Have you ever wondered why God allows us to experience and go through trials? I sometimes think since God is all powerful couldn’t He just allow us to bypass the trial and just let us praise Him for helping us avoid a difficult situation. I think we get a good idea why God sends trials our way when we read (1 Peter 1:6-7): “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
I love these two verses because they help us understand some important facets about trials. First, we see that trials don’t last forever (for a “little while”). Second, trials come in various forms (all kinds of trials). Third, trials should not diminish the Christian’s joy (greatly rejoice). And fourth, trials serve a very important purpose (to prove the genuineness of your faith).
But not only do trials have a purpose for believers since when we come through a trial still trusting the Lord we prove that our faith is genuine, but we bless God also since we bring Him praise, glory, and honor.
So, we see that God has several reasons for allowing us to go through various trials. One of the key things that believers sometimes forget when they place too much attention on the trial and not enough on Jesus is that God promises to get us through the trial. I like what Max Lucado says on this point: “God gets us through stuff. Through the Red Sea onto dry ground (Ex. 14:22), through the wilderness (Deut. 29:5), through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4), and through the deep sea (Ps. 77:19). Through is a favorite word of God’s: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (Isa. 43:2).”1
Some of my favorite verse that I hold dear to my heart when trials come my way are:
(Joshua 1:5): “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
(Isaiah 41:10): “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
(Matthew 11:28-30): “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
(Psalm 55:22): “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
(1 Peter 5:7): “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
My friends, while we can’t stop many of the trials that come our way we can allow God to use them to build up our faith and give us opportunities to glorify His name. My advice to all believers in Christ is not to try to dodge trials but to go through them with Christ right by our side. In this way our faith and trust in Jesus will grow and we will get to participate in glorifying His name in the process!
1 Inspirational Quotes by Max Lucado – page 19 (bibleportal.com)