First published October 7, 2010. Revised and expanded July 2018 & January 2025.
Pastor Robert Hammond
People often ask why the LORD allows believers to experience injuries, illnesses and other trials. This short articles answers three related questions:
What does the Bible teach about God’s purposes for trials?
How should believers respond to trials?
What is our proper attitude about trials?
What does the Bible Teach About God’s Purposes for Trials?
1. The Lord Uses Trials to Demonstrate His Comfort. Sometimes, the LORD simply wants us to experience his comfort so that we can be better-equipped to comfort others. Consider this verse that Paul wrote to the church members at Corinth:
(2 Corinthians 1:3-5) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
2. The Lord Uses Trials to Encourage Our Spiritual Growth.
Psalm 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. 11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.
3. Sometimes, the Lord Uses Trials to Correct Us. Often, we see that the LORD allows great trials into our lives in order to get our attention. In Psalm 119:67, the psalmist wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” And Psalm 119:71 states, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." How true it is that the LORD can use serious afflictions to correct us!
4. The Lord Uses Trials in Our Life to Reach Others. Of course, in the case of Job, we also see that, sometimes, the trial has nothing at all to do with us! But the LORD can still use our response to the trial as a testimony to others -- as He did when Paul, Silas and Timothy were imprisoned at Philippi (Acts 16).
5. The Lord Uses Trials to Encourage Humility. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul states, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” There, we see that the Lord permitted Satan to cause Paul to suffer a physical affliction — in order to encourage Paul to remain humble.
How May Believers Endure Trials?
Understand that the Lord provides strength to endure trials. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul writes of Christ's response to his prayer for deliverance from a physical trial. There, Christ asserts, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
Trust that the Lord is sovereign to accomplish his good purposes in trials. Praise God for the knowledge that “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Ro. 8:28)
Pray - with the knowledge that the Lord promises peace and deliverance from trials:
Phil 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
4. Find strength in God’s words.
Psalm 119:92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5. Rely on the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16-17: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."
6. Stay connected to your church.
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
What should Our Attitude Be Regarding Trials?
In 2 Corinthians 12:8, Paul states, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Both Peter and James also express the Lord's desire that we rejoice in trials -- knowing that He is working in trials to accomplish our growth. In James 1:2, the Lord commands, "... count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." And in 1 Peter 4:12, the Bible states:
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
Praise God for the certainty that he is working in our trials. And praise him that believers have the certain hope that trials will end!
