Sunday morning we talked through 11 possible reasons that God would bring suffering and trials into our lives. I wanted to post those 11 reasons here for those who missed Sunday and also for those who weren't able to write faster than I was talking. Use these truths to strengthen your own faith, but also to encourage the faith of others who are going through trials.
1. Unconfessed sins - 1 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Kings 5:15-27
2. To chasten His children - Psalm 119:67; Hebrews 12:5-11
3. God wants to increase our usefulness ("pruning process") - John 15:2; 2 Corinthians 1:3-9; 2 Peter 1:5-8
4. To help us realize this isn't heaven and we live in a fallen world - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:22-24
5. To allow us to reap what we sow (a natural consequence to our own choices) - Galatians 6:7-8; Proverbs 5:22
6. To teach us about our own weakness and cause us to depend on God - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9; 12:7-10
7. To have us realize that we have placed our hope somewhere else or have spread it out between God and self/circumstances/other people/possessions. Our hope is to be squarely fixed upon God alone and His promises - 1 Peter 1:13; Hebrews 6:19
8. To enlarge our appreciation of His sufficiency - 2 Corinthians 4:7; 12:7-10
9. To test and strengthen our faith - 1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:12
10. To develop Christlike character - James 1:2-5; Romans 8:28-29
11. To drive us to God's Word - Psalm 119:67, 71, 75
This information was adapted from adapted from a seminar taught by Pastor Brad Bigney, Grace Fellowship Church in Florence, KY.
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