Here’s a fact: All that live godly in Jesus Christ will suffer trials (II Tim. 3:12). No surprise there because Christ said that if they persecuted Him, they will persecute His followers (John 15:20). In other words, expect trials and tests in the Christian walk.
But what’s the reasoning behind trials? Does God wants us to suffer? Does he like to see us squirm under pressure? No, but our trials today are purging us so that we can grow spiritually. True Christians are not only being prepared for a powerful work today, but more importantly, they are being prepared to teach the whole world. So, they are not called just to be saved, because that is a selfish motivation. They are called to save the world. That is what God’s church and work are all about. They will be saviours of the world (OB.21), and co-saviours with Christ.
Our trials and tests usually bring about a measure of suffering. It is not the suffering we have to concentrate on but the trial which we learn from. The priority is not to look to the relief but to the benefit of the suffering. And an important point to remember is that God says if we’re not corrected, we’re not even His sons (Heb.12:7-8). What we really need to be concerned about is not God’s correction, but God not correcting us. Why? Because if we suffer (through correction of trials), we will reign with God (Rom. 8:17). If we don’t, well, you get the point!
Trials have great purpose
Daniel endured some shattering trials and tests. He knew He was being judged by God. His friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also understood this deeply. Because of that, these men had the courage to stand up to the most powerful king on earth. Even in the midst of some of the worst trials anyone has ever faced, they had the attitude, “No matter what you say, we’re not going to bow down to you and your gods, because the Omnipotent, Almighty God is our judge.
When you face a fiery furnace, or lion’s den, it’s much harder to say God is my judge. It’s easier to say, “Where is God? Why isn’t he delivering me?” When major diasters strike this earth, that is how people tend to respond: “Why didn’t God stop this from happening.” They blame God, not themselves and their sins. They talk of love, love, love and reject God as their judge. So they fail to understand when God punishes in love. They don’t understand either God’s judgment or His love.
People of God always suffer
A good question to ask is if the true Christian has grown over the last year. Has he made progress in overcoming – has he allowed God to work him over in the spiritual refining process? Or is he still struggling with persistent problems that have gone unresolved for years? If he has been difficult for Christ to deal with in recent months, he must resolve now to repent and go before God’s throne and humbly and fervently beseech Him to soften his hardheadedness. Only when he is crushed and of a humble, contrite spirit can the great Refiner properly work with this Christian.
So you see, there is great purpose in trials. They are the very means of strengthening character and building fine, upstanding and strong Christians. God wants to test us for flaws. He wants strong Christians without spot and blemish. He wants us to remove those flaws in our lives by examining ourselves. He will test us but also reward us.
God DOES NOT bless the ungodly. The acquire wealth through ungodly ways. The pursuit of money becomes their god. Always in the end, with material prosperity attained through carnal means (Matt. 6:33), they will miss the mark of the Kingdom of God. But God wants His children to have abundant lives. He allows them to suffer much, but ultimately to be spiritually strengthened.
Scripture tells us that Jesus was tempted in all points as we are (Heb. 4:15).
The Apple Of God's Eye 