Life is not easy. It is filled with trials, grief and all sorts of problems. While we complain about these things we miss the bigger picture. God uses our problems and trials to grow us, to make us more like Jesus.
These problems bring us closer to God as we depend on Him to help us through life’s challenges and lead the way. No problem happens unless God has allowed it to and He intends everything for good so there is always a purpose to the pain. Everything has significance.
KEY VERSE
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
God promises to work everything out for good for those who love him. It doesn’t mean there will always be a happy ending or work out the way we want.
The key to understanding why we face problems and why they work out as they do lies in the key verse.
“We know” declares that our hope is based on the truth that God is sovereign, He is in control and everything He does is out of love for His children.
“that God causes everything” – We recognise God’s control means He has a plan for our lives and nothing happens by chance. God knows what we’re like and has factored in our sins, mistakes, illnesses etc. God can transform the worst evil into good.
“to work together for the good” – It may not seem like it from our perspective but every event in our life works together in God’s plan. Since our birth everything we have done, and every experience has shaped us to fulfil God’s plan. We are designed uniquely for His purposes, and His purpose is greater than our problems.
“of those who love God and are called according to his purpose” – This promise is only for God’s children, those who have received salvation through Jesus and will one day step into eternity with Him. Everyone else will face trials and problems just like us but they are not guaranteed their problems and trials will work out for good. But we, God’s children, have God with us in these trials and can lean on Him for strength, comfort and help.
The purpose we are called to is sanctification. We are called to become like Christ and to live out the purposes God has given us which help us become more like Him. These purposes are to love God and people, to grow in our knowledge of God, to serve Him through serving His people and to share the truth with the world.
Building Christlike Character
If every problem we face is an opportunity for growth then we are shaped by adversity. This means there is more potential for growth the more difficult the problem is.
“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4 NIV
God wants us to be more like Christ. This means character is more important to Him than our circumstances. Perhaps the only thing more important is our faith.
We will face the same trials and temptations as Jesus did, becoming like Him means facing what He did including loneliness, stress and rejection. The trials and problems we face refine us. They purify us and shape us to be more like Jesus.
Like Jesus, we will learn obedience through our trials and though we will not achieve perfection on this earth we can strive for holiness (Hebrews 5:8-9).
Responding to problems as Jesus would
If we want to be more like Jesus we should follow the example He set us when we face trials and problems.
First, we must remember God has our best interests at heart and His plan is good (Jeremiah 29:11). It’s important to keep our focus on God rather than the pain we feel because what we focus on determines how we feel and ultimately our behaviour.
The pain is only temporary but God is eternal and the reward He has for our obedience is great. Jesus kept His focus on the Father and the purpose He was sent to fulfil. Even in the darkest of moments Jesus turned His thoughts to the Father and others over Himself.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV
Jesus focused on God and let the truth live in Him and through Him. But He also rejoiced and was thankful. This is also God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
God doesn’t expect us to be thankful for the suffering but He does want us to be thankful for what we do have and be thankful that He will use our problems to fulfil His purposes.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 NIV
Despite our circumstances in challenging times, we can rejoice in God’s love, care, wisdom, power and righteousness. We worship because of who God is not because of how we feel.
We must remember God is with us in our pain. He sympathises with us, He feels what we feel. No one understands us better.
Even in the face of death Jesus never gave up. We also should never give up, we must be patient and persistent.
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 NIV
Becoming like Christ is a slow process, often it appears like one step forward and three steps back but we must persevere. If we try and avoid the difficulties or take shortcuts we only hurt ourselves and delay growth.
Often in our trials and problems, we come to God seeking comfort and answers which isn’t wrong. I know God appreciates every effort of coming to Him. But now that we know our trials and problems have purpose perhaps it’s time for a mindset change and consider the eternal consequences of choosing comfort over growth.
Instead of only praying for comfort why don’t we start asking God what He wants us to learn in the trial and be obedient to His response. Our obedience shows we trust Him and love Him.
We will only truly grow when we leave our comfort zones and as nice as comfort is biblically speaking we are not called to live a comfortable life. If anything we are to live an uncomfortable life for the glory of God. Becoming like Christ will be uncomfortable. We will feel vulnerable and exposed, we will have sacrifices to make and will suffer in His name.
But in the words of the apostle Paul ‘to live is Christ’ (Philippians 1:21). We live to become like Him, but also to serve and honour Him.
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Wholeheartedly Faithul 
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