1. Training as God prepares us for the future
2. Patience as we rely and trust in God's timing
3. Perseverance through trials that we remain in Gods will
4. Trust as God's ways are not our ways and He has a better plan for us
5. To learn from our mistakes
6. To humble ourselves before Him
7. To discipline us
8. Teach us to be dependent on Him alone
9. To spend quiet time with God so He can speak to us
10. To teach us of His protection
11. That we also share in the sufferings of Christ that we be not ashamed
12. Strengthen us to become more like Christ
13. To develop character
14. Build up our faith in the Lord
15. For a testimony and witness to help others
16. To show us sin in our lives that we need to own up to having
17. To remind us that God is in control
18. Helps us gain knowledge and understanding God's word
19. Teaches us to be thankful
20. To take our mind off the things of the world and and put them back on God
Great post.
I would further like to add that faith - saving faith is a gift from God.
If we have that saving faith then as for_his_glory we will learn the above.
We need to however distinguish between being saved by grace through faith and being saved by works.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Paul deals with this in Romans 12. Each has been given a measure of faith to exercise their spiritual gift and it should be used accordingly as it has been given to us.
I would love to have the gift of healing, I hate seeing pain, illness and death. I have prayed 3 times for resurrection of someone who has died. It never happened. So I thought I lacked faith. I can recall only twice when I have prayed for healing (amongst the 1000's of times,I've prayed for it) that healing occurred, not exactly a gift.
I wish I had the gift of tongues but can count on one hand how many times I've done it, even then I didn't realise I was doing it. Not exactly a gift.
I used to seek the big things and when it didn't happen I felt God was testing my faith and because it didn't happen I had no faith. HOW WRONG WAS I? VERY WRONG
Apparently I'm known as Bill the lover of people in our church. The lover of people in the church who are hurting, keeping in contact with those missing in action. I started to sit at the back church looking for newbies waifs and strays. Some in the church thought I was Billy no mates. I was and the reason being I wanted to make new mates and show Jesus.
I have walked through our high street and stopped and prayed for people.
My wife and 4 kids and I go on holiday tomorrow, same place for the last 6 years. She said to me the other day "I wonder how many people this year are you going to pray for in the bar or resteraunt?
I grab a beer, sit with it, smoke a cigar. As I'm sat there God says to me go speak to that person, family. Every time it's happened it generally is with people who have health issues and some I didn't know had health issues until I spoke with them.
PLEASE PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT BOASTING HERE (truth is I'm ashamed as me as a person because I know my sin)
So whilst I paint a pretty picture of myself I could tell you more instances when God has tested my faith and I have failed. I've walked past more people in the high street and not come along side than those I have, the same when I'm on holiday.
So what I'm trying to say is that God tests my faith with regards to the gift he has given me and not to seek a gift he hasn't given me. But I don't think God would test me with his saving faith that I have.
If my saving faith is tested its because I foucsed on the gift he has given or not given me and not followed through at a point in time and not focused on my saving faith.
I am saved by faith alone, for good works. If I pass by a person that God tests my faith and gifting to pray for someone, I'm still saved but he will remind me and increase my faith next time