God's Purposes in Testing Us: Understanding Challenges and Redemption
When faced with challenges and troubles, it is natural to question the reasons behind them. Many seek consolation in believing that God, if He exists, should protect us from all harm and difficulty. However, a deeper understanding can bring light to the significance of tests and challenges in our lives.
The Importance of Free Will and Choice
It is often said that God, if He exists, does not directly test or cause troubles for us. Instead, the concept revolves around our free will and our choices. Our autonomy allows us to make choices that may lead us towards either good or evil. Romans 1:21-25 provides insight into how our willful rejection of God's truth can result in moral corruption and a profound separation between humanity and God.
“Although [men] knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him … Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever!”
Challenges as Opportunities for Growth
Just as children learn and grow through challenges and difficulties, we often find the essence of growth in overcoming our personal trials. Hardship can be compared to a firm, well-cooked steak—nourishing and strengthening us. These tests are not designed to overwhelm us but to shape us into the individuals God desires us to be.
“I played in an orchestra and was disappointed if the music wasn’t hard enough. Not too hard just firm like a good steak. Enjoy the tests; the win will feel better. Heaven is more but better!”
Learning from Suffering and Challenges
Life is a journey of self-discovery and character building. God does not fix everything for us, nor wipe our ass for us. Instead, He trusts us to take on our responsibilities with determination and resilience. Our trials are not merely tests of perseverance but also opportunities to deepen our understanding of God and His love.
“If you belong to yourself, you don’t belong to Him. If you don’t take up your own cross of suffering against the evils of sin in your heart and this world trying to take it away, you can’t belong to Jesus as one of His.”
The Redemption of Jesus Christ
Humanity's corruption and the presence of sin have brought about sickness and death. Yet, amidst darkness and destitution, Yeshua Messiah, known as Jesus Christ, offers a path to redemption. His sacrifice bridges the chasm between man and God, providing us with new life both now and in the hereafter.
“To challenge us and force us to learn things” – these challenges are not arbitrary; they are a means by which we can learn, grow, and ultimately come closer to God. Through suffering and hardship, we can experience God's love and strength in our lives, and we can find peace and purpose in His redemptive plan.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while our free will may lead us to face challenges and troubles, these experiences are not the sole domain of suffering. They are also opportunities for growth, learning, and ultimately, redemption. Though challenging, these trials shape our characters and bring us closer to understanding God's love and His plan for our lives. As we take up our crosses and endure, we are being made perfect, established, strengthened, and settled in Christ.