Trials and faith

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I have a question about trials in our lives and what scripture or the Church has to say about them. I seem to remember hearing the deeper we become in our faith or closer we desire to come to Christ and His Church, the more trials we will have or the more intense they will become. Is this true or am I making this up?

I ask because I have become a lot deeper in my faith this year and I am currently going through one of the most intense trials of my life. I still have a very strong faith in God, but at this point, I’m simply trusting that he’ll get me through each day. Is this Satan attacking me, is this just coincidence, or either?

Thanks for your help and God bless.

Todd
 
Hi Todd,

God sends us the trials that we can bear. So it makes some sense to say that the more we can bear, the more he might give us to bear.

Verbum
 
God gives us trials to purify us. It is why the Church will go through one final trial at the end of the world. Offer your trials up to Jesus to help Him save souls.
 
There are a number of Scriptures that refer to the suffering of the Christian. Perhaps the one that most closely resembles what you ask is*Sirach 2:1 My son, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials.*Other good ones relating to this include:

Acts 14:22, 2 Cor 12:7-9, Philippians 1:29, Rom 5:3, Rom 8:17, Philippians 3:10, 2 Thes 1:5, 2 Tim 1:9, 1 Pet 2:19, 1 Pet 2:20-21, 1 Pet 4:12-19, 1 Pet 1:6-7, Rev 1:9, Heb 12:7-8

You may find it worthwhile to read the book of Job, or a commentary on it. Perhaps listen to this talk on suffering by Dr. Peter Kreeft. Highly recommend!!
 
“We shall glory with him, if we also suffer with him.”

“No man is greater than his master.”-Jesus

“I rejoice in my sufferings.”-St. Paul

The witness of the early Christians is extreme hardship and death.

God is bringing something good out of your hardship, just wait for it and be faithful.

“all things work for the good of those who love God.”

“All creation fights on behalf of the just.”
 
you may want to read “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas A Kempis.

Peace and all good.
Patrick

Jesus Christ is Our Fathers’ simple plan for salvation since before time began.
 
Hi:

I am new to the forums and should have done a little summary about myself but I found this question so much more interesting than me!🙂

Anyway, I have long thought that a statement from the Protestant, and brilliant, Theologian/Philosopher/Psychologist Soren Kierkegaard mighty thought provoking. Says Kierkegaard: “God causes to suffer on earth those whom He Loves.” But Kierkegaard goes on to explain that God Loves everyone who ever has, does, will, live (even if only briefly because of natural or wretched man caused abortion). This means all of us will–, indeed must–suffer. Christ queried the Apostles who sought high places in His Kingdom whether they could follow Him. Each answered “yes” but did not know what they were saying until the Passion, the Ressurection (particularly the Road to Emmaus) and Pentecost.

That is a profound mystery but the Saints have taught l that siffering is a “Gift.” Just another example of how Christ turns the world upside down in His Incarnation, Life, Passion, Death, Descent into Hell, and Ressurection. Needless to say our Faith is not for the feint of heart.

Thanks for letting me ramble a bit. God Bless all.

Mike
 
Thanks all for the responses! The question I have been pondering is “how do I rejoice in suffering?” I figured I had the wrong idea of what that looks like because my initial thought was I need to figure that out because if I’m rejoicing then it won’t feel like suffering. Well, I’m still pretty sure I have the wrong idea on that. 🙂

I mentioned this to my priest during confession this weekend and asked him the same question. His answer was quite simple yet profound. He said, “you rejoice because when you suffer you are suffering with Christ.” Seems reasonable that, even though you are suffering, if you are walking right next to Christ that it would be a joyous event. The thing I need to work on however, is REMEMBERING this fact and keeping my eyes on Christ even when I’m feeling badly.
 
toddkitta said:
Thanks all for the responses! The question I have been pondering is “how do I rejoice in suffering?” I figured I had the wrong idea of what that looks like because my initial thought was I need to figure that out because if I’m rejoicing then it won’t feel like suffering. Well, I’m still pretty sure I have the wrong idea on that. 🙂

I mentioned this to my priest during confession this weekend and asked him the same question. His answer was quite simple yet profound. He said, “you rejoice because when you suffer you are suffering with Christ.” Seems reasonable that, even though you are suffering, if you are walking right next to Christ that it would be a joyous event.** The thing I need to work on however, is REMEMBERING this fact and keeping my eyes on Christ **even when I’m feeling badly.
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You, Me & the whole lot of us… easy to feel sorry for ourselves & slip into other even more dangerous states of mind. Harder to keep focused on Christ. But Good Friends can help, Goodness Knows the folks in here can too.

good luck in whatever you are facing.

Regards,
 
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