Whether we like it or not, every one of us will have to face a certain amount of life’s difficulties- with absolutely no exceptions. They may take the form of financial hardship, adversity, conflict, mishaps, trials and tribulations.God is all-powerful and could prevent these trials if He chooses to do so. Yet, He often does not. Therefore, there must be some purpose for them, some divine reason for not sparing us these hardships. Once we begin to understand God’s purpose for these things, we will be able to stand strong through any storm of life.
All of us will face trials/temptations of many kinds. James leaves no room for doubt; he alludes to "when you encounter various trials," which indicates the inevitability of such ordeals.
He instructs us to "count it all joy" whenever hardships assault our lives. Trial and joy; going together? Tears, discouragement, disillusionment, despair . . . these are the things that we associate with trials. But joy? In James 1:5, in the midst of a discussion on trials, James changes the subject mid-stream. He has just explained how trials produce spiritual endurance and maturity, and then he says, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God . . . and it will be given to him."
In order for us to be able to "count it all joy" in the face of trials, we must view the matter from God’s perspective. This is what wisdom does. And when we need it we just have to pray; follow by application of that wisdom. We then become more able to evaluate people and circumstances and are thus better prepared to make sound decisions.
Why God Allows Trials?
There are reasons as to why God Himself "allows" a certain amount of adversity to come our way in this life. We can learn much by studying the lives of some of the greatest saints in the Bible, and look at the severe adversity that each one of them had to personally face in their lives.
1. The Disobedience of Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve represented all of mankind that would come after them when they were tested in the Garden of Eden, and when the both of them could not obey God's direct command to stay off the one fruit. As a result of their disobedience, man is separated from God. We are left to fend for ourselves. We have to labour and toil and with it the adversities of life. The ground is cursed. Satan continues to tempt and to cause problems and this world is no longer peaceful.
Some of us can end up being at the wrong place at the wrong time and thus end up being the possible victim of a crime or natural accident or disaster. Our bodies are not going to stop ageing. We can still catch different types of illnesses and diseases.
2. For Our Sanctification in the Lord
Trials have a way of putting pressure on us bringing hidden sins, bad habits, and areas of neglect to the surface. These things must be dealt with in order to become the mature Christians God wants us to be. God allow all different kinds of adversities, trials and tribulations to come our way for our own sanctification in Him.
"….that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:4)
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3)
"…. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:16)
Adversity has a real way of humbling us. Once we see how powerless we are against the real severe storm clouds of this life, we then depend on God to make it through this life. It is when we are weak that we are strong in Him (2 Cor 12:9).
Some people make their greatest strides in spiritual development and personal growth in the middle of the severe storm clouds. There is something about severe adversity that will either cause us to spiritually grow and mature in our walk with the Lord very quickly or it will cause us to quit.
3. The Testing of Our Faith in the Lord
James 1:3, "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." The word "testing" here means to be tested and found proven; that is, God is testing our faith in order to prove its strength.
Unproven, untried faith is practically worthless. How do we know what we can face in life if our faith has not been tested? It's very easy to have high levels of faith in the Lord when everything is going good and great, but when severe adversity come knocking at our doors, the high levels of faith in God may then be tested.
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ ... receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:6,9)
Endurance enables us to withstand any assault, no matter what form the trials take. Being tested by God strengthens us so that we can face trial after trial and still endure.
"But the Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates." (Psalm 11:5) He will have nothing to do with the unrighteous.
"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10) We too must be confident that the Lord will know the way we are taking.
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." (Isaiah 48:10)
From great trials come great faiths. In other words, we develop great faith in the Lord when we have had our faith tested.
God has promised us that He will not allow us to be tested beyond that which we are able.
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Our faith and belief levels are our lifelines to the Lord. Our personal relationship with God is only as good as our faith in Him. The stronger our faith levels are in the Lord, the better and deeper our personal relationship will become with Him.
4. Our trials give God an opportunity to demonstrate His Glory and sustaining power for His children in tough times.
This is an amazing testimony to unbelievers, who may witness us going through a horribly difficult situation while still maintaining the peace that surpasses understanding.
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
" ... strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
5. A major purpose for our trials is to produce Christ-like character within us.
Our trials reveal to us that we cannot live the Christian life apart from Him. This requires our total surrender to His will, so that our reactions to stress, trial, and suffering are actually reactions molded from His teaching.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
We must learn how to put our faith into action to become eventual victors and overcomers in Him, and eventually gain deliverance and whatever blessings and rewards God will bestow upon us for making through it.
Looking unto Christ as the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb 12:2)
6. Trials equip us for service in the kingdom of God for the sake of others.
II Corinthians 1:4 makes this point clear, "[God] comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." Therefore, God is using our trials to make us more useful in helping others.
By fully understanding and identifying with someone else’s pain, we will be able to reach out to them in a way in which someone else may be unprepared for. The key to this type of service is knowing first hand what the other person is going through. If we have been through it ourselves, we will have an intimate understanding of what the hurting individual needs.
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
One of the ways God will test our faith in these trials and tribulations is to see if we will hold on to our faith in Him to the very end.
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called ..." (1 Timothy 6:12)
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." (1 John 5:4)
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)
With the grace, power, guidance and help from the Lord we can make it. Not only can God bring eventual freedom, victory and deliverance if we are willing to hold fast to Him to the very end of it, He can also help keep us properly preserved during it so that we can make it out in one piece.
He will make sure to keep us properly supported, uplifted and protected during the trial. Rest assured we will have what it takes to be able to make it all the way through.
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