This is one of the most difficult questions - and, at the same time, one of the most sincere: "If God loves me, why does he allow me to go through such difficult times?"

When life gets tough, when everything seems to be going wrong, when our hearts are tired and our faith weakens, it's natural to question.

The truth is that we all face trials at some point. And when they come, they don't come with a ready-made explanation. It comes with pain, with silence and with the kind of question you can only ask on your knees.

But does God really turn away? Does he forget? Or is there something bigger going on - even when we don't understand?

God didn't promise no problems

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that following God would be easy. Jesus himself said:

"In this world you will have afflictions. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

In other words, problems are part of the journeyeven for those who have faith.

The good news is that God doesn't abandon us in the midst of pain. He promises to be with useven when everything seems to be falling apart.

Trials reveal who we are

On good days, it's easy to smile, to say thank you, to say you trust. But it's in trials our character is tested.

And it's not to destroy us. It's to show us what needs to be strengthened.

  • It's in the desert that we learn to trust
  • It is in scarcity that we recognize provision
  • It is in pain that we learn compassion
  • It is in waiting that we develop patience
  • It is in doubt that faith is strengthened

God doesn't waste suffering. He turns even crying into learning.

1# Trials bring us closer to God

When all is well, it's common to relax in prayer, to be distracted by the world, to forget what really matters.

But when the storm comes, what do we do? We run to God. We cry on his lap. And even in silence, we feel the presence that has never left.

Sometimes, God allows pain so that we can return to him.

Not because he's cruel, but because he loves us too much to let us live far from the source of life.

2# They teach us to depend - not control

We often want to solve everything with the strength of our arms. We plan, control, organize and anticipate. But there comes a time when everything is beyond our reach.

And that's where we learn: we're not God. And that's fine.

Trials break down pride, demolish the false sense of control and teach us to say, with sincerity: "Lord, I can't do it alone".

3# They reveal the strength that is already in you

Think about the trials you've faced in the past. At the time, it seemed like you couldn't bear it, right? But you've come through them. You grew. Learned. Changed.

Maybe today you're going through something even bigger. But inside you there is a faith that endures, even when tired. There's a heart that still stands, even though it's wounded.

And God sees that. He knows how much it hurts. But He also knows how much you can bear with his help.

"God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

4# Trials have a purpose

We don't understand everything now. Some answers only come with time. Others, perhaps only in eternity.

But one thing is certain: God does not act without purpose.

  • Sometimes He is shaping your heart
  • Other times, it's preparing you for something bigger
  • Or even protecting you from something worse that you haven't seen yet

There are things you'll only understand in the future, when you look back and realize that it was chaos that pushed you towards your destiny.

5# The trial is not the end - it's part of the process

What you are experiencing doesn't define who you are, nor does it determine where you end up.

Remember Joseph? He was sold by his brothers, unjustly imprisoned, forgotten by those who promised to help him. But all this was part of the path that led him to the rulership of Egypt.

Remember Job? He lost everything - his family, his possessions, his health. But persevered. And in the end, it was restored twice over.

The ordeal is a chapter - not the whole book. Don't stop writing your story just because today's page is difficult.

God doesn't abandon you during trials

Even when it seems that he is silent, He is present. Sometimes he doesn't respond in the way we expect - but he is acting in a way that we can't yet see.

The Bible is full of examples of people who suffered, questioned, cried - but were sustained.

And God sustained them all, He will also support you.

What to do in the midst of a trial?

1# Pray, even without words
God understands tears, sighs and silence.

2# Don't isolate yourself completely
Talk to someone you trust. Listening and being listened to helps to carry the burden.

3# Feed your faith little by little
Read a verse, listen to a song, watch a testimony. A small flame is still light.

4# Don't blame yourself for feeling pain
Faith is not the absence of pain. It is believing even feeling it.

5# Trust that it will pass
Because it will. No storm lasts forever. No dark night prevents the dawn.

See also: Why does the Church keep Sunday and not Saturday?

March 25th, 2025