Trials and sufferings are an inevitable part of the Christian race. But why? You may want to ask. Isn’t that contrary to the life of victory and the New Creation realities we now have as believers? Well, you have a point! However, like everything else in life, certain things happen for certain reasons. And that is what this article is about.
You see, God was not mincing words when he said in Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Now, that scripture tells us something – that trials, in the form of waters, rivers, and fire are what we will go through as Christians. But the question still remains, if He truly is a loving God, why allow us to go through all that? These 7 reasons will show you why:
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He Wants To Test How Strong Your Faith Is
Recall that Job was one of the persons who suffered the most in the bible. He literally went through what we now call ‘hell on earth’. On how horrible an experience it was for him, he lamented in Job 16:16, “My face is foul with weeping and on my eyelids is the shadow of my weeping”. It got to a point his wife advised he “curse God and die”.
But the thing with men of faith like Job was this, they can be down but not broken. They trust God completely when He promised to not leave them in Isaiah 43:2. Do you have that strong a faith? That may be the answer to your trials.
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For The Manifestation of His Glory
Note that God does not take pleasure in the sufferings of His children. Now, we may not understand that when we are going through the worst of times as believers, but the bible made us understand that “His ways are not our ways”.
Recall the man who was born blind that was brought to Jesus for healing? His curious disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” John 9:2. Jesus answered that in verse 3, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” In other words, for the manifestation of His glory.
So know this – those trials and sufferings you’re going through won’t kill you; it is the manifestation of God’s glory.
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He Has A Lesson To Teach
God talks to us in different ways. But the problem with us as believers is that we expect Him to talk to us in a particular way. Have you ever wondered what happens when He is talking and we are not listening? That was exactly what took place with Balaam in Numbers 22:27, “And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.”
Further, in that chapter, we learned that Balaam was frustrated because he couldn’t see what the ass saw – an angel standing before him. This could happen to us as believers in various forms, but would you stop to think God wants to show you something or it is some of those trials?
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As A Reminder
Yes, God is a merciful God. But what happens when people take His word for granted, cover up their tracks, and think they are wiser than Him? The story of Ananias and Sapphira would answer that for us, as narrated in the book of Acts 5:1-11.
You see, sometimes, those trials and sufferings may be a reminder of your deceptive ways. All you need to do is to make sure that you go back to Him and ask for forgiveness, instead of thinking ‘He understands’. His grace is available, but it doesn’t cover up the deception.
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He Wants To Correct You
The bible reveals in a lot of instances that God does not deliberately put us in trials. In fact, Hebrews 12:6 made it even clearer, “For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he received”.
This passage opens our eyes to understand that the chastening of God should not be translated as God being wicked; His chastening should rather be considered as a deep sign of the love he has for us. In verses 7 and 8 of the same chapter, it says, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons”. Sometimes, trials are ways through which God corrects us – as sons!
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God Allows Trials To Start You Up
Many Christians lack the spiritual determination that they need to commence active participation in the kingdom of God. When God puts you through trials, He definitely knows that you are going to run coming to him and from there he’ll give you the grace to move closer to him. He starts you up.
It may be your prayer life. Recall how God dealt with the children of Israel during their sojourn in the wilderness? But guess what, they always run back to Him, which was exactly what He wanted. If you recognize this fact as a Christian, the race becomes smoother.
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He Wants To Draw You Back To Him
Many today have drifted away from the faith because of material things. They forget that He gives and He takes. Don’t forget God is a jealous God. He takes out anything that stands in-between you and Him. It doesn’t matter how dear to you the thing is.
Now, you may call that your own trials and sufferings, but all He wants is to simply draw you back to Himself. Are you drifted because of material things? Are those things now going south? That may be God calling you back to Himself. Get on your knees and cry to Him. He will replenish you a hundred fold.
There you have it, seven reasons God allows sufferings in our lives. I do hope that this article has been a blessing to you. Stay blessed and continue to live in His glory!!!
