Examples of biblical trials

Without stress, our muscles are content with their current size and strength. Add stress, and our muscles begin to change to meet the need. Our spiritual strength and character are similar. Trials give our faith a work out like heavy loads work our muscles. As we faithfully endure, we grow spiritually stronger. Without difficulty, our faith tends to stagnate. Do you want stronger faith? You need stress. Click To Tweet. Trials work our faith. Like using our muscles to carry heavier loads make them stronger, the trials of life give our faith a workout.

God will use them to grow and develop our faith so we will be spiritually mature, not lacking anything! Our gracious God never wastes a trial He permits to enter our lives. If we will cooperate, He will use every difficulty, heartache, and hardship for our good and His glory. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James , NIV. God is not finished with you yet. And He is definitely not finished with me. I know more difficulties lie ahead. Honestly, I wish God had chosen to work another way. But I will choose to trust His infinite wisdom and submit to His refining process.

In what ways has God used trials in your life to refine your faith and character? To make you more like Jesus!? Sign up to get Kathy's blog posts by email and get a free Bible study on the book of Titus. Thank you for sharing this today. Back to the Basics.

The Best Christmas Ever. The Always God. The Prince of Peace. View all Sermons. For you see trials can be: 1. A Test of Patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

A Test of Faith. Download Sermon with PRO. Browse All Media Related Media. Talk about it David Dionne commented on Sep 14, Thank you. Sign in to reply to this comment. Subscribe to Comments Post Reply Cancel. Tom Shepard commented on Sep 15, You're welcome. Regina Hurtt commented on Dec 13, Thank you Mr.

Tom Shepard commented on Dec 14, Regina - thank you for the comment. I am glad the sermon helped. Lynn Harvel commented on Mar 7, Thanks Bro. Tom Shepard commented on Mar 8, Lynn - you are welcome.

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The Best Christmas Ever Share hope, peace, joy, and love. Collide Bold faith in a culture of conflict. The Always God Encounter the unchanging, always God. At every turn it seems there is a sudden problem, or bad habits creep in, and it feels like our walks are set back. Sometimes a tragedy strikes so great our faith shakes. Though they may feel the same, there is a distinct difference between a trial and a temptation. While many know the Book of James for its discussion of good works, it provides one of the most concise definitions of a trial.

It is a moment used by God for our growth, and to draw us closer to Him. Illness, fire, accidents, and job loss are easily recognizable as bad moments in life, but God is sovereign over those times.

Temptation by comparison, is internal. Individuals can only be tempted with that which is individually tempting to that person. Some struggle with stealing, some with lust, others with lying. Temptation strikes where someone is weakest. Job, a devout man, lived with his large family, blessed by God with a comfortable life. Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.

By the end of the book, Job has gained a greater understanding of who God is, and the Lord carries Him through the trial, blessing Him even more than before. Despite being married, being king, and having children, David succumbed to lust when he saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing. She had not been bathing to gain his attention and they were both married.