The Power of Suffering (Part 4)

I (6) To teach you not to trust in yourself:

Paul spoke of the purpose of his sufferings in Asia:

2 Corinthians 1:8, 9 "...In Asia we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life;  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God which raiseth the dead."

You will come to recognize that... 

2 Corinthians 4:7 "...we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

(7) To develop spiritual qualities:

Romans 5:3, 4 "We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and  experience hope, (resulting in the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts)."

1 Peter 5:10 "...after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

These qualities conform you to the image of Jesus, which is God's plan for you.

(8) To manifest the works of God:

"When the disciples saw a man who had been blind from birth, they asked who was responsible for his condition.  Was it the sin of his parents or of the man himself?  Jesus answered: Neither this man sinned nor His parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in Him" in John 9:3.
 
(9) To perfect the power of God:

2 Corinthians 12:9 "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

(10) To remove that which is unstable:

Suffering results in all that is unstable being shaken out of your life.  You cease to depend on people, programs, or material things as these all fail in your time of need.  God permits this in "removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain" in Hebrews 12:27.

During the storms of life, everything crumbles that is not built upon God and His Word, so don't build on unstable principles or blame God for problems that arise in your life.