10 ENCOURAGING Reasons for TrialsSample

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised during a trial because you stayed firm in your faith like you hoped you would?
You didn't compromise, but stayed clinging to God's principles like you hoped you would?
You stuck up for a friend like you hoped you would?
You refused to lie like you hoped you would?

Or have you ever been disappointed in yourself when a test or trial came along, and you let the doubt come in, or the compromise come in, and you realized you weren’t quite the Christian soldier you’d hoped to be in that moment?

I’m sure Peter can relate!  
He was so convinced that he would never deny Christ, he even argued with Jesus.  He felt strongly that his actions would be a certain way, only to fail when he was tested. 

The ninth reason that God allows trials and afflictions is to test our resolve to follow Him and His Truth.

God already knows if we will follow through with action on the things we say we believe, but we don’t know!

This kind of testing is really for our benefit.

Let’s look at an example.

Let’s say you just taught a lesson on trusting God and having perfect peace even in horrible circumstances.  Later in the week, news comes that devastatingly shakes your world.

Now, imagine your private time with the Lord. Would you bring your burden to Him, laying it at His feet, trusting Him, and having peace that even in this devastation, your God is loving, gentle, wise?   
Would you trust that all things really will work for good, even if it is not a happy ending in the moment?   
If so, then your trial will have confirmed your belief, and you will have responded with the resolve you had hoped you would.

You will have “proved” your faith.

In contrast, would you instead become bitter with God in your private time with Him, accusing Him of being unfair or unkind?  
Would you forfeit the peace He was offering? If so, your trial will have taught you that you are not quite as resolved as you thought, and you would now know you need to grow your faith in this area.

Your trial will test and prove your faith, revealing where you are resolved in your faith, but also where you need to grow. This kind of learning is a gift!