Why Does God Give His Toughest Battles?
Life can often feel like an uphill battle. You may wonder why God allows difficulties and challenges to come your way, especially when it feels like more than you can handle. Though the reasons are complex, exploring why God allows tough times can provide comfort and perspective.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: God allows tough battles to build our faith, develop our character, draw us closer to Him, equip us to help others, and ultimately bring glory to His name.
In this article, we’ll explore the theological and biblical reasons God allows His followers to go through difficult times. We’ll look at how tough battles can strengthen our faith, build Christlike character, give us opportunities to rely on God, allow us to comfort others, and bring glory to God.
Tough Times Build Our Faith
Strengthens Trust in God’s Power
Difficult seasons in life often serve to deepen our faith and reliance on God. As we walk through trials, we recognize more fully our need for God’s strength and begin to trust more completely in His power to sustain us.
We may pray more fervently, read Scripture more diligently, and rely less on our own abilities. Through these struggles, our spiritual muscles are stretched and grow stronger.
For example, Job faced incredible adversity, losing his possessions, children, and health in rapid succession. Yet as he processed these tragedies, Job chose to bless the name of God rather than curse Him (Job 1:20-22).
His steadfast faith was a testimony that pointed to the sufficiency of God in all circumstances. Just as exercise builds physical muscles, tough times strengthen our faith muscles to trust God’s mighty power at work within us.
Deepens Understanding of God’s Love
In addition to growing our trust in Him, difficult times also further root us in understanding the depth of God’s love. As Christians, we confess God’s sovereignty, knowing He allows the circumstances He ordains for His children.
Yet when adversity arrives, we sometimes question if God truly loves us. Over time and through processing hurt with God, we grasp more fully the truth that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28) and that no situation can separate us from Christ’s love (Romans 8:35-39).
For example, C.S. Lewis walked through profound grief after losing his wife to cancer. Yet even in his intense sorrow, he chose to remain anchored in the reality of God’s unconditional love. Like metal refined through fire, tough times can crystallize our comprehension of God’s affection for us.
As contemporary Christian author Ann Voskamp notes, “When you’re fighting through the hard places and the hurts, His intimate presence shining through the hurt lets you know you’re His Beloved.” Leaning into God during difficulties clarifies our status as His cherished children.
Hardships Develop Godly Character
Cultivates Patience and Perseverance
Life’s difficulties and trials are powerful tools God uses to shape our character and draw us closer to Him. Hardships teach us patience, as we wait on the Lord’s timing and trust in His greater plan. As James 1:2-4 (NIV) says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Each time we persevere through a struggle while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, we grow in spiritual maturity and Christlike character.
Abraham and Sarah waited decades for the promised child. Job suffered incredible losses, yet refused to curse God. Noah preached repentance for 100 years without a single convert, but kept building the ark. God grew their patience, perseverance and trust in Him through long, difficult seasons.
Similarly, as we walk through challenges today – a wayward child, a strained marriage, a chronic illness – we can rest knowing God works all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). The perseverance He develops equips us for greater works ahead.
Builds Humility and Reliance on God
Hardships also build humility and reliance on God rather than ourselves. They expose our limitations and teach us to cling to the Lord for strength, wisdom and help. As 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
When we are weak, humble and desperate for God, His power and sufficiency shine brightest through us.
In the midst of adversity, we learn to pray more fervently and surrender every area of our lives to God’s control. We see more clearly how we need Him every moment. Like the Apostle Paul with his thorn in the flesh, we find God’s strength and grace sufficient to empower us for His glory.
As we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, He lifts us up and equips us for every good work (1 Peter 5:6-7). The trials we face prepare us for the works He has ordained for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
Difficulties Draw Us Closer to God
Forces Us to Rely on God
Life’s difficulties, whether minor inconveniences or major hardships, all serve a divine purpose. They motivate us to go beyond our human limitations and abilities to seek the loving arms of our Creator.
When challenges arise, we recognize the inability of mortal means to resolve issues, prompting a wholehearted reliance on God (Isaiah 26:3). Just as a child runs to their parent when afraid or in need, difficulties drive us closer to our Heavenly Father.
Hardships teach us that God alone is reliable in uncertain times. We learn that despite best worldly efforts, solutions remain elusive unless His wisdom guides (Proverbs 3:5-6). Our vision is too limited to see an outcome, but God oversees all things working for our good (Romans 8:28).
Challenges shift our focus from self-dependence to complete trust in the Almighty. As we give anxieties to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7), peace surpasses understanding even amid strife.
Motivates Us to Seek God Deeply
The distress of trials motivates more fervent seeking of God. Hardships often clear life clutter, directing attention to highest priorities. When all else fades, a loving Savior remains constant (Hebrews 13:8).
Difficulties unveil the superficiality of half-hearted devotion, stirring sincere longing for intimate closeness with the Lord.
God uses adversity to reveal areas needing spiritual growth. Hardships test authenticity of belief, exposing weak faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). As gold is refined by fire, trials burn away impurities in character. With sinful nature humbled, we better resonate with God’s presence.
Our ears grow increasingly attentive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. While storms rage without, stillness captivates within (Psalm 131:2).
None can achieve victory through lone willpower. But united with the Victor, Christ, we prevail because difficulties draw us closer to God (John 15:5). As we relinquish counterproductive coping methods, the Lord empowers beyond mortal ability (2 Corinthians 12:9).
His strength, mightier than all struggles, rescues when we cry out in desperation. Through pain’s passageway, we gain deeper knowledge of our Savior’s love and power.
Challenges Equip Us to Help Others
Allows Us to Empathize with Others’ Pain
Going through difficult life events enables us to better understand and empathize with what other people are experiencing (source). When we have struggled through a painful time, whether it’s grief, loss, illness or something else challenging, we know firsthand how devastating and lonely it can feel.
We are able to connect more authentically and provide comfort to others navigating similar storms.
For example, research shows that over 50% of people who have experienced a traumatic event feel more empathy and compassion toward the suffering of strangers afterward (source). By giving us tough life battles, God grows our ability to understand, encourage and pray for those around us which is a vital ministry skill.
Prepares Us to Minister to People in Need
In addition to building empathy, difficult trials equip us with practical lessons that allow us to come alongside people undergoing hardship. Having already navigated stormy waters, we can say, “I’ve been there before, let me help guide you through.” Our lived experience becomes a valuable asset.
Consider a woman who beat cancer after a years-long fight. She intimately understands the physical pain, emotional ups and downs, financial strain, importance of community support and more. Consequently, she is exceptionally prepared to assist new cancer patients by answering questions, recommending resources, being a listening ear, and praying for them.
Her battle prepared her to minister.
Hardships Ultimately Bring Glory to God
Displays God’s Power through Our Weakness
When we face trials and tribulations in life, it can seem impossible to make it through and overcome the adversity. However, God often uses these difficult seasons to showcase His mighty power and grace.
As GotQuestions.org shares, “It is only through adversity and trials that God’s power can be manifest in our lives.”
The Bible reminds believers in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s “power is made perfect in weakness.” Though humans are frail and limited, God has unlimited strength to carry us through hardship. When we rely fully on God instead of ourselves, His glory and supremacy shine brightly in contrast to our human inability.
His light illuminates our path forward with hope, comfort and purpose.
Manifests God’s Grace and Strength in Our Lives
In the storms of life when adversity strikes, God often manifests His unwavering love and kindness to renew our spirit. As author Joni Eareckson Tada writes, “It is in the deepest waters that God’s love buoyantly lifts us to the surface. His grace is visibly true when your world is visibly false.”
Though we cannot see the reason behind all suffering, we can trust God works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
Additionally, as God walks with us through dark valleys, we build spiritual muscle in perseverance that equips us to better serve others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Our story of overcoming by God’s strength offers living testament to those similarly struggling.
Hardships transform our character into the likeness of Christ so that God is glorified through our lives. As we lean into Him for refuge, He faithfully carries our burdens and manifests His comfort and peace within us.
Conclusion
Going through difficulties is never easy. However, exploring the reasons God allows tough battles provides comfort and perspective. Tough times can strengthen our faith, build Christlike character, draw us closer to God, equip us to minister to others, and bring glory to God.
While we may not always understand God’s bigger picture, we can trust He is working for our good (Romans 8:28). By relying on Him through life’s toughest battles, we come to know Him on a deeper level.
