Developing Faith through Adversity 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 It doesnt seem fair, does it? Paul spent his life serving Christ, and yet he experienced continual suffering. Why would God let one of His most faithful servants go through so much pain? This isnt just a question about Paul; its an issue we face today. In our minds, the Lord should protect His loyal followers from hardships, but He doesnt necessarily do so. Maybe our reasoning is backwards. We think faithful Christians dont deserve to suffer, but from Gods perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, wed never really know God, because wed never need Him. Like it or not, adversity teaches us more about the Lord than simply reading the Bible ever will. Im not saying we dont need to know Scripture; thats our foundation for faith. But if what we believe is never tested by adversity, it remains head knowledge. How will we ever know the Lord can be trusted in the midst of trouble if weve never been challenged by hardship? God gives us opportunities to apply scriptural truths to the difficulties facing us, and in the process, we find Him faithful. For example, how would Paul ever have known the strength of Christ if he had never been weakened by pain, persecution, and adversity? Depending on your response, trials can be Gods greatest means of building faith or an avenue to discouragement and self-pity. If youll believe what Scripture says and apply its principles to your situation, your trust in God will grow, and your faith will be strengthened through adversity
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:47:37 +0000
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