“Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12 NET).
Since many instances of suffering seem to be devoid of meaning or purpose, we may struggle to make sense of painful events that appear to make little sense. As we face the trials and difficulties we encounter, we might question why God would allow us to experience such adversities. Answering these questions is often difficult, for there may be one reason, multiple reasons, or no apparent reason to explain the hardships we experience in life.
Yet even though it may be impossible to determine God’s purpose behind our afflictions, that does not imply the absence of a purpose. Because God is sovereign and has our best interests in mind, we can say that valid reasons for suffering always exist, even if we don’t fully understand them. With this in mind, we can make some general observations from the Scriptures that can help us grasp why God might allow “fiery trials” to enter our lives.
First, God might allow such things to strengthen us (2 Corinthians 12:10) or build our trust in Him (Psalm 50:14-15). God may also use suffering as a tool to build our patience or endurance (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 10:35-38). He might also use such trials to serve as a model for others, showing them the right way to navigate through the challenges and hardships of life (2 Thessalonians 1:4).
Suffering can serve as a catalyst that leads us into a deeper relationship with God (Hebrews 5:7-8). While such trials are undoubtedly painful, they also play a role in cultivating humility (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). In addition, they create a shared foundation for ministry to others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Finally, suffering can deepen our understanding and gratitude for the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf (Philippians 3:10).
While suffering may be a product of life in a sinful, fallen world, we can take comfort knowing that there is a benevolent Creator who has our well-being in mind, even if we struggle to understand why things happen as they do. Remember that Proverbs 3:5 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (NIV). While God does not prevent us from trying to make sense of things we don’t understand, neither does He promise to explain His reasoning behind those life events that make little sense to us.
No matter what the situation, we should place our trust in God through Christ, for as the verse that follows Proverbs 3:5 concludes, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”