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Why Does God Allow suffering?

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James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, WHENEVER you face trials of many kinds.” God promises us over and over throughout Scripture: “You WILL face trials and experience suffering.”

Why does God allow trials anyways?

7 Purposes for which God allows trials:

  1. To gauge and grow our faith
  2. To humble us
  3. To break us from trusting in what can’t provide true life
  4. To focus our eyes on eternal hope
  5. To teach us to value what is important vs. what is immediate
  6. To develop strength for greater impact
  7. To enable us to help others through theirs

Trials test our faith. Perseverance is how we work our faith. Persevering through trials is the pathway to transformation.

Thankfulness is how we do that. It’s how we redirect our eyes from the trial we’re in back toward Him.

We have so much to be thankful to God for, even in the midst of trials…

Thank you, GOD, for using this trial to work my faith, so my faith in you grows

Thank you, GOD for using this trial to break my pride and fill me humility. Thank you for all the good that’s in my life that YOU have given me that I didn’t do anything to deserve and that I realize is all from you.

Thank you, GOD, for using this trial to break my trust in what can’t give life. You’re all I need, and I’m thankful I’m learning that.

Thank you, GOD, for the hope I have in you, for the cross and your resurrection. Thank you that if I lose everything, I’m OK because I still have you, and in the end, I will be OK.

Thank you, GOD, for how you have provided what is most important to sustain me through this.

Thank you, GOD, for making me stronger through this so I can be used more for your glory

Thank you, GOD, that this will help others get through similar trials

What are you thankful for in the midst of this trial?

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything… Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” - James 1:5, 12