You can be confident that God will not allow anything to happen to you without His permission, and He will not let any “bad thing” happen that will not ultimately bring you more good than destruction. However, if you choose to trust God to bring about His purposes through the suffering, you can avoid the trap of bitterness and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Unless you accept God’s grace to deal with suffering, inevitably you will become bitter. “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience, experience and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3–5). (See II Corinthians 12:9.) As we, like Paul, choose to trust God and accept the grace He gives us, Christ’s character will be formed in us. Instead of despairing when he encountered trials, Paul said he would glory in his infirmities so that the power of Christ would rest upon him. The Apostle Paul regarded these “tests” as opportunities to grow spiritually. Temptations: opportunities to yield to our sinful nature.Tribulations: unusual pressures and challenges.Distresses: disappointments and deep hurts. Necessities: wear and care of daily responsibilities.Persecutions: harassment and oppression due to religious convictions.
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