8 Purposes for Trials

From John MacArthur's sermon "The Purpose of Trials":

1)Trials reveal to you and me the strength or lack of faith...so that we can move along the path to greater strength. They reveal what is in our hearts...that our faith is weak and we need to trust God more.

2) Trials come to humble us.

3) They wean us from wordly things. During a trial we see the utter inability for *things* to solve any problem or even provide any real resource or comfort.

4) The trials call us to an eternal hope...heaven becomes sweeter than ever.

5) They reveal what we truly love. Was there anything more dear to Abraham than Isaac? He was willing to give up what he loved.

6) Trials teach us to value the blessing of God. In the midst of a trial, we obey and are blessed. Psalm 63:3 tells us that God's lovingkindess is the best thing there is. We truly learn to believe this when going through a trial or testing.

7) Suffering helps us to help others in their suffering.

8) Trials develop enduring strength for greater usefulness. The worth of a soldier is never known in times of peace. It is in times of war that we see what is inside a man. The more you are strengthened, the more useful to God's kingdom you become.