Why are trials and tribulations part of the Christian life?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Trials and tribulations exist because of the fallen state of the world caused by sin (Genesis 3). Even through trials and tribulations, God’s good character and purposes are evident. God is with us through trials and is fully in control, which gives us what we need to endure and grow through the difficulties. God also does not waste any suffering. He promises that all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He allows His people to experience difficulties that contribute to their personal and spiritual growth (James 1:2-4). Trials refine believers and build endurance, which produces hope in our lives (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5). God also uses suffering to comfort others through us and to prepare us for eternity (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; James 1:12). Trials are difficult but temporary, and God works through them for our growth and His glory (Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 1:6-7).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Trials and tribulations exist because of the fallen state of the world caused by sin. In the beginning, God created the world to be perfect, but humanity’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden brought sin and its consequences into the world (Genesis 3). As a result, suffering, pain, and death became part of the human experience.
• From the beginning, though, God showed that He was still good and in control even in the midst of suffering. He promised a Messiah who would defeat the serpent, and He showed care as He clothed Adam and Eve before they left the garden (Genesis 3:15; Genesis 3:21).
• Since Adam and Eve sinned, God has revealed His purposes and character through trials and tribulations. The story of the Israelites' wilderness journey (Exodus 16–17, Deuteronomy 8:2-3) illustrates how God allows His people to face trials to test their faith and reliance on Him, building their dependence on Him rather than their own strength.
• The book of Job shows that suffering can lead to deeper understanding and trust in God's sovereignty (Job 23:10).
• Psalm 34:19 acknowledges that the righteous will face many afflictions, but God will deliver them from them all, pointing to the eventual hope of God's redemption in the midst of suffering.
• God uses trials to refine His people, much like metal is purified through fire (Malachi 3:3).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• As a result of the fall, suffering, pain, and death became part of the human experience. Romans 5:12 says, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." This brokenness is why trials and tribulations exist;they are a natural consequence of living in a fallen world.
• However, God uses trials to refine and strengthen His people. James 1:2-4 teaches, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Trials test our faith, leading us to maturity and spiritual growth. They allow us to depend more fully on God and build endurance in our walk with Him. While trials and temptations are difficult, we are to consider them with joy because they ultimately lead to our spiritual maturity.
• John 15:2 confirms that those who follow God often face various forms of "pruning" or struggles in order to bear more fruit. In other words, the difficulties God allows in our lives allow us to grow in maturity (fruitfulness) and better serve Him.
• Romans 5:3-5 tells us that suffering, which can be a part of trials and tribulations, “produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
• Trials also remind us that something better lies ahead for those who believe. In Romans 8:18 Paul wrote, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Though Paul faced many difficulties, he could endure them because he knew something far greater awaited him after this life.
• Paul wrote about the impact of suffering and its usefulness in comforting and helping others: "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 may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Paul's afflictions gave him experiences through which he could better comfort others who also faced afflictions.
• God often uses our most difficult struggles for us to help others with similar struggles. God can and does use our weaknesses to bring hope to others. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
• A final encouragement regarding trials is that those who endure faithfully can anticipate eternal rewards. James 1:12 promises, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." Our tribulations in this life are difficult, yet only temporary. Even now, God is at work to use our pain to help those in need and will reward those who faithfully endure.
• Our suffering can be an opportunity to point others to God, and through our perseverance, others may see His glory reflected in us (1 Peter 1:6-7).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Trials and tribulations are part of living in a fallen and broken world. While they are not pleasant in the moment, it helps to view them through God’s perspective: He is with us through the difficulties, and we can find hope in His presence and purpose through everything we go through (Isaiah 43:2). Scripture encourages us to trust in God’s sovereignty, knowing that He is never distant. God does not waste our pain; rather, He uses it to mold us, shape our character, and draw us closer to Him. Through our suffering, we are invited to experience His presence in a deeper way, where He comforts, strengthens, and refines us.

Moreover, when we look at our trials from an eternal standpoint, we begin to recognize that they are not without purpose. Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Though we may not always understand the "why" in the moment, we can have confidence that God is using our struggles to prepare us for His greater purposes—whether in our lives, in the lives of others, or for eternity. Through everything we go through, we can find hope knowing that God is actively at work, turning our hardships into opportunities for growth, testimony, and glorifying Him.

UNDERSTAND

• Trials exist due to the fallen world, but God is good and in control.
• God uses trials to refine and strengthen believers.
• Suffering is temporary and reminds us of what matters for eternity.

REFLECT

• How have past trials in your life strengthened your faith and reliance on God?
• What purpose do you see in your current struggles?
• How does remembering that trials are temporary and that God is good in and through trials help you endure them with faith?

ENGAGE

• Why does God allow suffering, and how can we help each other trust and see His purpose through it?
• How can our response to trials be a testimony of God’s faithfulness to others?
• What does it mean to find joy in trials, and how can we encourage one another to do so?