Title: Through it All (Faith in the Midst of Fiery Trials )

Text: Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none
like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Job 1:9
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Job 1:10 Hast not thou made
an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the
work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and
touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

The greatest honor and praise that a man can have is a praise that comes from the very mouth of GOD .
v2 God commended Job for his Faithfulness and inward greatness that lies not in material things but in
the condition of his fixed heart that is focused on the Lord. Satan, the destroyer and accuser of the
brethren challenged God to test Job and he also accused Job of a feign faithfulness based only on
material things and God’s blessings Job 1:10. As God permitted Satan to try Job with the greatest trials of
his life “ Still he holdeth his integrity Chapter 2v3‘ – it means through it all, Job remains faithful to our
LORD..” In what ways Job prove himself to be faithful ?

I. MATERIAL LOSS AND CALAMITY WILL NOT PREVENT JOB FROM WORSHIPPING GOD.
Job was a great man both spiritually and materially “ so that this man was the greatest of all the men of
the east.” Job. 1: 1-3 . His first trial Job 1: 13-17 His riches were stolen and taken away. His God-pleasing
attitude: Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the
ground, and worshipped, Job showed to us the first principle of life, that material loss and needs should
not hinder a Christian from serving God.

II. EMOTIONAL DEPRESSION ( GREAT SORROW ) WILL NOT PREVENT JOB FROM PRAISING
GOD.
Job’s faith was not shaken by the material loss he sufferred. Then Satan tried to attack his emotions. All
his 10 children 1v2 Job. 1:18 His sons and daughters died in a calamity . Oh, what unimaginable sorrow a
father can experienced seeing his ten children died in an instant. Job 2:13 “ for they saw that [his] grief
was very great “ . For sure, Job was a loving and caring father. ( read Job 1:5 ). what could be more
precious to the Father than his children In the midst of this great sorrow and heartaches he showed his
pious attitude: Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return
thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Job 1:22 In
all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

III. SICKNESS WILL NOT PREVENT JOB FROM SERVING GOD.

As Job triumphed over Satan by his firm Faith on the Lord. Satan was once again ready to unleash his
fiery darts on Job. Job 2: 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man
hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will
curse thee to thy face.6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he [is] in thine hand; but save his life.
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole
of his foot unto his crown.
This time, Satan wanted to try Job’s faith by Physical torments, smiting his whole body with boils. Adding
insult to injury, Job did not find encouraging words from his wife and earthly friends, but they condemend
him.
Job 32:3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and
[yet] had condemned Job.
Job 2: 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.10 But he
said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.

Job once again demonstrated his godly and mature character by saying Job 2:10 What? shall we receive
good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

IV. DEATH and DESTRUCTION will not prevent Job from Trusting GOD.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him .
Through it all, Job learn how to trust in the LORD. In the midst of trials , Job said :
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

By God’s sustaining grace, Job came out victorious over those fiery trials of his life, and showed his deep
piety and devotion to the Lord, through these, God was glorified and He bleesed Job.

Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen
thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
Job 42:13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:14 And he called the name of the first,
Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.
Job 42:15 And in all the land were no women found [so] fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave
them inheritance among their brethren.Job 42:16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw
his sons, and his sons’ sons, [even] four generations. Job 42:17 So Job died, [being] old and full of days.
God Must Be Praised in Fiery Trials – 1 Peter 1:6-7
Sermon 3 of 24 from the Strangers in a Strange Land (1 Peter) series
August 2004 – On April 5, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo for his
resistance to the Nazi regime in Germany. For several years he had spoken out against the Nazis, and
eventually it caught up with him. As he saw his country sliding into the abyss, he felt that he could not
remain silent. Two years later, only a few weeks from the end of World War II, he found himself in
Buchenwald Concentration Camp, facing the death sentence. On Sunday, April 8, he led a service for
other prisoners. Shortly after the final prayer, the door opened and two civilians entered. “Prisoner
Bonhoeffer, come with us,” they said. Everyone knew what that meant—the gallows. Quickly the other
men said goodbye to him. An English prisoner who survived the war describes the moment: “He took me
aside [and said], ‘This is the end; but for me it is the beginning of life.’” The next day he was hanged at
Flossenburg Prison. The SS doctor who witnessed his death called him brave and composed and devout
to the very end. “Through the half-open door I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer still in his prison clothes, kneeling in
fervent prayer to the Lord his God. The devotion and evident conviction of being heard that I saw in the
prayer of this intensely captivating man moved me to the depths.”  
“This is the end; but for me it is the beginning of life.” What makes a man facing certain death talk like
that? Where do you find faith like that? Surely such a man has discovered the “living hope” that goes
beyond the grave. How else do you explain it?
Why God Sends Trials
British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge, who became a Christian before his death, said late in life,
“Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially
desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, everything I have learned, everything that has
truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness.”
Every thoughtful person has wondered why God sends trials to his children. You don’t live very long
before that question stares you in the face. It might be a critical illness, death of a loved one, loss of a job,
the breakup of a marriage, trouble with your children, a season of depression, financial difficulties, or a
time of intense persecution from others because of your faith. Those things happen to all of us sooner or
later. If you’ve never pondered why God allows such things, you ought to.
When we turn to the Bible, we find many perspectives that help us understand why trials come to God’s
children. I Peter 1:6-7 offers an important perspective that we need to know. It doesn’t answer every
question we could ask about trials, trouble, and the sufferings of this life. No single text could answer
every question. But it does provide a crucial framework for seeing the hand of God at work in the worst
moments of life.
Before we jump into the text, let’s notice two key words. The first is the word “trials” at the end of verse 6.
The Greek word is peirasmos, a word that appears often in the New Testament. It can mean “test,” or
“trial,” or even “temptation.” Depending on the context, it can have a positive or negative connotation.
When we face a test in school, we either pass or fail. The same is true of the tests of life. God sends
those tests so that what is in the heart will be revealed for all to see. The same event may be both a test
and a temptation. That is, it may be sent by God to test us, and Satan may use it as an occasion for
temptation. It all depends on how we respond.
When trouble comes …
We may turn to God in prayer, or we may become bitter.
We may become quiet and thoughtful, or we may begin to complain.
We may become tender and compassionate, or we may become harsh and cruel.
We may learn new trust in God, or we may rebel against him.
We may take courage, or we may give in to fear.
We may draw close to God, or we may turn away from him.
The same event in all cases—but vastly different results. It all depends on how we respond.
The second word comes from the first phrase of verse 6: “In this you greatly rejoice.” Take the root word
joy and consider it for a moment. What is joy? It’s a difficult word to define. We know that joy and
happiness are two different things. Happiness depends on circumstances, and comes and goes
depending on the emotions of the moment. But joy is deeper and more profound because it comes from
God. Last night as I pondered the matter, this thought came to me: Joy comes from “satisfaction with
God.” When we are satisfied with God, we will have joy even in the hardest moments of life. G. K.
Chesterton called joy “the gigantic secret of the Christian life.” Joy, he said, is always at the center for the
Christian; trials are at the periphery of life. I put these ideas together this way: Joy is the ability to face
reality—the good and bad, the happy and the sad, the positive and the negative, the best and the worst—
because we are satisfied with God.
Seen in that light, this is no contradiction between joy and trials. They belong together.
Our text teaches us four important truths about the trials of life.
I. Our Trials are Brief
Peter begins by assuring his readers that their trials would only last “a little while.” Of course, that “little
while” seems to last forever when we are in the furnace. Early Sunday morning when I asked a man how
things were going, he shook his head and said, “Things are falling apart.” I told him that he should listen
closely to my sermon because I was preaching on how our trials are brief. He chuckled and said, “They
don’t seem brief to me.” We all understand that. When you sit by the bedside of a loved one in the
hospital, time seems to slow to a crawl. When your marriage crumbles or your children are in trouble or
you lose your job and can’t pay your bills, the trial seems to go on forever. In what sense can Peter say
that our trials are brief? The answer is, everything in this life is brief when compared to eternity. It’s all a
matter of perspective. If I say I know a man who can hold his breath a long time, I mean he can hold it for
two or three minutes. That’s a long time for breath-holding. But if you say, “Pastor Ray, you’ve been at
Calvary a long time,” you mean that I’ve been here for 15 years. That’s a long time for a pastor to be at
one church. Our trials may last for weeks or months or years, sometimes they last for decades, but seen
against the endless ages of eternity, even the worst trials here are brief by comparison. Our problem is a
kind of spiritual nearsightedness that views this world as the “real” world and counts eternity as nothing by
comparison. God never asks us to deny the harsh reality of our trials. He asks only that we take his
perspective on our suffering.
A wise pastor friend of mine wrote recently to say that his responsibility is not just to help people live well
but to help them live with the great expectancy of heaven. “It is to prepare them to die well, even with
excitement toward heaven and not regret.” He went on to speak of a man who died while a pacemaker
was being installed because the doctor clipped an artery without knowing it. The man had been in good
health, but suddenly his life was over. It all changed with one prick of a wire. My friend said that he thinks
about this more often now because he is 50, and he is seeing friends his age (and younger) begin to die.
When we are young, death seems rather theoretical, and even when it happens, it seems remote from
our own experience. But time has a way of changing our thinking. He spoke of a nine-year-old boy in his
congregation with a cancerous tumor in his brain. Chemo didn’t work, and he faces radiation soon. His
vision is going quickly. “Every time I see him or think of him, I realize my ministry to him, unless the Lord
intervenes, is to help him die with joy and anticipation of Christ. And it is to help the parents understand
that his life cut short is not loss but gain.” My friend speaks words that come from the heart of God. Life is
short for all of us compared to eternity. And in the worst of our trials, we can rejoice because we know
they will not, they cannot, last forever.
II. Our Trials are Necessary
Note how Peter puts it: “You may have had to suffer.” Literally, the Greek reads, “If necessary for a little
while.” Peter could not be sure how long they would suffer, but he knows that the suffering itself is
necessary. Whether long or short, hard times come to every believer. Those hard times come in many
varieties. (When I said that on Sunday morning, a voice from the back of the sanctuary said, “Amen!”)
And they come over and over again. And those hard times come to every believer. No Christian is exempt
from trials. Some have more, others less, but all share in the “many trials” Peter mentions. Those trials
are necessary to help us grow spiritually. That’s why Martin Luther called adversity “the very best book in
my library.” And George Whitefield declared, “God puts burs in our bed to keep us watchful and awake.”
Perhaps that is why you could not sleep last night. Those trials are proof that we belong to the Lord. John
Duncan put it this way: “If we have not got a cross, alas! We may conclude that we have not Christ, for it
is the first of his gifts.”
III. Our Trials are Purifying
We have arrived at the heart of Peter’s message. Trials come “come so that your faith—of greater worth
than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine” (v. 7). Note the little
phrase “so that” in the text. Circle it, underline it, highlight it. No phrase is more hopeful or more needed.
The words “so that” tell us that our trials have a purpose. They don’t just happen by chance or by some
random act of fate. There are no accidents for the children of God. Everything happens for a reason.
Even though we may not see the reason, our faith can survive if we know that a reason really does exist.
Peter goes on to explain that God sends trials in order to test and purify our faith. The phrase “proved
genuine” translates the Greek word dokimos, which means to test something in order to prove that it will
not fail. Let me illustrate. When Chevrolet tests Ford pickup trucks, they do it to prove that Ford trucks
won’t pass the test. But when Chevrolet tests its own trucks, they do it to prove that their trucks will pass
the same test. That’s the Greek word used here. God puts our faith to the test by allowing hard times to
come, not to destroy us but to demonstrate that our faith is genuine. Note the contrast between faith and
pure gold. Did you know that it takes four tons of gold ore to produce one ounce of pure gold? During the
refining process, the gold ore is heated in a giant furnace until it liquefies; the dross or waste material is
skimmed off, leaving only the pure gold at the bottom. In ancient times goldsmiths knew they had pure
gold when they could look at the gold and see their reflection. That’s what God intends through our trials.
He puts us in the furnace to burn off the greed, the impatience, the unkindness, the anger, the bitterness,
the hatred, the lust, and the selfishness. For most of us, that’s a lifetime process. But in the end, the
image of Jesus is formed in us. I have seen that happen over and over again in the lives of suffering
saints. “Joe, you look like Jesus to me.” “Sandra, I can see Jesus in your face.”
God wants to prove your faith is genuine, and trials provide the most reliable proof. We may all mouth
certain phrases that make us sound spiritual when things are going well, but how we respond when life
tumbles in around us tells the real story of what we truly believe. God “proves” our faith to us, to our loved
ones, and to a watching world. Outside the four walls of the church are millions of people who watch the
way we live. They may not understand what we believe, but they watch us from a distance to see how we
respond when hard times come. And even if they don’t understand it all, they are profoundly moved by a
believer whose faith remains strong in the time of trouble. They know our faith is real, and that draws
them one step closer to Jesus.
This is how it works:
You lost your money, but gained devoted faith.
You lost your health, but gained patient faith.
You lost your job, but gained resilient faith.
You lost your loved ones, but gained grieving faith.
You lost your friends, but gained courageous faith.
Thus does God bring triumph out of our trials, and from the pit of despair, he lifts us to the pinnacle of
faith. Hard times make strong saints. There is no other way.
IV. Our Trials are Eternally Significant
Our text suggests one final truth about our trials. God sends trials to prove our faith is genuine so that it
“may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (v. 7). Normally when we read
words like praise, glory and honor, we associate them with Jesus Christ himself. But Peter says we are
the ones who gain praise, glory and honor. That is, the Lord himself bestows upon us praise and glory
and honor. Or more properly, because of our faithfulness during our trials in this life, we will share in the
praise, glory and honor that belongs to our Lord. What a thought that is. What an incredible scene in
heaven, when the faithful saints of God are crowned with glory, praise and honor, by our Lord himself. I
imagine Jesus saying, “Father, this is Mario. He suffered for my sake on the earth, and he never denied
my name. He is one of my faithful ones.” As those words are spoken, a vast cheer rolls across the
universe from the assembled multitudes. And so it will go as one by one those who suffered so much in
this life, those who endured ridicule, hatred and martyrdom are revealed and rewarded for their
faithfulness. And those who suffered illness with joy, who lost their possessions but not their faith, who
walked a hard road on the earth but never gave up, are recognized and honored by the Lord.
When Jesus finally appears, we will find out what our trials have accomplished. Things that seemed
useless and unfair will be seen as instruments of God’s grace. Things we thought were hard and even
cruel, we will discover were tempered by God’s mercy.
And we will all say,
“He was nearest when I thought him farthest away.”
“He was faithful when I had no faith to believe.”
“He used my trials to develop my faith.”
“He used my faith to encourage others.”
We don’t see those things very clearly now, but in that day, all will be made plain. And as we look back
across the pathway of life, we will see that nothing was wasted. God knew what he was doing all along.
Three Final Thoughts
Before we wrap up this message, here are three concluding thoughts about the troubles of life that we all
face sooner or later.
A. Trouble is something we should all take for granted.
After what our Lord endured 2,000 years ago, how can we ever say, “I can’t believe this is happening to
me?” Better to face the trials of life with wide-eyed realism, understanding that suffering is the first course
in God’s curriculum in the School of Spiritual Growth.
B. Trouble is meant to draw us closer to the Lord, not push us further away.
SCRIPTURES REFERENCED
1 Peter 1
 What Angels Wish They Knew
 Strangers in a Strange Land
 Get Your Mind in Gear
Strange as it may seem, our troubles are a sign of God’s love, for if he did not love us, he would not
discipline us (see Hebrews 12:4-11). Some of you may say, “If that’s the case, then God must love me a
lot.” I am certain that he does, and your trials and your tears, and the confusion you experience, do not
invalidate his love for you. C. S. Lewis remarked that God whispers to us in our pleasure but shouts to us
in our pain. He called pain “God’s megaphone” to rouse a sleeping world. Many times God speaks to us
through our pain because we won’t listen to him any other way.
C. Trouble is meant to be used and not wasted.
Our hard times are not easy and sometimes they are not good at all, but God can use them for our good
and for his glory. He intends to “prove” our faith genuine by the way we respond to our trials. Think of it
this way:
Before our trials, our faith is unproved.
After our trials, our faith is improved.
A faith God approves brings him great glory. Here is good news for all of us.
God is not looking for educated people.
God is not looking for rich people.
God is not looking for talented people.
God is not looking for beautiful people.
God is looking for faithful disciples who having passed through the fiery trials, are stamped for all the
world to see, “Approved by God.”
As I write these words, I know that some of you are going through incredibly difficult things at this very
moment. What is God saying to you?
1) It will not last forever.
2) It is necessary for your spiritual growth.
3) It is sent to help you, not to hurt you.
And if you find yourself in the furnace right now, be of good cheer. It is your Father’s kindness that has put
you there. On Sunday a man told me that he is being “barbecued” by what he is going through. But he did
not seem angry at all. He knows that the pain is helping him grow and become a new man by God’s
grace. Nothing of value will be taken while you are in the furnace. The only things taken from you will be
those things you didn’t need anyway.
Joy and Trials
And so I come back to the two words I mentioned at the beginning: Joy and Trials. Now we can see
clearly how these two always work together.
The Christian position is not:
Joy, then trials, or
Trials, then joy, or
Joy or trials.
It is always joy and trials, at the same time, working together, mixed together, so that we have joy in our
trials, joy beside our trials, joy within our trials, and sometimes even joy in spite of our trials. Thus could
David say in Psalm 34:8, after mentioning his fears and his troubles, “Taste and see that the Lord is
good.” Indeed, his mercies endure forever, but most of us only discover that truth in the furnace. Like the
three Hebrew children of Daniel 3, when we are cast into the furnace, suddenly we discover “the fourth
man” is there with us. Jesus comes to us in our time of direst need, and just when we need him most, he
is there.
So this is my final word to you. This is what we must say:
Whatever it takes, Lord, do your work in me.
Whatever it takes to purify my heart, do your work in me.
Whatever it takes to build my faith, do your work in me.
Whatever it takes to make me like Jesus, do your work in me.
If that means doing some “furnace time,” do your work in me.
If that means fiery trials today and more tomorrow, do your work in me.
Lord, I want my life to be approved by you, so do your work in me.
This is God’s call to all of us. Embrace the cross God is calling you to bear. Stop fighting with God. Stop
complaining. Stop blaming others. And open your heart to exceeding great joy. Some of us have never
discovered this kind of joy because we fight God at the point of our trials. But joy and trials come together
in God’s plan. There is no exceeding great joy without the suffering that goes with it. Don’t fear great
rejoicing. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, do not resist his work in your life, and he will lift
you up. Let God do his work in you, and you will know joy unspeakable and full of glory. Amen.
Living Supernaturally in Christ
Why Do Christians Suffer?
Dr. Bill Bright
God Has a Reason
Without warning, something can happen that will change your life forever.
 A loved one is disabled by an accident or illness.
 A promising career is cut short by an injury.
 A child is born disabled or sick, or dies.
 A marriage crumbles; children choose not to follow Christ.
 A fire, flood, or earthquake destroys your home or business.
 A loved one is killed in battle, by terrorists, a gang, or by thieves.
  How do you react? Do you fall apart? Do you become bitter? Do you question God?
  Life is filled with suffering because we live in a world that has been corrupted by sin. Each of us
will experience some measure of agony during our lifetime. Its form and duration will vary, but it will come.
At times, you may feel overpowered by seeming tidal waves of adversity. You may find yourself flailing in
an ocean of pain, anguish, or despair.
  In the midst of such difficulties, your mind may scream questions like, “Why did this happen to
me?” or “God, where are You?”
  A dear friend, at age 17, entered into a lifetime of severe suffering. As Joni Eareckson dove into a
bay, she broke her neck and had to be pulled from the water. Since then, Joni has been unable to feel or
move her arms and legs. The suffering she experiences is more than most of us will ever be able to
understand.
  In her sorrow, Joni asked a question that I am sure all of us have pondered when going through
great difficulty or tragedy: “What possible good can come out of what I am now going through?” She also
asked, “Why me?”
  How many times have you had something happen to you and asked that same question—a
question that seems to be the universal cry of those who suffer?
  “The suffering and pain,” Joni explains, “have helped me mature emotionally, mentally, and
spiritually. Pain and suffering have purpose. I believe God was working in my life to create grace and
wisdom out of the chaos of pain and depression.” 
 Esteemed Oxford scholar and author C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures,
speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” 1
  Suffering is a catalyst that produces spiritual change. God intends suffering to draw you into His
loving arms. Satan (a very real foe), however, tries to use hardship as a wedge to pry you away from
God. As a result, whenever a crisis enters your life, so does the temptation to doubt God’s love,
goodness, and faithfulness. You are then faced with a crucial, daily decision. Will you trust God to work in
your circumstances or turn your back on Him as you seek relief or comfort in other ways? Your faith in
God and attitude toward Him ultimately determine whether your trials will make you a better person or
serve as tools for your destruction. 
Jesus explains, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in
all its fullness” (John 10:10). God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. However, that plan
for your good includes suffering. 
It is often during times of suffering that we learn to refocus our lives on God. David confessed in
Psalm 119:71, “The suffering You sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your
principles.”
  God has a purpose for every difficulty you encounter. Although this purpose is seldom obvious at
the time, you must always remember that God does not want to destroy you through adversity. Rather,
He wants to shape you for His glory and to conform you to the image of Christ. He does not send
suffering to crush you; He wants you to triumph through suffering. 
Let us consider seven benefits God brings out of adversity. You can remember them by the
acrostic TRIUMPH.
  God uses suffering to produce…TRIUMPH 
Training in obedience
Refinement of your character
Intimacy with your compassionate God and Savior
Understanding of the hurts of others
Maturity for ministering to others
Perseverance in difficult times
Hope for the future 
Suffering Produces Training in Obedience 
Scripture declares, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things
He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Although Jesus never sinned, He was not immune to suffering. Through His
obedience to God, He had to endure unimaginable hardship and pain on our behalf. 

Likewise, suffering can teach you and me obedience so we will not want to sin. When you
experience agony and misery because someone else’s sin has impacted your life, you will learn to hate
evil and the destruction it brings. It is during these times of great crisis that adversity can teach you life-
changing lessons. 
Towards the end of his life, British broadcaster and Christian apologist Malcolm Muggeridge
explained, “Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed
especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness
that everything I have learned in my 75 years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and
enlightened my experience, has been through affliction and not through happiness.” 2 As the Puritan
Thomas Watson wrote, “A sickbed often teaches more than a sermon,” 3 
Adversity reveals the inner recesses of your heart and the holiness of your loving heavenly
Father. It brings you to the end of yourself and teaches you the importance of obedience. The psalmist
states, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word” (119:67, NIV). 
Through ignorance, foolishness, and even willful rebellion, you may sometimes disobey your
heavenly Father’s commands. In those instances, God uses the painful consequences of your
disobedience to teach you why His way is best. 
Referring to those who disobey God, the writer of Hebrews explains, “The Lord disciplines those
He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son… Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as
they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline
seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and
peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:6,10,11, NIV). The Lord does not enjoy seeing
you in misery, but He uses suffering as a tool so you will become an obedient child and allow Him to mold
you into Christ’s likeness. 
Suffering Produces Refinement of Your Character 
God uses trials and tribulation to conform you to the image of His beloved Son. He revealed His
methodology to the people of Judah long before the birth of Christ: “I have refined you, but not in the way
silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering” (Isaiah 48:10). His methods are the
same today. 
When iron ore is dug out of a mountain, it is worth only a few dollars per ton. But when that same
ore is placed in a Bessemer furnace and put under tremendous heat and pressure, it is changed into a
high grade of surgical steel. 

In a similar way, it is the heat of adversity that God can do His work of refinement and
sanctification in you. 
Adversity is the touchstone of character. Hardship reveals strengths and weaknesses. If you have
been out of fellowship with God, He may use hard times to restore you. If you are weak, He may use
difficulties to strengthen you. 
In the 1940s, I owned a specialty-foods firm in Los Angeles. One of my investors in the business
was a member of my church. While I was studying at Princeton, I hired his son to oversee the company’s
daily operations. When I returned from my studies, I found the business greatly changed. Several
members of this investor’s family were drawing upon our investment! When I confronted the family, they
became defensive and accused me of being dishonest and not fulfilling my financial commitments to
them. Finally, the situation came to the attention of our pastor. I was cleared of all their accusations, but I
was haunted by the thought that fellow church members may have been influenced by this family’s gossip
and now saw me as phony or dishonest. I lived under this cloud of embarrassment for more than 2 years. 
Some time later, I was nominated to be a deacon at my church. As my name was mentioned
before the congregation, one of my critics stood up and accused me of being dishonest. Another family
member said that I was “not worthy of such a responsible trust.” 
You can imagine the pain I felt as a congregation of more than a thousand people heard these
personal accusation against me. 
The pastor quickly ushered the nominating committee into another room to discuss the situation. I
begged them to withdraw my name, but the pastor assured the committee that he was well aware of the
situation and that the accusations were not true. He insisted that my name remain on the list of nominees.
At that moment, a woman entered the room and announced, “I don’t know what the issues are, but I know
this: I wouldn’t be a Christian today if it weren’t for Bill Bright.” 
The committee returned to the sanctuary. When it was announced that my nomination would
remain, the congregation burst into standing applause. In an instant, God liberated me from the refining
process. 
God was humbling me, polishing me, and preparing me for the vision He was soon to give me of
Campus Crusade for Christ. Had I not gone through that refining experience, I doubt if God could have
ever used me for any holy purpose. 
When you are feeling the heat of adversity, cooperate with God as He does His refining work in
your life. Then you will be able to say with Job, “[God] knows the way that I take; when He has tested me,
I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10, NIV).

Suffering Produces Intimacy With Your Compassionate God and Savior 

The biblical character of Job has become synonymous with suffering. After enduring tremendous
adversity, Job told God, “I had heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes” (Job
42:5). As with Job, God can deepen your relationship with Him through suffering. 
A dear friend of mine, whom I had the privilege of introducing to our Savior, was one of the most
prominent business leaders in his state. With the passing of time, this successful, influential man became
ill with cancer. As his body was ravaged with disease, he and his wife drew closer and closer to Christ.
They read the Scriptures and sang hymns of praise throughout the day. On several occasions he said to
me, “I am so glad I have cancer because it was only when I discovered cancer that my relationship with
Christ really became intimate. I had known about Christ. I had received Christ. I went though the ritual of
being a Christian, but somehow it was not until I became ill and faced my eternal destiny that I looked up
and experienced the loving, forgiving grace of God.” 
 I had the privilege of taking part in his memorial service, a time of joyful celebration. This man,
who had known the best the world could offer, came to know the best God has to offer—through his
adversity. 
The Bible promises, “The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them
from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in
spirit. The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one ” (Psalm
34:17-19). 
The more you go through adversity with God, the more you will learn how faithful He is to help
you in your time of need. 
Suffering Produces Understanding of the Hurts of Others 
Referring to Jesus, Scripture says, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He
faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). 
Experiencing adversity allows you to understand and empathize with those who are hurting. The
Bible explains this “chain of comfort”: “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.
When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” ( 2
Corinthians 1:4).

A storeowner placed a sign in his window announcing “Puppies for Sale.” Soon a small boy came
with $2.37 to buy a puppy. The storeowner chuckled at the boy’s enthusiasm and agreed to let the boy
take a look at the litter. When the mother and her pups bounded out of the kennel, one of the puppies
lagged behind. The owner explained that the puppy had a malformed hip socket and would always limp. 
The boy excitedly announced that he wanted to buy the limping puppy. He gave the owner the
$2.37 and told him he would pay him every month until he had paid for the dog. The owner tried to
discourage the child, warning him that the puppy would never run, jump, and play with him like the other
puppies. To that, the boy pulled up his pant leg and revealed a crippled left leg supported by a metal
brace. The boy, too, was lame and knew the little pup would need a person who understood. 4 
Paul explains, “You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us
with His comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and
salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you
can patiently endure the same things we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:5,6). 
Adversity humbles us and softens our hearts so we are more compassionate and understanding
toward others. 
Suffering Produces Maturity for Ministering to Others 
The Word of God offers this challenge: “So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm
on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are
weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong” (Hebrews 12:12,13). 
Adversity prods you to grow and prepares you to minister to others. 
When a mother eagle builds her nest, she begins with unlikely materials: rocks, thorns, and bits of
broken branches. Before she lays her eggs, she blankets the nest with feathers and fur from animals she
has killed. This soft, downy nest makes a perfect home for her eggs. 
Her growing young are so comfortable that when they are old enough to fly, they are reluctant to
leave. That is when the mother eagle begins to “stir up the nest.” She uses her iron talons to rip up the
lining of feathers and fur, revealing the broken branches and sharp rocks underneath. The nest becomes
uncomfortable for her young, prompting them to fly away and pursue the life of mature eagles. 5 

Sometimes God may “stir up the nest” to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and to
help you mature in new areas. Hardships make you grow in your understanding of yourself, others, and
God. 
When you emerge victorious on the other side of your “valley of adversity,” you will be better able
to live as you should and to encourage others in the often bumpy journey of life. Timothy, who had
“suffered and been insulted” along with Paul, was sent to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage the
believers as they underwent persecutions and trials (1 Thessalonians 2:2; 3:2,3). By standing firm in the
midst of “severe suffering,” the Thessalonian Christians “became a model to all the believers in
Macedonia and Achaia,” and their “faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8,
NIV). 
 And as you mature in Christ through trials and adversity, you will be able to minister to those who
are hurting, and your victorious life will attract others to your Savior and Lord. 
Suffering Produces Perseverance in Difficult Times 
The Bible tells us, “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy,
for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow” (James 1:2,3, TLB). 
God often uses adversity to strengthen your resolve and solidify your commitment to Him. 
One of the greatest examples of perseverance took place in England during World War II. At the
beginning of the way, Neville Chamberlain was prime minister. As the Nazis swarmed Austria,
Czechoslovakia, Poland, and even threatened the shores of Great Britain, Chamberlain tried to appease
them, to no avail. 
But when Winston Churchill took the helm, he inaugurated his term as prime minister with these
words: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most
grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our
policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea, and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God
has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable
catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is
victory. Victory at all costs—victory in spite of all terrors—victory, however long and hard the road may be,
for without victory there is no survival.”6 
Churchill’s words are those of perseverance. As sirens sounded and bombs pounded Great
Britain, he told his people to “never give up.”

Ultimately, with help from the United States, victory came to Great Britain because of the
determination and perseverance of the British under the inspired leadership of Winston Churchill. 
Are you in the midst of a divorce? Do you or a loved one have cancer or another deadly disease?
Are you worried about your financial situation? Are you being persecuted for your faith? No matter how
“long and hard the road may be,” if you love, trust, and obey God, He will give you the strength necessary
to persevere. 
Muscles are strengthened by encountering and overcoming resistance. Some weightlifters are
able to life several times their own weight because they have built up their muscles. But the process is
painful. They must repeatedly lift heavy weights, causing their muscle fibers to tear, heal, and eventually
thicken. That is what makes them stronger. 
All of us who have experienced sore muscles know that the process of becoming physically
stronger is painful. The same is true of developing an unwavering faith. Only when your faith is stretched
and tested does it become strong. 
Scripture urges, “So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for
you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and
pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God then
mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and
glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6,7). 
As your faith in God grows, your perseverance increases. And as you experience His provision in
your trials, something else happens. God brings a seventh benefit out of adversity. 
The Bible promises, "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because
God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us " Romans 5:3-5,
NIV). 
This is a marvelous truth of Scripture: for Christians, suffering leads to hope.  
Irena Dragas grew up in the Croatian region of Yugoslavia. When she was 16 years old, her only
brother died in a tragic car accident on his way home from a mission trip. Then when she was 17, war
broke out and militant Serbians attacked her town. After days of hiding in her basement, she and her
family escaped only to find themselves homeless refugees. They traveled from place to place living in
other people's homes, hiding from bombs and dodging grenades. As she viewed the destruction of cities
turned into ghost towns and heard so many heartbreaking stories of shattered lives, she often wondered
how she could find hope in the midst of war and death. Because she was a Christian, she often tried to
force herself to feel hopeful. But her efforts only met with disappointment.
 One night she lay in bed in a sparsely furnished apartment temporarily provided to her family by a
refugee agency. Although it was a few days before Christmas, they had no decorations, no Christmas
tree, and no mementos of cherished memories from the past. Yet suddenly, joy and hope washed over
her. It was not a joy in her circumstances. War is horrible, and the hardships she experienced were tragic.
But she realized that she could find hope in the One beyond the circumstances. Although her life was
turned upside down, God's character had not changed. His love and His integrity were still the same.
Even in a strange apartment in an unfamiliar city in the middle of a war, she could experience hope
because she was in the palm of God's hand. 
Halford E. Luccock penned these words: "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power
in the present."7 As Christians, we have every reason to have faith in the future, because God has
promised His beloved children a glorious inheritance and a future of intimate fellowship with Him.
Scripture assures us, "God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive
the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him" (James1: 12). 
God is your hope! And because of His faithfulness and power, you can face the adversities of life
without fear, and triumph! 
God Will Help You to Triumph 
The Bible proclaims, "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and
through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him" (2 Corinthians 2:14, NlV). God
does not want His children to be crushed by life's hardships. He wants you and me to triumph! And we
can live victoriously if we will draw upon God’s faithful promises and the example of our wonderful Savior,
Jesus. 
Jesus Understands Your Suffering 
Our Savior suffered overwhelming adversity, and through it transformed the world. Listen to this
prophetic description of the Messiah from the Old Testament: 
He was despised and rejected—a Man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We
turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we
did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.
And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God for His own sins! But He was wounded
and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we
were healed! (Isaiah 53:3,5).

Jesus endured temptation without sinning so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for your sins
(Hebrews 4:15). He endured rejection and persecution to make you acceptable to God. He defeated
death through His resurrection so you could live with Him forever. He loved you while you were still His
enemy so you could become His friend. 
And now this glorious Savior sits in power at the right hand of God the Father. Although in
heaven, through His Spirit He also lives within every believer. He can relate to what you are going
through. He understands your misery. And He assures you, "Here on earth you will have many trials and
sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world" (John 6:33).  
That is a promise you can cling to during times of suffering. When you do, the Bible promises, "Every
child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory" (1 John 5:4). Christ living in you
ensures victory over anything this life may bring you (Colossians 1:27).  
God is Always With You 
God promises, "I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will]
not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold
on you)! [Assuredly not!]" (Hebrews 13:5, Amplified). 
Paul experienced the reality of God's continuous loving presence, regardless of his circumstances. He
exclaimed, "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't, and life can't.
The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the
powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean,
nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ
Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38,39). Your loving God and compassionate Savior is always with you—in
this life and the next. No spiritual force or being can separate you from His amazing love. No future
tragedy or difficult circumstance can ever remove you from the presence of Christ's love. It does not
matter where you go on earth or even in space, you can never go beyond the boundary of His all-
encompassing love.  
 God Turns Your Hardships Into Blessings 
No matter what you are going through, no matter what kind of hardship you may face, the Bible
declares that you cannot lose. God gives this magnificent assurance in Romans 8:28: "We know that God
causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His
purpose for them."

God does not promise that only good things will happen to His children. He does not promise
‘health, wealth and prosperity’ to every believer. However, He does promise that whatever happens, He
will use for your eternal benefit. You may not always understand the reason for difficulties in your life, but
God can and will bring good out of bad situations. He always turns tragedy into triumph for those who
love, trust, and obey Him.  
In the book It Is Toward Evening, Vance Havner tells of a small Southern community where the people
specialized in growing cotton. In fact, cotton was the only crop the townspeople grew. No one in the
community became rich, but everyone managed to get by—until disaster struck. A small insect, the boll
weevil, invaded the fields, destroying the crops and threatening to ruin the community. Out of frustration,
the farmers planted peanuts and other crops in their ravaged fields. Eventually, these crops brought the
town greater prosperity than it could have ever experienced raising cotton. In the end, what seemed a
calamity became the catalyst for undreamed wealth. In appreciation, the townspeople erected a
monument to the boll weevil, which still stands today. 8  
God has absolute sovereign control over everything. No hardship, sickness, disaster, or evil can touch
your life without His divine permission. And when it does, He will sovereignly transform the result of the
adversity into a blessing as you daily respond in faith and trust. Everything that happens to you is filtered
through His love.  
God Gives Peace in the Midst of Adversity 
The Bible declares, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need,
and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more
wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live
in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6,7).  
I do not look forward to conflicts, confrontations, or suffering, but when I encounter them, I know
that God is in control. Through the years, I have seen numerous examples of His faithfulness. When
Vonette and I were confronted by interpersonal conflicts inherent to any organization, Jesus filled us with
His supernatural love and patience. During times of serious physical illness, Vonette and I have clung to
our Savior for strength and peace. And in the midst of watching loved ones die, the Lord has sustained
us.  
None of these experiences were pleasant at the moment they were happening. However, when
we follow the biblical injunction to love, trust, and obey God, He has a way of turning tragedy into triumph.
After God sent King Hezekiah tremendous hardship to humble him, the king realized, "Indeed it was for
my own peace that I had great bitterness" (Isaiah 38:17).  
Jesus gave this wonderful promise to His disciples and all of us, "Peace I leave with you; My
peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid" (John 14:27, NIV). After 55 years of walking with my Lord and Savior, I can confidently say that He
is faithful to His promises.

And because He is, I can experience His peace no matter how difficult my circumstances may be.
Suffering Results in Future Glory 
The apostle Peter writes, "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if
something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—because these trials will make you
partners with Christ in His suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory
when it is displayed to all the world" (1 Peter 4:12,13).  
Although your problems may be overwhelming in this life, they are insignificant compared to the
marvelous future glory that awaits you in Christ. The Bible promises, "Our present troubles are quite small
and won't last very long. Yet, they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we
don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For
the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4: 17,18).  
 When you remember the glorious destiny that is yours with Christ, your problems today become
easier to endure. As you daily place your faith in Christ and invite Him to live His supernatural life in and
through you, you can experience a life of victory—now and for eternity. 
You Are More Than a Conqueror 
Thousands of years ago, tragedy changed the life of a Hebrew youth named Daniel. The powerful
pagan ruler, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, conquered his people. Daniel was taken from his
homeland of Judah to a foreign country to be trained as a slave to serve this pagan despot.  
Although his life was turned upside down, Daniel knew one thing had not changed. God is the
same yesterday, today, and forever. By continuing to place his faith in the Lord, Daniel conquered his
conqueror. He won the king's favor and respect. Nebuchadnezzar came to rely on Daniel's wisdom and to
admire his faith. Eventually this pagan ruler surrendered his life to the Creator God, the King of the
universe.  
Though Nebuchadnezzar was a conqueror, Daniel was more than a conqueror.  
Scripture triumphantly proclaims that this same victory belongs to all who are in Christ. God
assures us, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or
famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
Him who loved us" (Romans 8:35,37, NIV)

In the mid-1800s, a young couple in Glasgow, Scotland, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
However, the baby developed an eye infection, which marred his vision. Although his parents and medical
specialists fought heroically to reverse his declining eyesight, before George Matheson finished his
coursework at Glasgow University, he was completely blind. His family was distraught. 
George was deeply committed to the Lord, so rather than becoming bitter, he drew upon his
Savior's strength. Within a few years, he graduated with honors in philosophy, studied for the ministry,
and became minister of one of the largest congregations in Edinburgh! In his memorable lifetime, he not
only prepared countless sermons, he also visited his many parishioners, continued his studies, and wrote
twelve books and numerous articles. 
How difficult it must have been for George and his parents when he first lost his eyesight. But
God gave him the courage, perseverance, and resourcefulness to be victorious in spite of his handicap.
And his faith grew ever stronger. After twenty years of blindness, he penned this beautiful hymn:  
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul on Thee!
I give Thee back the life I owe
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.9  
You, too, can experience supernatural victory in the midst of adversity. Christ has given you the
victory, but you can share in His triumph only by placing your faith in God and His promises and by
inviting Christ to live in and through you. As you do, you will experience an abundant, supernatural life of
power, peace, joy, and triumph!  
Remember the wise counsel of 19th century minister and hymn writer Phillips Brooks: "Do not
pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks commensurate with your
strength. Pray for strength commensurate with your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be
no miracle, but you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself—at the richness of
life which has come to you by the grace of God."