April 9, 2005

  • Hi all,

     

    Teddygram commented on my Thursday, Apr. 7 post:

     

    it's pretty obvious from the Bible that God always has our best interests in mind "though Satan should buffet, though trials should come" right?  now the problem is, how do you figure out what God wants you to learn or how God wants you to grow through said trial?  cause in my experience God doesn't really write it on my bedroom wall or send a direct prophecy from someone sitting next to me in the cafeteria. 

    Posted 4/8/2005 at 8:36 AM by teddygram85

     

    She poses a question worth pursuing:  Given that God allows (even brings?) suffering with our good in mind, what does He envision us gaining from our suffering, whether ideas, knowledge, character, perspective, or ???

    Whatcha think xangaites?  What have you gained from the suffering you have had to endure to this point in your lives?  Comment away!!!!

Comments (5)

  • A lot of questions, a lot of hurt, and puzzlement.

    But one thing that keeps being taught is that it is not God that brings these hurts, but God is a good ecology buff, and he will use what satan meant for harm to do good for us if we let him. The problem is how to let Him.

    And I have a tough time with that. I wish God would intervene more directly in some circumstances and His lack of intervention is very puzzling to me, in fact it drove me away from Him for years.

    I guess it boils down to trusting God, but that is even hard. This faith stuff is difficult and sometimes I feel like I am getting a failing grade in faith 101

    Heather

  • What does God hope to achieve when He bring trails?

    I think I comes down to the fact that trials:
    1. Bring us closer to Him
    2. Bring us to Him
    3. Effect our futures for the better

    Sometimes, a lot of good can come from a little hurt.

  • Good comments so far:  Thanks!!!

    Since the Bible is (supposedly) our guide to understanding the mind of God (it's His revelation, eh?), I'd toss out the following as some of the possible benefits God has in mind as He allows (or brings?) trials into the curriculum of our circumstances (some bene's won't be realized till heaven, others, God's intent is to give us the bene's now):

    Proof of the reality of our faith (present)

    Crown of glory (future)

    Patience (present)

    Maturity (present)

    Accurate Self-perception:  This is the most recent bene that God has been showing me.  The model is simple:  When a trying circumstance comes, do I lose my joy, my peace, and/or my commitment to obey God in all areas He has insructed in?  If I choose disobedience as a means of dealing with my circumstance, then I know better what I'm  made of:  I see clearly the flaws in my character, my faith, my commitment to offer God a living sacrifice. 

    Johnny, i think this might be the step between our trial and getting closer to God.  If we miss this step, then our response is more like Heather's above:  The trial drives us away from God.  But if we allow the trial to "have it's work in us" then the trial reveals more deeply our lack of total commitment or total sacrifice, or our lack of total trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God.  When we see the real demon underneath our disobedience, we find it's us, trying desperately to "fix" our circumstances whe we ought to be "fixing" the demanding, doubting, controlling, self inside of us. 

    Any other bene's that you've seen in scripture, or in your own life experience?

  • trust, patience, compassion, reliance

  • Filth, destruction, chaos, death and greed.

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