However, the Christian always has hope because there is nothing random, unplanned, or unforeseen in any of the trials that come into their lives. For the Christian, absolutely nothing is random. All their pain and trials can have redemptive purposes, and anything that has come into their lives has been allowed by God. One of the hardest things about trials is that we often think we are experiencing hardship because we have done something wrong, or that God is angry with us.
The writer of Hebrews tells us to consider trials as loving discipline from God. They are a sign, in most cases, that we have been doing well spiritually, and not the reverse. They often occur, not because we have done anything wrong, but because we are doing things right—or at least desire to.
How often Christians lose heart in their trials, because they feel God is angry with them, when in fact, the opposite is true. They are not random. Knowing you are blessed can make you feel happy, but not always. Joy is a state of contentment, even freedom, within constraining circumstances. Peter describes the gold smelting process where gold is heated up and impurities float to the surface. The next step in the process is to scoop away the dross, or impurities.
The result is a purer piece of gold. The result, then, of trials the heating up of our lives is to accomplish a purer and stronger character and faith. As the heat brings impurities of character to the surface, it also raises issues of deficiency in our faith.
When we come through the trial, we find that our faith has been stretched to several times its original size, as we own the character of God in a way we never did before. Like the growth of a muscle lifting weights, the resistance of the trial causes the muscle of faith to grow stronger. It is in the heat of trials where these deficiencies in faith and character surface.
It is only when they surface, that God can begin to purify our hearts and motives and actions. Trials produce maturity, and this is why they are a blessing to us.
James describes a progression where trials produce perseverance, and perseverance, maturity. The goal of trials is not to make a person more persevering. But the result of persevering under trials is a mature character and faith.
This is motivating. All Christians want the fruit of maturity; godly character and faith. The great exhortation of Scripture, related to trials, is to endure them. In Hebrews 12, we are told the reason is because God is a pefect Father, and God is treating us like children, disciplining us for our own good to share in His holiness. Interestingly, Hebrews 12 goes hand in hand with James 1.
Both state trials are for developing endurance. James 1 tells us God is never the one who tempts. Now, we have a complete picture. This is why we always use the Bible to interpret the Bible. God led Jesus into the test — God sent the test. But Satan did all the tempting.
God did not tempt Peter to sin, Satan did. But God ordained that test. God may take drastic measures that at the time seem cruel, painful, and unpleasent Hebrews Daniel 4 when his beloved kids are going astray.
The sufferings we experience here are nothing compaired to the glory God has for us later Romans Your personal comfort and happiness in this world is not His main goal — you spending eternity with Him is. Like you said, we mess up stuff just fine on our own.
And we live in a fallen world. I do not believe God sends or allows trials. I believe they are sent from the enemy. Scriptures saids in John The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Yes, trials and tribulations will come. Scripture warns us of this. John says …In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Luke says Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. To do so would be contrary to his word.
In terms of HIS allowance. We see in scripture that GOD has empowered us as free moral agents, clothed with authority and power. We were made in his likeness. John goes on to say… Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
So if Jesus, healed the sick, raised the dead, made the blind see, deaf to hear, and poor prosperous, what more has he given us authority to do. His word says even greater than all that we are equip to do.
Yes trials and tribulations will come. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
The Lord corrects those he loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in. Happy is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gets understanding. So you can become more dependent on the Lord. My power works best in weakness. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
God wants to spend time with you, but you lost your first love. I know you do not put up with the false teachings of evil people. You have tested those who say they are apostles but really are not, and you found they are liars. You have patience and have suffered troubles for my name and have not given up.
But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the beginning. So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do what you did at first. If you do not change, I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place. The Lord is the shade that protects you from the sun. The sun cannot hurt you during the day, and the moon cannot hurt you at night. The Lord will protect you from all dangers; he will guard your life.
The Lord will guard you as you come and go, both now and forever. He sits on his throne to judge, and he will judge the world in fairness; he will decide what is fair for the nations. The Lord defends those who suffer; he defends them in times of trouble. Those who know the Lord trust him, because he will not leave those who come to him.
Trust him, and he will help you. So we can share in the sufferings of Christ. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. It helps us grow as believers and become more like Christ. They are the people he called, because that was his plan. God knew them before he made the world, and he chose them to be like his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.
It helps with developing character. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Trials help to build our faith in the Lord. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete , not lacking anything.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long — though I know not how to relate them all.
You can help someone because you have been in that situation. Throwing around Scriptures will be hard to understand for someone who is grieving, but you can comfort them because you have been through the same thing and through the pain you trusted in God. Trials give us a greater reward in Heaven. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. To show us sin in our lives. We should never deceive ourselves and try to hide our sins from God, which is impossible. Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me. Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
Till then, everything—including trials and suffering—is designed to enable us to reach that goal. Our faith is validated and tested by trials and is made stronger 1 Peter Suffering also reveals what we really love. Luke and teaches us to value the blessing of God Psalm God tested Abraham but he believed God could raise the dead Genesis ; Hebrews This tells us that we can go through the severest imaginable trials of life if we trust God.
Recognize and accept trials and suffering as facts of life. Not the other way around. Going through any trial of life can be a joyous experience for a Christian if perspective is right.
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