Why Does God Allow Trials in the Life of the Believer?: Turning Trials Into Opportunities

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you. Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment trial. We all have something to have about a dozen today. Pastor Greg Maurice's difficulty can lead to ministering okay so you got your problems and knowing here's a question, can you somehow give glory to God. Can you find a way to remember that God is the sole of your life working out for his glory in your good only can you use it as an opportunity clean Christ to others and would never know God's will never let God solve our problems. All our friends know God can solve their problem today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie points out our trials for an opportunity to put our faith to work with our faith on display good insight from his practical series with every growing believer needs to know sometime today like your long. Why does God allow us to go through trials testing happens.

Let's look at Bell James chapter 1 women talk about this for many verses. But this of your anchor text reverses to the four my brother's rights. James counted all joy when you follow the various trials, knowing that the test of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work in you that you may be mature. Lacking nothing.

Okay, so we wonder why does God allow trials. God allows trials in our lives, so we will grow up spiritually, you want to be a growing Christian right, God will allow trials in your life so you will grow up spiritually. The JB Phillips translation of verse four says let this process go on to you become men of mature character. Here's number two God allows trials in our lives.

And that's true, but human things look bleak all things work together for your good in God's glory. Again, even when things look bleak all things work together for God's glory and your good God is in control of all circumstances that surround the believer.

There really are no accidents there.

Just Providence.

And that's a good thing to remember Job story shows us that the devil can do nothing on the life of the believer without the express permission of God while remember the story. One the Angels of the Lord went to present themselves before the Lord and Satan was among them. Because Satan is a fallen angel and got started bragging on Job you remember God said to the Angels. Satan there as well. Have you considered my servant Job perfect and upright man when the fears God and shuns evil and the devil began to challenge that assertion of the Lord, but we might ask the question why would God allow Satan to hassle his conceit went on to say you know what Job fears you because you bless them Job follows you because you give them a lot of cool stuff paraphrase their Job is your servant because of what he gets out of it, but if he had any calamity if he lost his possessions to be lost is lively, good.

Certainly if he lost himself, he would curse you to your face and God actually allow the devil to wreck havoc in Job's life with limitations. You say but but why would God. God loves someone why would he allow it. Even the devil can serve the purposes of God. Know God will not allow me to be tested about which I'm able, but will with the temptation to be a way of escape, that I may be able to bear it. Simple way that some that God won't give me more than I can handle but God will allow these things. Why, because in the way the devil can sometimes do God's work will be determined if I'm a weed or a tear is Jesus mentioned in this parable it will determine if I'm really a believer or not a believer. Trials will only make unbelievers stronger because they will cling more tightly to Christ. But that same trial may turn a nonbeliever away because they were never clinging tightly to join away these trials. These testings can help determine if you're really a Christian and Job's wife certainly wasn't supportive.

After all, the calamity befell him and is broke out of Boyles and he's lost everything she says okay to just curse God and die really. Job said joint saying that when you were driving the Mercedes so it doesn't appear that she ever believe I don't know about her at all, but he clung to the Lord. But listen, God works.

He sings out for good. Did you read that crazy story in the news about this man that was bitten by a shark coming that's about the worst case scenario.

I guess the only thing worse is being eaten and swallowed by a shark.

This man was bitten by a shark with the article pointed out that the sharks saved his life to hear about this, as it turns out when he was being treated for a shark bite. It was discovered he had a tumor on his kidney. And it was cancer, but apparently if you had not been bitten.

This would not of been discovered by then it could have been too late.

Yet the cancer removed and did not receive any radiation or chemotherapy in this man.

His name is Eugene Finney said I'm thankful for the shark attack. He said this shark saved my life. They wanted to give the shark to put the man an award, but he texted he was too busy fighting other people hoping for a positive outcome. No, but that this is true, except the party just said I'm glad this shark bit me and sometimes something will happen.

You think this is the worst thing that can happen then as time passes suddenly look back and actually that was a good thing. Actually, the Lord used that to make a very needed change in my life again. We love the verse Romans 828 all things work together for good to those who what love God and other called according to his purpose and that brings me to my next point .3 God's ultimate purpose for us in trials and really a life is to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ.

We say that again God's ultimate purpose for us through trials and really in life is to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. In his usual method for this is heavenly pressure wide to produce a family like this. Yes, we love Romans 828. But we forget that after that is Romans 829 those two verses together get the big picture again.

Romans 828 we know that all things work together for good to those that love God and other called according to his purpose. Verse 29 for whom he foreknew he also did predestined that they might be conformed into the image of his own dear son, people stand around and argue endlessly about predestination and who is predestined and who is not in the miss the point of why God predestined or shows us what does predestination meet means God determined it before you were alive you were predestined why to be conformed to the image of his own dear son, God's long-term goal for you is to become like Jesus.

So there are things we go through in life and it's bad and then the bad thing can become a good thing. Like the guy with the shark bite. But then there are things in life that are bad, they stay bad and are always bad, right they never are good tragedies that wasn't good. Now maybe good came out of but it never becomes a good thing but we got doesn't say a bad thing. Always will become a good thing it says so because all things to work together for good. But here's the bigger picture. Some of the things that God is doing in your life are not to be discovered until we get to have you realize that all those things were designed to make you more like Jesus. So some benefits of trials.

We will see in this life and other benefits of trials will not be seen until the after life. Just know this God is at work might be through irritating people all irritating people that you ever stop and think that you are maybe one of those irritated no not me, it's the other people, not me. Well were probably all irritating to someone I'm sure might be an emotional low might even be a tragedy like the loss of a loved one, but we must remember that these pains are temporary. Second Corinthians 417 says our present troubles are small, they won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them will last forever so we don't look at the troubles we see now. Rather, we fix our gaze and things that cannot be seen.

For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. I love that verse so we will look a lot of times at the here and now we don't think about the by-and-by because looking at the bigger picture. You know, just like a kid in a kid only thinks of the moment. I want this toy I want to keep this candy I want a this candy and have this toy simultaneously and the parent looking out for the greater good of the child says no you can't have that candy before bed. No you can't have that toy and are thinking of something that is better for you. In general, the kid doesn't understand until the child gets older. So maybe you're one of these situations. Right now you're back up against a wall with no way to look but good news. God is still in the miracle Mr. Greg Moore will have the second half of this message just a moment were thrilled when we hear from listeners who join us from every background, every profession, every H is a Christian holds for wireline study.

It's great to the ministry of harvesters impacting the life of this 10 1 not call us and tell us your story just call 866-871-1144 866-871-1144 Pastor Greg is offering some good encouragement today about the trials of our lives is a message called why does God allow trials in the life of the believer available@harvest.org. Let's continue now.

Point number four. Suffering can bring glory to God.

Suffering can bring glory to God. How so will any fool can be happy when the sky is blue and the sun is shining and everything's going well but when the storm is coming. That's a different matter. Back to Job again Satan challenged God who was bragging on Job and said you bless him and that's why he follows use of the Lord allowed the calamities, but wanted Job to one the bottom of life dropped out.

He worshiped God, showing Satan was wrong in all of God's competence and Job was not misplaced at all. And then there are those times when God can be glorified through just intervening to do numeric on me. Maybe your second and you go to the doctor.

They say you have cancer and there's nothing we can do and you might as well get your affairs in order, because you may only have a few months to live. And then you go to church and you say I need prayer. The Bible says that there's any sick among you call for the elders of the church you will lay hands on that person pray for them and anoint them with oil. The effectual fervent prayer of an evangelist will accomplish much. You know, and so you going to get prayer and then you go and you reject and suddenly the test revealed the cancer is gone and the doctors Figured out what happened America call God still does things like that today we hear stories like this all the time he intervenes. He does the miracle he provides that sum of money that is needed. He comes through in some amazing way. ~Sometimes God is glorified by removing the problem in resolving the situation how many of you bed would look like an insurmountable problem that was overruled by God.

He interviewed a piece about most of you, that's fantastic. Thank God.

When that happens, then there are times when God will be glorified not by the removal of the problem but by leaving it there and having you worship him just the same. And that's a powerful testimony. That's what happened to Paul and Silas were thrown into a prison for preaching the gospel in the Bible says. At midnight they began to sing praises to God and the other prisoners were listening. By the way, that phrase listening means listening with pleasure.

I don't think that ever heard singing in a hellhole like that before Paul and Silas were able to give God glory. At midnight 10 then of course you remember that they been treated so badly by that Roman jailer to whip them in a hard heart. But then the earthquake came a miracle happened. All the prisoners could've run free if they wanted to and that Janet was about to kill himself because he knew if he lost his prisoners.

He would be executed by Roman Paul said don't harm yourself role here that jailer said, Sirs, tell me what must I do to be saved is see their testimony on him over because they give God the glory. Not after the earthquake, but before and that's the time to give God the glory. So let's say you're the person to get the unfortunate diagnosis, you're the person that has a tragedy before you. You're the person that here's the bad news is all give God the glory when he fixes it, no, no, you give God the glory. Now right now you because he still in control is gonna work it ultimately together for his glory in your good is going to make you more like Jesus. Again coming back to Job when he heard the horrible things that happened the loss of his possessions of livelihood and worst of all the lots of all of his children. We read show praise and worship, and said, naked came I into this world naked go I out, blessed be the name of the Lord. The Bible goes on to sake and all of this Job did not blame God or charge him foolishly. So that's important. Paul and Silas gave glory to God before the earthquake before the answer. Sometimes God will allow the hardship. Listen to this God can be glorified, even in disability disability can become an ability when placed in the hands of God.

A disadvantage can actually become an advantage say I don't. I don't know what that means don't use these tricky words with me preacher what you mean to let me illustrate my friend Nick Boyd church you know who I'm talking about. If you don't, Nick was born in Australia without arms and legs.

He's limbless and is one of the most joyful Christians I've ever met not say what here's were his disability turns into an ability to put them in front of a bunch of high school kids, many of them struggling with their own problems, some of them being bullied. Some of them even feeling maybe life isn't worth living in Nick Boyd church is literally and I mean no disrespect when I say this yes to be picked up and placed on a table because he can't get there on his own and there he stands and they look at this young man and he talks about how good God is and how God is help them all of a sudden you look at your problems with the new perspective. The minute she can rejoice. Why am I not rejoicing in and though it's very hard for American and he still this is the most difficult challenge imaginable. He is chosen to not waste his pain and to leverage this problem into a way to bring glory to God the Lord to open up doors for Nick all around the world to bring all open help and most of all to bring Jesus to so many people so that's a disability being turned into an ability that's a disadvantage being turned into an advantage.

Another example is Johnny Erickson taught in your preferred Johnny is a wonderful lady who many years ago.

Actually, in 1967 she was a young teenager. She dove off a little dock and had a spinal cord injury that paralyzed from the neck down and do this the worst thing that can happen to a young person and and yet Johnny despite the severe disability has brought hope to millions of people that made it will be about her life and she's written many books and she still deals with pain affect recently. If it wasn't hard enough to be in her condition. She got breast cancer and that she was interviewed by a magazine and in this magazine. She said these words. She said she was in a battle against principalities and powers in that one is to despair, she said, so I have to actively participate and she takes his or theme. Hebrews 1038 were God's is my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. Johnny says I don't want to be one of those who shrink back. I don't want to tarnish his here's a lady who is a quadriplegic and has breast cancer and she says hi don't want to bring shame to his name. I want to honor the Lord.

I don't want to shrink back in. Thankfully they did surgery and the cancer was removed. But what a shining example she is. She said I'm on this battlefield.

My question is how can I glorify God. Okay so you got your problems and then wanted diminish which are going to because it's okay my poems or the bed with her stool problems Greg okay give me that it problems the problem of trials, the trial whatever this big small somewhere in the middle okay but now here's the question. Can you somehow give glory to God to that. Can you find a way to remember that God is still in control of your life is gonna work it out for kids glory in your good ultimately can you use it as an opportunity to proclaim Christ to others and sometimes he will remove the affliction and sometimes shall be glorified in the affliction going back to Job for the last time no one his whole world fell apart didn't say I understand it just said, blessed be the name of the Lord called out to the Lord, that we need to do as well. Solid encourage from God's word today. You're on a new beginning. Pastor Gregory's message.

Why does God allow trials in the life of the believer. There's more to come.

It's part of his practical series. What every growing believer needs to know did you hear all of today study.

If not, you can catch up by going online to harvest.org oftentimes the online version contains several more minutes of insight from Pastor Greg so check it out@harvest.org or to get this message on CD, dial 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime at 1-800-821-3300 Prof. Greg Darrell strawberry is here with us today and you know it's not often that people get to talk with the legend and I'm just glad the two of you are getting a chance to talk with me today. That's good, Dave. I like that good good joke will Dell really is a legend. He's a sports legend. He's someone that most people know of. He is written a brand-new book called turn your season around subtitled how God transforms your life by my friend Darrell strawberry and Darrell asked me to write the forward which I was delighted to do. Let me just read a little bit from my forward for Darrell's book, because it pretty much tells you who he is. If you don't know most people know Darrell strawberry is a sports legend, a baseball icon, a childhood hero, a model athlete, a world-famous success the best of the best, and rightly so. An amazing fielder Darrell played 17 seasons abysmal for the Mets the Dodgers the Giants and the Yankees. But it was in the batters box 31 so much of his well-earned thing known for his prodigious and numerous homeruns. Darrell never failed to please his abundant fence. When he stepped up to the plate. Darrell strawberry is an eight time All-Star four-time World Series champion, two-time Silver slugger award winner.

1983 National League rookie of the year 1988 National League homeruns leader and New York Mets all of thing, but one of the things I write in this folder. Many don't realize is that Darrell was a broken man broken before he even started playing baseball underneath the swagger and success were a pain and his spiritual emptiness that theme, fortune women, drugs, and the love of the game could never satisfy. Darrell told me once my pain led me to my greatness but my greatness would eventually lead to my destructive behavior.

Darrell thanks for being with us today and met I'm I think this new book is is going to impact a lot of lives in you have a story to tell. So how many books have you written in total, Darrell. I think I've written a few books on the autobiography which drove the New York Times best-selling I think that went well and everybody was really looking forward to reading that one, but I think this book is probably the most important book that I have ever written.

It has so much ingredients inside of it because it has dual with the principles of the principles in 1 August. Thanks face for having the press regarding a really appreciate all that you record on a 4 million.

Allow me to be on your show and your writing before from a book.

I think reaching so many people at this this time is critical time in our in our life is so important.

I think this book, I realized that God would have me write a book middle of a pandemic and call turn your season around.

Little did I know that we would all have to turn a season around. From what we've been through so I just hope it reach a lot of people in such a lot of people show that God you know God's mercy is Israel, and his grace is sufficient and that he loves us and Mr. whatever we go through so if you want to get a copy of Joe strawberries brand-new book that he feels is the most important book he's ever written. You can get it from us here to new beginning again. The title is churn your season around how God transforms your life. I will send you this book for your gift of any size to help us to continue on here at a new beginning to teach the word of God and to preach the gospel. They change the life of Darrell strawberry yeah that's right it's a message that still changes lives today. In fact, more than 150,000 people made decisions through this ministry in 2020, alone, and your investment helps that kind of outreach happen.

Could we ask you to partner with us and if you can send an investment right now.

We should ask for Darrell's book turn your season around, and we hope you'll contact us soon will only be able to mention this. A short time longer. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study.

It's a worship service. It church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now. If so, join us per Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this. We have seen thousands of people make a commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend harvest@home.o will Pastor Greg Bridgers's final insights from this important message. Why does God allow trials in the life of the believer more practical insight. Next time you're on a new beginning. Greg Laurie and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org