Suffering, Trials, and Tests

The Bible teaches that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). It is reassuring to know that when God allows suffering, which He could prevent, He is accomplishing something good. Some of the good things God can accomplish through our suffering are as follows: building endurance and perseverance into our lives (James 1:3, Rom. 5:3), helping us grow in Christian maturity (James 1:4), proving our godly character (Rom. 5:4), developing Christ-likeness (Rom. 8:28-29), helping us grow in personal holiness (Heb.12:10), and giving us the assurance that we are His children (Heb. 12:7-8). We may not see the good that God is accomplishing. But we can be confident that His eternal purposes are being fulfilled through our trials. Sometimes the dark threads are as needful as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern God has planned. But someday, he will unroll the tapestry of our lives and we will see the beautiful work God has accomplished, partly through suffering. It is important to keep an eternal perspective when going through suffering. Paul wrote, "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:17-18).

God recognizes that sometimes greater glory will come to His name by permitting evil rather than disallowing it altogether. It is hard to understand from a human and earthly perspective why God will sometimes allow human suffering for the purpose of bringing greater glory to Himself. But if the purpose of our lives is to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31), then we will accept suffering gladly to more adequately exhibit the greatness of our God. 

25 Keys To What Suffering, Tests, and the Storms of Life Can Do For a Believer

 

LEAD US TO GOD'S WORD,AND REPENTANCE & FAITH IN JESUS—KEEPING US FROM INDIFFERENCE

REMIND US OF WHO IS IN CONTROL OF THE WORLD, AND EACH OF OUR DESTINIES

TEST OUR FAITH & SHOW US WE MUST KEEP OUR EYES OFF OUR STORMS & ON TO JESUS

PRUNE & PURIFY, CORRECT & DISCIPLINE US— PRUNING US FOR MORE FRUIT - PURIFYING MOTIVES

SLOW US DOWN ENOUGH TO ALLOW US TO ASK IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

GOD CAN SHOW US HIS GRACE & STRENGTH THROUGH OUR WEAKNESSES - SO HE WILL GET GLORY!

CONFORMS US INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST— LEADING US TO EXUDE CHRIST-LIKENESS

PROTECT TRUE BELIEVERS FROM PRIDE—THEY GIVE THEM A NEED TO REACH FOR GOD'S HELP

TRIALS REVEAL YOUR CHARACTER— WHAT IS PRESENTLY INSIDE US: FAITH, FEAR, UNBELIEF

ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO ETERNALLY REWARD YOU

WILL PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT OUR FAITH IN GOD WAS IN DEED GENUINE

MAKES US PARTNERS WITH CHRIST; SHARING HIS SUFFERINGS— WHEN WE STOP SINNING TOO

KEEPS US FROM CHASING OUR FLESHY DESIRES & MAKES US ANXIOUS TO DO GOD'S WILL

HELPS US TO LEARN OBEDIENCE, LIKE CHRIST, FROM THE THINGS WE SUFFER

HELPS US TO EMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS—GOD WANTS US TO SHARE EACH OTHERS BURDENS

BRINGS BELIEVERS TOGETHER FOR PRAYER & TO BUILD UP GOD'S ETERNAL KINGDOM

BE SENT FROM GOD TO KEEP FAR WORSE PROBLEMS & THINGS FROM HAPPENING TO US

USED BY GOD TO DEMONSTRATE HIS POWER TO DO A MIRACLE IN YOUR LIFE, & TEACH YOU FAITH

THEY MOTIVATE US TO LEAVE ONE SITUATION FOR ANOTHER, FULFILLING GOD'S WILL

LEAD US TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL IN A GREATER WAY, AND IN PLACES WE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE

OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHINE FOR JESUS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE

CAN BE GOD GETTING US INTO POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY (ON THIS EARTH OR FOR ETERNITY)

SATAN TRIES TO CHOKE GOD'S WORD OUT—BE FAITHFUL & YOU'LL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE

BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE OVERCOMERS THROUGH JESUS—LEADING TO ETERNAL LIFE

CAN BE THE LORD TEACHING US NOT TO RELY ON OURSELVES, BUT TO RELY 100% ON GOD

She deserves someone better. Someone that has been through the fire already and is ready to take on new adventures. I'm a wreck and destroyed and cannot offer her what others can. I need to go through the fire for her and change inside and out. For all good things comes to those who wait on the Lord. God knows our future and knows are plans. Everything will work out in His plan to bring Him glory.

Never stop laughing and never stop smiling