Why does God allow and cause trials to come into our lives? There are four reasons. I have written about the first two in the last two blogs.

1. God designed life to have trials as a normal part of everyone’s life so that we will grow in character; without trials, there is no growth.
2. God takes us through trials we can manage so that we can help and encourage others who go through the same trials but who can’t manage them. God does this not as the most efficient way of dealing with trials but to help make the church beautiful, unified, and loving.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

3. The third reason God brings trials into our lives is to reign in our prideful, independent, self-sufficient attitude. Paul said, “so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God.” When life is going well, and we have few problems, we quickly become self-sufficient and independent from God. So He will bring us to the end of ourselves, and we will run to God for help. I used to have a hunting dog, and it was vital that he walked by my side until I released him with my voice to hunt and that he would come back quickly when called. I trained him with a leash and a choke collar. When he got to pulling on the leash, I would say,” heal,” and if he kept pulling, I would give the leash a jerk, and it would pinch his neck, and he would quickly submit. Trials are often God’s leash and choke collar, teaching us to submit, trust, and follow the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 We were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope.

When we humbly seek God’s grace, strength, and help, we will have a plentiful supply.

James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”