Why does God allow His children to go through difficult, trying, painful times in life?
We know that God can prevent these trials if HE chooses to do so. Yet HE does not.
There must be some purpose for them, some divine reason for not sparing us these hardships.
James 1:1-12 issues a serious challenge to every believer.
Verse 2 tells us that we face trials of many kinds. Therefore instead of asking God how to avoid these trials, we should ask God to show us how to deal with them when they appear. We are also told to accept such trials as joy. There must be an answer beyond what we can make out. We are also told that trials produce spiritual endurance and maturity. If we lack wisdom, we must ask God and it will be given to us.
To determine the source of our trials, helps us to understand God’s purpose in each hardship. The trials we face may be the result of a wrong decision. It could also be persecution. We may encounter situations where we are hurt, mocked or distracted. We may face natural disaster like earthquakes, floods, disease, suffering, war.
In whatever circumstances we may be in, we need to recognize that God allows each and every trial that we meet. It is important that we ask God for wisdom in the midst of our hardship. Wisdom enables us to clearly see the source of the trial, and armed with that knowledge, we are better prepared to evaluate, handle and grow through the specific issue.
God allows our trials in order
to test our faith (James 1 : 3)
to test our devotion to Jesus Christ.
to purify our lives.
to give God an opportunity to demonstrate His sustaining power of His children in tough times.
to produce Christ-like character within us
to equip us for service in His kingdom for the sake of others.(2 Corinthians 1 : 4)
We must learn to stand firm in the face of any trial. We must trust that God has a reason for our sufferings and we must submit ourselves to whatever He desires to teach us.
(0508 01 III 2008)