Why Trials?

Show me why You contend with me. Job 10:2

Job recognizes the justice of God, but cannot reconcile that justice with his unexpected affliction. This is often how many believers react when they are hit with trials or difficulties. Questions like “Why would God allow me to suffer?” surface in our minds. Though we do not enjoy trials, they are very real and inevitable. Jesus says it plainly in John 16:33,

“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Why would God allow trials to come into our lives? 1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us that our faith is much more precious than gold. Like gold, our faith has to be tried in the furnace of fire—the fire of trials! Trials mature our faith and develop patience (James 1:2-4). And both faith and patience are essential ingredients for a believer to inherit the promises of God (Heb. 6:11-12).

Trials can come in three ways:

(1) Delay. God allows delay so that our faith can be tested. For how can you know that you have faith until your faith is put to the test? Abraham’s faith was tested through delay. He waited 25 years for his promised heir, Isaac, to be born. And in that 25 years, he did not waver at the promise of God, but kept his faith and hope in God.

(2) Contradicting circumstances. God often takes away our comfort in order to make us stronger Christians. God trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury, but by sending them into contradicting and difficult situations. King Jehoshaphat was surrounded by enemies on every side. Rather than instructing him to put the best soldiers in the front line, God commanded him to stand still and wait for His salvation. Instead of fighting the Midianites with 32,000 soldiers, God wanted Gideon to go with 300 men. Through these contradicting situations, God demonstrated His faithfulness and His mighty power to deliver them and to give them the victory.

(3) Contradicting people. When Job went through severe suffering, instead of finding comfort from his wife, she provoked him to curse God and die. Sometimes, the people that hurt us the most are those who are closest and dearest to us. Like Job, we may ask, “Is there not a reason why God is contending with me?” Yes! It is so that your faith can mature and your patience can be fully developed. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady” (Rom. 5:3-4, TLB).

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