Why God allows trials in our lives

The following are 16 reasons why God allows trials in our lives:

• To partake of the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:12–16; 2 Corinthians 1:5-7).
• To manifest the life of Christ in our flesh (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).
• To prepare us for a special task (The story of Joseph).
• To glorify God (The story of Job).
• To teach us perseverance (James 1:12).
• To build our character (Romans 5:3-6).
• To humble us (case of Paul’s thorn in the flesh, 2 Corinthians 12:7).
• To comprehend God’s grace (Paul’s thorn in the flesh, 2 Corinthians 12:7–10).
• To help us mature and be complete (James 1:2–6).
• To get experience that may help encourage others (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).
• To learn God’s decrees (Psalm 119:71–77).
• To recall us back to God’s path (Psalm 119:67; Jeremiah 2:19).
• To qualify us to become partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:7–13).
• To build our faith (1 Peter 5:8–10).
• To refine us (Zechariah 13:9).
• Suffering is universal (1 Corinthians 10:13).

What are trials?

Trials are the afflictions, tests, temptations, tribulations, or troubles that the LORD allows our way so that we may mature and become complete in our Christian walk.

As Christians, we should understand that trials will be part and parcel of our lives. Christ himself warned us of the troubles that would come our way as a result of accepting him as our Lord and Savior.

We find this warning in the book of John 16:33, which says:

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

However, we should not despair because, as pointed out in the scripture, Christ has overcome the world on our behalf. Therefore, as long as we abide in him and him in us, we will remain victorious (John 15:4–11).

Christ himself was also tested before beginning his ministry, as recorded in Luke 4:1–2.

“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days he ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.”

Also in Luke 4:13, we read:

“Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.”

From this passage, we can infer that we shall experience trials time and again until the hour comes for us to depart from this world.

Therefore, to not expect trials in our lives as Christians is to feign ignorance, which may cause us to respond inappropriately when they come.

Using the scriptures, we are going to examine the reasons why God allows trials in our lives so that when they come, our response will be aligned with the scriptures.

Examples of trials that Christians go through

• Bereavement
• Loss of a job
• Lack
• Betrayal by close people
• Disappointment
• Failure
• Rejection
• Unfaithful spouses
• Rebellious children
• Sickness

The following are 16 reasons why God allows trials in our lives:

1. God allows trials in our lives to make us partake the sufferings of Christ

One of the reasons why God allows trials in our lives as Christians is so that we can partake of Christ’s sufferings. In other words, since Christ went through trials, we should also expect to drink from the same cup.

We find this in 1 Peter 4:12–13, which says:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

In this passage, the Apostle Peter reminds us that trials are part and parcel of the Christian walk. Many Christians find it difficult to accept this fact. This is because they have erroneously been made to believe that when one gets born again, that marks the end of their troubles. However, the opposite is usually the case.

1 Peter 4:16 says:

“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”

This passage exhorts us to glorify God whenever we go through trials so that when people see it, they will also praise the name of God.

This line of thought is extended in 2 Corinthians 1:5-7, which says:

“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which are effective for enduring the same sufferings that we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”

According to this passage, our partaking of Christ’s sufferings is accompanied by a promise of consolation at the appearing of our Lord.

2. God allows trials in our lives to manifest the life of Christ in our flesh

We also go through trials so that the life of Christ can be manifested in our mortal flesh. We read this in 2 Corinthians 4:8–9, which says:

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

During trials, we can allow Christ’s life to manifest through our flesh by following the example he set for us in 2 Peter 2:23. In this scripture, we read:

“Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”

By responding to trials as Christ did, we will be able to draw people to God and make them disciples of Christ.

3. God allows trials in our lives in order to prepare us for a special task

God also allows trials in our lives in preparation for a special assignment that He may have in store for us. God created each of us for a specific purpose. In order to successfully fulfill this purpose, we are made to pass through certain trials that help shape our character and the way we respond to situations.

In the scriptures, we find the story of Joseph and his brothers, who sold him to the Ishmaelites. Apparently, Joseph had become the favorite son of his father, and this drew envy from his brothers. In addition, because Joseph used to report their misconduct in the field to their father, they hated him more. As a result, they began plotting how to deal with Joseph once and for all.

One day, an opportunity presented itself when Joseph’s father sent him to his brothers in the field to bring them food. They grabbed this opportunity and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. The Ishmaelites in turn sold Joseph as a slave to Potiphar, an Egyptian, and that is when his nightmare began. Here, he faced false accusations and was thrown into prison. Pharaoh’s cupbearer completely forgot about him after leaving prison. Remember that Joseph had interpreted the cup bearer’s dream, and things turned out exactly as Joseph had said.

The Bible gives an account of how he was put to the test in Psalms 105:17, which says:

“He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.”

Joseph himself attests to the fact that it was God’s plan to have him sold as a slave in Egypt so that he could fulfill his purpose in life, which was to save his brethren from dying because of the famine. We read this account in Genesis 45:7-8:

“And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God.”

So whenever you are going through a trial, remember that it may be God’s instrument to prepare you for the special assignment ahead of you.

4. God allows trials in our lives to glorify His name

Sometimes God allows trials in our lives so that He can be glorified after the test is over. The story of Job is a case in point. God allowed Job to be severely tested by Satan, to the extent of losing his children and all his property. His health also came under attack, leaving him as good as dead. However, by the end of the story, Job had been restored to a much better status compared to his previous one.

In Job 1:12, we see God giving Satan the go-ahead to test Job but not to touch his life. The passage says:

“And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.””

Again, we see God allowing Satan to test Job, as recorded in Job 2:6:

“And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life”.”

Despite these trials, we see the restoration of Job in Job 42:10, which says:

“And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

We also see Job getting restored by God in Job 42:12, which says:

“And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.”

5. God allows trials in our lives to teach us to be patient

God allows trials in our lives in order to teach us to be patient. Patience is a virtue that results from perseverance. At times, we may pray for something time and again, but nothing seems to happen. We may even fast and give special offerings for the same, but still nothing happens. Our relationship with God and our fellow brethren may be at its best, but there is still no answer to our prayer item. When there are no answers forthcoming, only silence from the heavens, it is time to remember that maybe God is teaching us to be patient.

In the book of James 1:2, we read:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

The Apostle James exhorts us to develop endurance with the promise of getting the crown of life. We read in James 1:12:

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

6. God allows trials in our lives in order to build our character

The scriptures tell us that God allows trials in our lives in order to build our character. We read this in the book of Romans 5:3-6, which says:

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

This passage teaches us to persevere during trials, as this helps to strengthen our inner man, thus building a strong character in us.

Therefore, when we are going through tough times, we should hold on to hope because we will not be disappointed in the end. Given the love of God poured out on us, we can rest assured that He is working behind the scenes to fix the things that trouble us.

7. God allows trials in our lives in order to humble us

Another reason why God allows trials in our lives is to teach us humility. Most often than not, when we move from one level of success to another, there is a tendency to think that it is through our abilities and skills that we have achieved success. We thus become puffed up and begin to look down upon others who have not achieved the success we have.

At this point, we even forget God. We forget the battles He has won for us, the enemies He has subdued on our behalf, the dangers He has shielded us from, and the snares He has delivered us from, and before we know it, we start to slowly but surely drift away from His ways.

It is at this time that God, because of His love for us, allows us to undergo trials whose ultimate goal is to bring us back to Him.

The Scriptures talk of a thorn in the flesh of the Apostle Paul. We find this story in 2 Corinthians 12:7, which says:

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”

Thus, we can say that trials are an instrument that God uses to deal with our pride. The Bible says God hates the proud to the extent of resisting them. In 1 Peter 5:5–6, we read:

“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

King Nebuchadnezzar failed to recognize that it was God who had placed him in a position of authority, and he claimed the glory for himself. However, God had to humiliate him by condemning him to the wilderness for seven years to deal with his pride (Daniel 4:28–36).

8. God allows trials in our lives to make us comprehend the power of His grace

In some instances, God allows trials in our lives so that we can learn the power of his grace. God may allow the sickness of a loved one to persist until death so that we may learn to live with grace. You may work very hard to keep your marriage, only for it to end up down the drain, to understand what grace is. You may pray day and night for your children to be responsible, only for them to become rebellious until the end. So what is the lesson?

God at times allows us to live all the days of our lives with a certain challenge so that we may know His grace even more. When you read about Apostle Paul’s story concerning the thorn in his flesh, you discover that he pleaded with God three times for it to be taken away, to no avail. Instead, God assured him that His grace was sufficient to see him through his situation. For this reason, Paul made a decision to take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ’s sake. For he came to the conclusion that his strength was made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:7–10).

9. God allows trials in our lives to help us become mature and complete

Another reason why God allows trials in our lives is to bring us to a place of maturity and completeness. A mature and complete Christian is one who remains steadfast in the face of trials and tribulations. In the book of James 1:2–6, we read:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

10. God allows trials in our lives to give us experience that we may need to encourage others

In some cases, we go through trials to get the experience we need to comfort others who may be going through similar challenges. God may allow you to go through a painful experience like divorce, bereavement, lack, loss of a job, etc., so that you may acquire hands-on experience to become an encouragement to others.

In the book of 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, we read:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

11. God allows trials in our lives to help us learn His decrees

God may also allow us to go through trials in order to learn his decrees. In Psalms 119:71, we read:

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.”

It is always profitable to us when God teaches us His Law through afflictions and sufferings. This helps us see things that we would have missed if the afflictions hadn’t come.

12. God allows trials in our lives to recall us back to His path

When we go astray, God may allow trials in our lives in order to bring us back to the right course. Psalm 11:67 puts it this way:

“Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word.”

Sometimes we wander away from the path of God and begin to do things that are contrary to His word. This mostly occurs when we become too busy with our pursuits to the extent of forgetting our initial calling, which is to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

We get too consumed with our earthly successes and forget God. Some of us even stop attending fellowship because of our ‘tight’ schedules. Our prayer life, both in public and private, slowly begins to fade away until it is no more. And before we realize it, we slowly begin to fall back to our old selves, and sin begins to look normal.

It is at this point that God, through His love for us, allows trials to come our way to keep us from sliding further into sin and subsequent destruction.

In Jeremiah 2:19, we read:

“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and the fear of Me is not in you, says the Lord God of hosts.”

13. God allows trials in our lives to make us partake of His holiness

We also go through trials in our lives so that we can become partakers of God’s holiness. We read this in Hebrews 12:7–11, which says:

“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.”

14. God allows trials in our lives in order to build our faith

Trials are also allowed in our lives in order to build up our faith. In the book of 1 Peter 8–10, We read:

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

15. God allows trials in our lives in order to refine us

Zechariah 13:9 tells us that God allows trials in our lives so that we can be refined like silver and gold. We thus read;

“I will bring the other third through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people, and each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

The term ‘refine’ in this case means to purify. When metals are purified, it basically involves removing ‘impurities’ in order to remain with a 100 percent pure metal.

So when God refines us using trials, the ‘impurities’ in us get removed. Such impurities may include deep-seated anger, bitterness, envy, hatred, jealousy, malice, pride, and the like. When all these are done away with, God will boldly declare that we are His people, and in turn, we shall proclaim Him as our God.

16. God allows trials in our lives because suffering is universal

More often than not, we tend to think that we are the only ones going through trials in the ‘whole’. Time and again, you’ll hear this statement from many brethren: Why me? However, this is erroneous thinking. When you read the book of 1 Corinthians 10:13, it says:

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

According to this passage, the trials that we undergo are the same ones our brethren elsewhere are faced with. As Ecclesiastes 1:9 puts it, “there is nothing new under the sun.”

This scripture comforts us with the assurance that we can handle the temptations that come our way because God will always provide a way of escape.

Conclusion

This article has looked at 16 reasons why God allows trials in our lives. I believe there are more, so you are encouraged to keep searching. The most important thing to remember is that trials come to bring out the best in us. When things look grim and all hope seems lost, take heart and remember what Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

I hope this article was an encouragement. May God’s grace be sufficient in all the trials you face. Thank you.

Related Post: Why Christians suffer

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