Why do Christians have trials?
To glorify God: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were
thrown into the furnace unharmed to show Nebuchadnezzar that God was able to
deliver them. Daniel 3:16 & 24-25 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered
and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this
matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from
the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But
if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor
will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” - Then King
Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his
counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They
answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four
men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the
form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Discipline for known sin: “For
whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Proverbs 3:11-12 also Hebrews 12:5-11
To prevent us from falling into sin: “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in
the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in
the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time
in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
To keep us from pride: “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in the Spirit will
retain honor.” Proverbs 29:23
To build faith: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need
be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your
faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by
fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus
Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7
To cause growth: “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.” Romans 5:3-5
To teach obedience and discipline: The Lord has just told Ananias to go get Saul
of Tarsus and Ananias is frightened. “But
the Lord said to him ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name
before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how
many things he must suffer for My name’s sake’.” Acts 9:15-16
To equip us to comfort others: “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.” 2
Corinthians 1:3-4
To prove the reality of Christ in us: I heard a
cute little anecdote to explain this concept – If you squeeze a lemon you get
lemon juice. If you squeeze an orange you get orange juice. If you squeeze a
Christian you should get Christ. “ . . . We
are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, . . . that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
For testimony to angels: “To them
it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the
things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the
gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to
look into.”1 Peter 1:12 also Ephesians
3:8-11
