Possible Reasons Why God Allows Trials and Suffering

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.

I Will Rise

Here is a great passage meant to remind us of our great and merciful God...

Micah 7:7-8 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.

Trials and the Love of God

This morning I read this conclusion to 1 Peter chapter 4:

"Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."

The fact is suffering is everywhere around me right now and this verse lovingly reminds us that we must entrust our suffering souls to God who is faithful and who has promised that our suffering is for our good and His glory. So with that in mind let me share with you a quote that has meant a lot to me and my wife over the past few days...

God's love is simply this: a passionate, unwavering, joyous determination to do us good and to bestow upon our souls eternal happiness, no matter what the cost.

Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson, Counsel From the Cross, 60