God allows tests and trials in our lives for several reasons:
1. Pressure and suffering can help us grow and mature, as it did for David after his affair with Bathsheba.
2. Trials prove our love and devotion for God, showing whether we serve him for blessings or out of true love.
3. Suffering can increase God's power in us, as we learn dependence on God rather than our own strength. When we are weak, God's strength is made perfect. Paul experienced this through his "thorn in the flesh."
God allows tests and trials in our lives for several reasons:
1. Pressure and suffering can help us grow and mature, as it did for David after his affair with Bathsheba.
2. Trials prove our love and devotion for God, showing whether we serve him for blessings or out of true love.
3. Suffering can increase God's power in us, as we learn dependence on God rather than our own strength. When we are weak, God's strength is made perfect. Paul experienced this through his "thorn in the flesh."
God allows tests and trials in our lives for several reasons:
1. Pressure and suffering can help us grow and mature, as it did for David after his affair with Bathsheba.
2. Trials prove our love and devotion for God, showing whether we serve him for blessings or out of true love.
3. Suffering can increase God's power in us, as we learn dependence on God rather than our own strength. When we are weak, God's strength is made perfect. Paul experienced this through his "thorn in the flesh."
God allows tests and trials in our lives for several reasons:
1. Pressure and suffering can help us grow and mature, as it did for David after his affair with Bathsheba.
2. Trials prove our love and devotion for God, showing whether we serve him for blessings or out of true love.
3. Suffering can increase God's power in us, as we learn dependence on God rather than our own strength. When we are weak, God's strength is made perfect. Paul experienced this through his "thorn in the flesh."
• 1. Pressure Produces Enlargement • "Thou hast enlarged me when I was under pressure " (Ps 4:1 rsv). This Psalm • was written by David after the greatest failure of his life — his murderous, adulterous • affair with Bathsheba (2Sam 11). • Because of his sin, the Lord sent severe judgments on David. One of these was • administered at the hands of his son Absalom, who usurped the throne and drove David • into exile. Having to flee for his life and suffer horrible indignities brought "enlargement" • to David. • 2. Trials Prove And Humble Us • God wants to discover whether we serve Him because we love Him or whether • we serve Him for all the blessings He gives us. Jesus discovered that some followed Him • "for the loaves and fishes (that is, for what they could get from Him, not because they • loved Him). • Moses described God's actions in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt: • "Who led them through that great and terrible wilderness, where there were fiery • serpents, and scorpions and drought, where there was no water, who brought thee forth • water out of the rock of flint; • "Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he • might humble thee, and that he might test thee, to do thee good at thy latter end'' (Deut 8:15,16). • 3. Suffering Can Increase God's Power In Us • If you ask for God's power in your life, you must understand what is required to • have it. David said, "He weakened my strength in the way" (Ps 102:23). When you ask • for God's power He responds, "Do you really mean it? If you are willing to be reduced to • weakness (total dependence on the Lord), and take the suffering, tests and trials that go • with it, I'll give you My power." • a. Paul's Experience. "I am going to boast only about how weak I am and how • great God is to use such weakness for his glory.... The experiences I had [of being taken • up to Heaven] were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up [full of pride] by • them; so I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me, • and prick my pride. • "Three times I begged God to take it away. Each time he said, 'No. My grace • [enablement] is adequate for you. My power [strength] shows up best in weak people.' • "... Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite happy about 'the thorn,' and • about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then.I • am strong — the less I have, the more I depend on him"(2Gor 12:5,7-10 tib).