Why We Go Through Trials

Why We Go Through Trials

This has been a very unusual and difficult year for me so far, as it may have been for
you. I have experienced several losses that have taken their toll on me. Unfortunately,
loss, pain, suffering and other types of trials are a part of living in a sinful world.
Because of that, Jesus warned us about trials (John 16:33). If trials have taught me
anything, it’s that trials, if we use them correctly, bring us closer to God. Because of this,
I can be grateful for the trials that God allows me to have. However, sometimes trials
cause us to question God. We want to know why we are suffering. Is there a purpose to
what we go through? While we can’t always know, the Bible shows us a few reasons why
God allows trials in our lives.
One of the goals of the Christian life is that we become more like Christ (Roms. 8:29).
Trials teach us divine characteristics such as peace, patience, and perseverance. Trials
conform us to look like, act like, and be like Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7 explains, “In this you
greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed
by various trials, so that the proof of your faith being more precious than gold which
perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ . . .” (NASB). Trials prove the genuineness of our faith, and
this kind of genuine faith looks like Christ. The result of a lasting trial is Christ-like
character: “. . . we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings
about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
and hope does not disappoint , because the love of God has been poured out within our
hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Roms. 5:3-5).
Job went through a time of severe testing where he lost everything: his wealth, his
family and later his health and physical wellbeing. He is an example of someone who
developed a right view of God as a result of trials. Job’s words in Job 42:5, “I have heard
of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You.” Learning Who God is: his
faithfulness, his love, his mercifulness, is essential to giving God the glory that He
deserves. We often can’t learn how good God is without going through something hard
where we have nowhere to turn but to Him.
The Bible teaches through the apostle Paul about God’s sufficiency for our every need.
Paul tells that he had what he called a “thorn in the flesh.” He doesn’t explain what this
“thorn” was except to say that it was a “messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me
from exalting myself” (1 Cor. 12:7). Paul prayed three times for this physical issue to be
taken away. God’s answer was very telling: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
perfected in weakness” (12:9). Paul goes on to say what he learned through having this
trial: “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power
of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in difficulties,

on behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (12:9-10). Paul was grateful
for his trials because it was during those trials that he experienced God’s strength the
most. Those of us that have experienced a lingering or lengthy trial know this to be true.
We look back and can say with the Psalmist “my help comes from the Lord” (Ps. 121:2).
Jesus did not promise us an easy life, quite the opposite, in fact (John 16:33). But we can
take comfort in knowing that God is with us through every trial (Matt. 28:20) and Christ
has overcome the world (John 16:33). I don’t know about you, but it does bring me
comfort to know, too, that my trials are bringing me closer to God and helping me to be
more like Jesus. Let your trials be your teacher today. Let them teach you Who God is and who you are to Him. 

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