Reasons For Trials

I 'd like to share these "reasons for trials" with you. I have a little more peace with my circumstances now, and thank the Lord He has brought me through what I hope was my most difficult time. I pray that I stay in His will and that I can somehow be used of Him.

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." www.Lockman.org

Scripture Text:

Psalms 119:50 - "This is my comfort  in my affliction, That Your word has revived me."

Psalms 119:75-77 - "I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. O may Your loving kindness comfort me, According to Your word to Your servant. May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight."

Reasons:

Affliction so we may comfort 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 will 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

Trials develop Christian character - "Consider it  all joy, my brethren when you encounter various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." James 1:2 & 3

Rejoice in suffering - "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character, hope; and  hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3&4

Refined and Purified - "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of   silver."          Malachi 3:3

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this  statement meant about the character and nature of God. 
 
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. 
 
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment  to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. 
 
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over  the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one  needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest  as to burn away all the impurities. 
 
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." 
 
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there  in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. 
 
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding  the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it  was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. 
 
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it." 

Tried, as gold - "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10  
    
Discipline - "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves he disciplines and He scourges every son whom he receives." Romans 12: 5 & 6

To keep me from exalting myself - "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself , there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!" 2 Corinthians 12:7

Reproof - "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects  the son in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:11&12
 
Bring glory to God - 'As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind? Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'           John 9:1-3

Glory to God - 'But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." ' John 11:4

Common lot of human beings - "For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward." Job 5:7


God Tells Us:

All things work together for good - "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

He will give us no more than we can bear - "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Statement Of Faith:

He is the way - 'Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'  John 14:6

 Believe in Him - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."         John 3:16

You are saved by grace through faith - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8&9