sin in the world. nobody had to “teach me ” how to be selfish as a young child. In fact I may have said “mine” before I said “mommy”. Okay maybe not but you get the drift. Just watch the news and we are reminded every day that there is sin in the world.
Second-We are being disciplined by God for committing sin. Yes God loves us but He is a holy God and cannot tolerate sin. There must be discipline when we disobey Him. Just like when your child disobeys you discipline them. It does not mean you don’t love them but you want them to grow up to be a productive part of the society we live in.
Dueteronomy 8:5 “Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a father disciplines his son.”
Third-We need to learn something. It may be humility, compassion, or even self control that God wants to teach us. He is using the trial to train us to be more like Him and remind us of who we are in Christ. God also wants us as Christians to be a ” light” in this dark world.(Matthew.5:16) We sometimes need to experience adversity to be reminded of this.
Fourth-We see God’s power magnified! In John 11 Jesus’ friend Lazarus was dead and his sister Mary said to Jesus “if you had come sooner my brother would not be dead.” Jesus response was .” Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God.” (John 11:40) When the trial we are experiencing cannot be solved or fixed in our strength, that is when we see God’s power intervening. Christians around you see God working as well. They are encouraged and unbelievers may come to know Christ based on what they have witnessed in your life!
We may never truly know the reasons for the trials we are experience until we get to Heaven. (remember the terrible trials that happened to Job!) He never received an explanation for unthinkable trials he suffered but he definitely had a clear understanding of who God is afterwards.(Job 42)
When we seek God during our trials; we will have a closer relationship with Him. we begin to understand that God loves us and He wants what’s best for us. However, that does not mean we are living on “easy street”. Think about a sculpture before it is completed. The hammer and chisel are used continuously and with great care before the beautiful masterpiece is finished.
Until we reach heaven; believers in Christ are continually a work in progress. As we persevere through the trials; God is glorified,our faith increases, and we can be a living testimony that is pleasing to and glorifies Him!
Food for Thought
So how do you cope with your distractions,trials?
What lesson is God wanting to teach you right now?
Is there intentional sin present in your life?
Horace Williams Jr is the oldest son of a pastor who went to be with Jesus in 2020. He is an award-winning author and amateur chef who loves Jesus Christ. His passion for Christ inspires readers to draw nearer to the God who loves them.
I couldn’t agree more. But more than the reasons we are sinning, I love the fact that God knows this. He expects us to sin because we are humans and He created us He knows everything (even the number of our hair). But He still loves us anyway. Always willing to wait for our return. What an amazing God.
This is so true Lux! I am humbled by God’s love and patience. I am beyond thankful that He has allowed me to return to Him. Have a blessed week!
Oh, yes…trials do come and during them we most often do not see the reasons “why”. However, we can trust that God always has a plan! He uses all things and He never, ever wastes a hurt! I have learned that through trials and challenges, as I cling to the Lord, my faith is strengthened and my relationship with Him grows! That in itself is a blessing! I have also found that when I look back on difficult times in my life, I can see a pattern and good things that have resulted even from the pain.
Thanks for linking up today and sharing the beauty that God is even during difficult times!
Blessings, Joan
Thank you Joan for your sincere and insightful comment! I agree I would not thought believed I could see beauty in my trials but like you said; after coming through each trial, my faith in Christ have grown dramatically as I desire to seek Him. Many blessings to you and yours. Have a wonderful week!
Horace, I am enjoying my visit here. You are a very inspiring person, do you know that? Thank you for sharing your heart, your struggles, and your story to encourage and inspire. I’m glad you stopped over for Playdates with God today.
Thank you Laura for the comment and kind words! I really do want to share from the heart to both encourage and inspire others via the transformation that has taken place in my life. I give God all the glory and thank Him for His love.
It is privilege to be a living testimony as we persevere through trials. Great post 🙂
That is so true! I am humbled and honored for the opportunity of being a living testimony for Christ. Thank you for the comment and for dropping by. Have a blessed week!
Great thoughts, Horace, on why we experience trials. What I love is that no matter what I go through, God walks through it with me. Jesus said there would be trials, but He promised His presence would be with us. Thank you, Horace, for sharing your heart on #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Thanks for the visit and the comment Crystal! I am learning so much about why trials occur and God’s purpose as I study His word. You are right! I am so glad God walks with us through the trials. I’m not sure I would have survived my time in the hospital “mentally” If I did not feel God’s comfort. Thank you for allowing me to share on Intentional Tuesday. I am so happy I figured out how to get your button on my site by myself without using my “tech” guy. God is good. Have a blessed day!
Enjoyed your post today! Hebrews teaches us that God disciplines and scourges those who He loves. What an encouragement and blessing that is. Thanks again for your post, very encouraging. Glad I stopped in for a visit. Have a blessed day:)
Thanks for the visit and your comments Lisa. I am thrilled you were encouraged! I have experienced God’s discipline more than I’d like. Even though painful, it’s because He loves me. I know God has a plan and I am excited to see where He leads. Thank you again for the visit. May God bless you and yours!
It’s great that God uses everything for our good, even the trials we face! Great post that addresses questions that we all ask. Visiting from #intentionalTuesday.
Thanks for the visit and the kind words Kristen. Yes; trials are not usually pleasant but they have helped me to understand God better. Who He is and my relationship with Him. I am so thankful and blessed that He loves me and I desire to be the Godly man that He wants me to be. Thank you for visiting. May God bless you and yours!
Yay, Horace, another good one from you. Appreciate you, brother.
I try to cope through prayer, but other than that, sometimes I think that i just cope by putting one foot in front of the other (with occasional complaining, *smile*), and moving through it. So thankful for His strength in our weakness. Thanks for sharing. ((blessings))
Happy Friday Brenda! Thanks for visiting and for your comments. I am learning myself that God is wanting less self reliance and to be more dependent on Him. Many blessings to as well. have a wonderful weekend!
My one word this year is persevere. Thanks for some more tips to help me run my race with perseverance.
Thanks for the visit Debbie. I pray the tips help you as you seek to persevere in 2016! Love the word too. Blessings to you and yours!
Hey Horace,
This is a good review of the reasons we have trials.
Here’s some food for thought and a related object lesson from nature. I’ve been told that pests eating on vegetable plants can actually improve their nutritional value by causing the plant to produce chemicals that are beneficial to us when we eat the plant.
In a similar manner, we benefit from the trials in our lives. Like the pests chewing away at a vegetable plant, God can use pest-like trials to produce a character attributes in us that enable us to bring greater value to the people around us.
Thanks for the visit Jon! Yes though it may not feel like a benefit as we persevere through the trials but if the end result is us accomplishing God’s will that is a blessing as we trust Him. Have a great weekend!
yes God is really testing my faith at the moment my 6 kids have been taken off me due to false allegations when they were first taken I cried so much I could barely eat I couldn’t get off the coach now god has been showing me lots of verses like Jerimiah 29:11 for I know the plans I have for you says the lord not to harm you but to prosper you so I just have to trust god he will work all things out for good also he says all things work for good for those that love him so I am learning more than ever to rely on god please pray though for my kids to return I am also learning patience like never before
That is a fantastic verse and promise from God in Jeremiah 29. I also appreciate Romans 8:28. Sorry to read about your situation with your children. I cannot imagine the pain you are experiencing. I will say a prayer for your family tonight, Chloe. Blessings to you and yours.