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God Works Through Our Trials:
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NKJV).
The troubles and suffering we experience in life are not random events without purpose. God works through them for our good. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28 (NKJV). We may not like or understand exactly what He’s doing, but knowing some of His general goals helps us trust Him and cooperate so we can can reap the benefits of a season of affliction.
Protection:
After Paul fervently prayed that his thorn in the flesh be removed, God revealed to him that it was a protection from pride. We all have areas of weakness that could lead us into sin, and God in His wisdom knows how to safeguard us. Sometimes pain accomplishes what nothing else can.
Reliance:
Paul’s thorn, which made him weak, also taught him to endure by relying on Christ’s grace and strength. In the same way, the troubles in our life often bring us to the end of our rope so we’ll reach out to the Lord in humble dependence. Then we are positioned to received the divine strength He promises to provide.
Divine Perspective:
When Paul finally realized what the Lord was trying to accomplish in his life, he viewed his suffering in a totally different way. He stopped focusing on it as a pain and hindrance and instead became content: Paul could actually rejoice because he recognized that Christ’s power in him was more important than freedom from pain.
Unless we realize that God always prioritizes the eternal over the temporal, we we won’t see the value of pain.“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 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NKJV). Therefore, we don’t lose heart.
God’s Ultimate Purpose for Our Trials:
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” Romans 8:29-30 (NKJV).
Difficult situations are easier to bear if we know that something good is going to result from them. The problem is that our idea of good may not be the same as God’s. Since Hiw ways and thoughts are much higher than ours, we must trust Him to know what is best, even if it causes us pain, frustration, or hardship. Isaiah 55:9 (NKJV). The ultimate good the Lord is working to accomplish is our conformation to the image of His Son, and trials are one of the tools He uses in the process. However, we should never think that God sends affliction into our lives and then sits back to see what will happen. Our loving heavenly Father oversees every aspect of the situation.
The Lord Designsn Our Trials:
“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” 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NKJV). God considers every adversity necessary to achieve a specific purpose in our life. He knows each of us intimately and sees where we need correction or spiritual growth to become more Christlike.
God Determines The Length of oOur Trials:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress”Philippians 4:13-14 (NKJV).
From our perspective, any suffering lasts too long. But when we depend on the Lord, He gives us grace and strength to endure until His purpose is accomplished.
The Lord Limits The Intensity of Our Trials:
“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 (NKJV).
He knows what we can handle and will not give us more than we can bear. Nothing in our life is random or meaningless. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Christians need not wonder why we are suffering. Rather we rejoice that we are allowed to follow in Christ’s example of suffering. For Christians enduring this fallen world, suffering has two purposes: God’s glory and our good.When we respond to suffering well, we practically demonstrate to the unbelieving world that Christ is more glorious and precious to us than any pain and difficulty we might endure. We have the opportunity to show where and in whom we find our true treasure. By placing our ultimate hope in Christ rather than in the temporary things of this world, God receives the glory. Even when we don’t undestand what the Lord is doing, we can trust that He will use our trials to make us more like His Son in character, conduct and conversation. “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV).