Summary: A survey of the Bible texts concerning trials

UNDERSTANDING THE TWELVE BIBLICAL PURPOSES FOR TESTING, TRIALS & TROUBLES

1. God allows trials so that we might become stronger Christians (James 1:3, 4) Reason #1 To Praise The Lord!

“My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers generations; knowing this that the trying of your faith

Works patience, But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be entire wanting nothing.”

2. God allows trials so that we might bring honor to Christ at His Coming (I Peter 1:7) Reason #2 To PTL

“That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perishes though it be tried with fire

Might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Chris.t”

3. God allows trials so that we might bring glory to God (John 11:3, 4) Reason #3 To PTL

“Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou loves is sick. When Jesus heard

That he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified

Thereby.”

4. God allows trials so that He might prove/test the real sincerity of our Christian joy (II Corinthians 8:2) #4

“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the

Riches of their liberality.”

5. God allows trials so that He might teach His children to depend upon Him alone (II Corinthians 1:9) #5

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises

The dead.”

6. God allows trials so that we might use them to share the Gospel (Philippians 1:12, I Peter 3:14, 15) Reason #6

“But I would ye should understand brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather

Unto the furtherance of the Gospel…But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not

Afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to

Give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

7. God allows trials so that we might comfort others (II Corinthians 1:3, 4) Reason #7 To PTL

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort

Who comforts 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.”

8. God allows trials so that we might be corrected by Him (Job 5:17; Proverb 3:11, 12) Reason #8 To PTL

“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects, therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty…

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction: For whom the Lord

Loves He corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.”

9. God allows trials so that He might teach us His Law (Psalm 94:12, 119:71) Reason #9 To PTL

“Blessed is the man whom Thou chasten, O Lord, and teaches him out of Thy Law; that Thou may give him

Rest from the days of adversity until the pit be digged for the wicked.”

10. God allows trials so that He might pour His Spirit upon us (I Peter 4:14) Reason #10 To PTL

“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye: for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you:

On their part He is evil spoken of; but on your part He is glorified.”

11. God allows trials so that He might give us the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10-12) Reason #11 To PTL

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you

Falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted

They the prophets which were before you.”

12. God allows trials so that we might be partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10) Reason #12 To PTL

“For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit that we might be

Partakers of His holiness.”